My sister has tongue cancer, two weeks into rad therapy, she can't stand the pain any more, wants to quit even though the treatments has srunk the tumor by 40% already, she is MAD and angry with her doctors and just about everyone, I don't know how to help her.
there is just her and I, rest of family is gone. I want her to want to survive, what can I do?

Talk to her DRs. for pain meds. NO reason to be in such pain ask ask and ask again. This is rough I know but you have to hang in there. I think it is normal to want to give in but you need to be strong for her and yourself.One day even 1 hour at a time. Keeping you in our prayers.LJ

anniemay, your sister absolutely has the right to insist on meds to control her pain. The only thing is-if she lives alone, she might need help when she is on strong medications. Help her try to stay strong- a 40% shrinkage is a good thing! Amy in the Ozarks

Please encourage her to complete the treatement under the guidance of the RO. With the tumor shrinking she can see that it is working! Giving up is the wrong thing to do.
There should not be any need to be in that much pain, what medication is she talking?

M

Anniemay,

Hi, I'm not too far from you. Is Syracuse where your sister is being treated too? I'll just repeat what everyone else has said here,

First, help her get adequate pain medication.

Second, her anger may be covering up depression and/or anxiety as well as being a result of the pain. There should be someone she can see (ideally a psychiatrist) who can prescribe some meds to help her mood a little.

Third, make sure she is getting adequate nutrition, hydration and rest as all three of these can affect her emotional state as well as her ability to take the radiation.

p.s. if your sis is in Syracuse, I have a friend who is a psychiatrist there who saw me in the midst of my treatment and knows how rough this is.

Nelie, in answer to your query; yes my sister is in Syracuse, Community Hospital. She is not able to care for herself, can't walk too good so she was admitted last week. She is on oxycontin and Alprazolam but I think a Psychiatrist would be a very good idea.can you give me his (or her) name. [email protected] - my email.
God bless you and every one else who responded, it really helps to find out that you are not alone and with no one to talk to.