Dad diagnosed with APL

Recent diagnosis
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Good evening everyone, and Happy New Year! I hope you’re all OK and having a great 2025 so far (how is it 2025 already?!)

I wanted to give you all an update as it’s been a while. Dad is really struggling with his mental health currently, and it’s really impacting on his Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) treatment.

He’s refusing to go to treatment, getting aggressive with my mum and his paranoia is really bad, so he’s scared to go out anywhere or take the medications he’s been given. We have a Community Mental Health team that are now speaking with the Chemo team, and they’re all really worried about him. We have a team that comes in at the weekend to make sure he’s OK, and myself, my mum and sister are all sticking together, with the goal of him getting better.

We’re just worried that he will constantly be in this half-state, where the chemo treatment works but the drugs don’t, as he’s taking them on and off. It’s so hard, but we’re doing what we can - he’s not a child and we can’t force him.

His mental health was bad for a couple of years before this, but we definitely notice things are getting a lot worse.

Sorry for the long message, but just wanted to update you all with what’s going on, and any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you lovely people :slight_smile:

Amy

2 Likes
22

Oh @AJ1443 it must be so difficult for you all and I am so glad that you are sticking together and supporting each other.
As you say he is not a child and you can’t force your dad.
It sounds as if you have the community mental health team working with the chemo team which is brilliant, as well as a team that comes in at weekends.
I wonder if there is a local carers group that you all might join, especially for your mum if your dad might be aggressive
Support where you live | Carers UK
I definitely did not feel your message was long, that is what we are here for . I think this is the one place I can say how it really is for me.
Please try and look after yourselves as well as you are trying to look after your dad, you must feel so powerless. Please do keep posting, we are here for you as is the Blood Cancer UK support line on 0808 2080 888