Hi, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer on 26th Feb, one lump in the breast and one in a lymph node. We have an appointment this coming Monday to find out what type it is and what treatment she will be facing. This has hit me like a ton of bricks, she is my rock and now she is poorly. There have been a few other issues in my personal life and it means everything has kind of hit me all at once, so currently bern signed off work. Everyone telling me I need to be strong to be there for mum, but my anxiety is through the roof. My anxiety makes me think the worst, and being inside my own mind is horrible. I have an amazing husband amd my poor mum is more worried about me than herself at the moment! I have, and feel so many emotions, but lack any enjoyment in anything. It feels like all the fun has been drained from me. I feel angry that this is happening to her. Angry that me, my dad and now my mum have all had some form of cancer. Scared for the future. Scared and guilty for thinking that this now increases my chance of getting it. Sorry for the ramble. I know a lot of people have said, well until you know what it is shes facing why are you worried!?! Im sorry, this is my mum, the most important person in my life, thats been through everything in my 48 years, that has had more rubbish dealt to her than she deserves. I'm petrified of what they will say on Monday. If anyone can or wants to reach out then thank you.
Hi Sabg78
Welcome to our community, I hope you find it both informative and supportive.
I am Steve, one of the community champions and my experience of cancer is via my wife who has Leiomyosarcoma.
Something I found quite helpful was looking at your feelings when someone has cancer as being able to recognize those emotions and accept them as normal and valid can help to take away some of their power to overwhelm.
New to the community is a bit like the welcome mat here while most of the work happens in groups that focus more on individual cancers or cancer experiences. You might perhaps like to look at Breast cancer forum and Family and friends forum where there will be more people with experiences to share.
I know a number of friends who tried to help so certainly recognize the "strong" and "why are you worried" types of messages. Perhaps the best is to think they mean well but many people find the whole subject of cancer very difficult and will often try to close down the conversation quickly.
<<hugs>>
Steve
