Hi everyone, I'm new to the community and have already seen so many messages of support and love which is truly amazing.
My Mum has stage 3 lung cancer and starts her intensive Chemo and Radiotherapy in the next fortnight. She has had Breast cancer previously and my Step mum has also had it multiple times and had Chemo again last year.
I live with my Mum and Stepdad (who is going in for a major operation in a few weeks time) and my dog who is ALSO having an operation in a few weeks and just feel so helpless and isolated. I'm carrying on as normal as best I can but feel like everyone is just relying on me to be level headed and practical and barely anyone has checked in. So I just feel pushed aside. I feel so selfish as my mum is the scared one going through all this, but I just don't know how to process it all. Has anyone had a similar experience or any words of wisdom?
Thank you so much and sending all my best wishes to everyone here, whatever you're going through.
X
Hi Rea, goodness me these things all like to attack at once don't they?! You are not being selfish in the slightest, we all need support especially if we are being the 'strong' one.
I experienced similar in that friends figured I would be OK and would be just fine. In the end I got my close friends together once Dad had his diagnosis and I told them how tough I was finding it and how isolating I had found the journey. They were all horrified as they thought I would speak up... I felt they should ask... they felt I didn't need to be bothered with their 'little' dramas when I had so much else going on... so in reality we had all made dodgy assumptions. Things have improved somewhat since then. These are some things I found helped:
1. I found this online community.
2. I have learned that I can ask or message them for support.
3. I reached out to my work employee assistance program.
4. I have started doing mindfulness and meditation.
5. I try to do 1 thing each day that is just for me... whether it is watch an episode of TV or read a chapter of a book or go out for a walk, me time is important.
6. Be kind to myself!
I hope that some of this is useful to you... if none of it is then I hope some other responses help! Take care of you too 
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