My mum had breast cancer in Dec '23 only 8 months after my dad died. She decided to go for chemo as she had a triple negative tumour. The surgery was successful and she tolerated her chemo pretty well. She finished that last year in June '24. We thought she was getting back on her feet as she was starting to get fit taking swimming lessons and generally in good spirits.
The past couple of weeks though she had a strange chest pain which got her taken into A&E for suspected heart attack, then had unusual vomiting and feel very tired. She had found some new lumps in her breast which had gone away to be biopsied whilst she was going away on a trip to stay with friends for three weeks. The GP said she should go and enjoy herself. Turns out the lumps were breast cancer again...
Whilst away on holiday she was taken ill again this time with severe abdominal pains, and got rushed to ER, not A&E. $5000 later we have abdominal CT scans which showed metastatic lesions on her liver, adrenal glands, pelvis and "necrotic" lymph nodes. Sounds pretty bad. She's back in the UK and having a full CT scan and her case is going back to the MDT on Friday.
I'm very scared and upset that we are about to settle in to last months of my mum's life. I can't imagine that the outcome from the scan tomorrow will give us good news, only more news about the prognosis is.
I want to be strong for her, and help her live well in whatever comes next.
Hi Koan so sorry to hear of your mum's recent diagnosis, this must be so difficult for you. I wanted to just let you know that the wonderful team here at Macmillan are here to support you and your mum in any way they can. There is a helpline 8am to 8pm every day on 0800 808 0000 and this can be a good place for some additional advice or just a source of extra support and a listening ear if you need it. Best wishes as you navigate through this.
I'm s sorry to hear this Koan, it's the news that no one wants. I'd say be guided by your mum in terms of how best to help here, but I do encourage you to chat to the team here at Macmillan, as well as your mum's medical team, to see how best you can support. Look after yourself too though, it's hard for you as well. Take care
