My mother died when I was in extreme anxiety from benzo withdrawal. We have had two younger sisters die since I have been back in an anxiety breakdown and had to put two pets to sleep (they were our children).

I did not think I would live to see the next day - but you do. Some moments it is just total white knuckles.

Your local hospice and the hospital social service department can help you. Hospital social workers are very skilled in these areas.

You just deal with it. That's all you can do. You be there for your father, and you feel the pain and the sadness, and you take care of yourself and rest, and you keep putting one foot in front of the other. You talk to your friends and family and ask for help if you have to..and you just deal with it.

I found out my mom had cancer the day I delivered my first daughter. There is no magic anything that helps you get through it. I wish there was. We all do. Because we have all been through it or will go through it at some time in our lives.

Are you setting aside any time at all every day to do muscle relaxation/deep breathing to teach your brain to shut off the adrenaline? Or do you just keep going and worrying non stop from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed?

I forgot to say that I am very sorry about your dad and I will pray for a good diagnosis/prognosis for him.

I also forgot to say dont catastrophise - cancer is not a death sentence.

One day at a time, one hour at a time. Prayer helps. There are lots of cancer survivors out there too! Both my mom and mom-in-law are breast cancer survivors. They are doing well today.

Ask the hospital for support groups and counseling services to help if you need it. And ask for support from your friends and family as Lilygirl said.

It is stressful when a loved one is ill. Hang in there.

My sister has cancer Stage 3C. She just finished with her chemo treatments 2 weeks ago.

It looks like she is going to be fine.

My old boss had lymphatic cancer. He went through a year of treatments and now we are sitting here 12 years later and he is still cancer-free.

I just talked to him 2 months ago and he gave me incredible advice. He told me to tell my sister to not give up and do all of the treatments even when it gets hard.

I am thankful that my sister was a good patient and stayed tough through some really hard moments.


Also, you can get good information at Livestrong.