Hi Mc5707,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear about your Mum's diagnosis and know how scary this is. It sounds as if you already have a lot on your plate, but try not to panic.

I lost my Mum to secondary breast cancer 28 years ago. Her treatment was especially trying at times and I was very scared for her, but I had to become the strong one and support her as best as I could. I have since had 2 bouts of breast cancer, within a year of each other and was absolutely terrified when I was first diagnosed. Fortunately, diagnosis, treatment and aftercare have all advanced considerably in the interval and there was just no comparison between our experiences. I had a lumpectomy to start with, followed by a double mastectomy for the second bout. That was all 15 years ago now and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

Do you know what type of breast cancer your Mum has or what Stage it is? Some cancers are more aggressive, or further advanced, than others and this will determine the treatment that she'll have. Getting a diagnosis like this is always a terrible shock, but it will get easier to cope with, once she has a full care plan in place. Despite having so much on your plate, you will find that you are stronger than you think. The most important person in all of this is your Mum. Give her as much support as you can and give her the opportunity to talk about her hopes and fears. This will help your Mum to cope with all that she has to go through and will give you a better understanding of what lies ahead. Where possible, make memories It's not all doom and gloom. This first year can be a tough one, but it is so busy, that it passes quickly.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you are both getting on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx