My mum has been diagnosed with stage 3b serous adenocarcinoma of the uterus. She had a complete hysterectomy at the start of December, and we have her first appointment with her cancer team on Wednesday to find out what her ongoing treatment plan will be.
I’m obese, asthmatic, and at high risk of genetic liver problems. That risk is increased due to my weight, and my mum’s cancer is apparently linked to obesity too. To say that her diagnosis has scared me (as well as my aunt being in liver failure) is an understatement. I’ve been going to the gym for the past year, and “trying to lose weight”, but I need to try harder.
what also worries me, though, is that I live with my parents, and I don’t want to be bringing home germs from the gym after my workouts. Does anyone know, will a hand wash at the gym, sanitiser when I get to the car, and a shower as soon as I get home be enough? Should I cancel the gym membership and just work out at home? Am I being too self-absorbed trying to plan for my own health when I should be focusing on mum instead? I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and my mind just keeps focusing on I need to lose weight to reduce my risks of cancer and liver disease, but I don’t want to put my mum at unnecessary risk either.
Welcome to our community, I hope you find it useful especially as you are coping with such a lot with both yourself, mum and your aunt.
Perhaps the easiest point to answer in your post is the one about "are you being too self-absorbed" - it is not uncommon in carers for lots of focus to fall on the patient while the carer can be overlooked. An issue with that is of course it something happens to the carer then we end up not being able to offer the care they deserve.
Assuming your gym is reasonably reputable they should be doing quite a lot about infection control for their customers, after all nobody goes to the gym to get sick.
<<hugs>>
Steve
