Mums and Dads

My daughter, my only child, has recently been diagnosed with secondary cancer in liver and a further scan yesterday confirmed it had spread into her spine.  She is 52, has cancelled her wedding twice due to her father's cancer and her breast cancer, so there are no grandchildren.  Consequently we are exceptionally close and I am in depths of despair because a mother's love is so fiercely protective but I need help from somewhere please as I am engulfed in tears as I write this.  Previously I have gained hope from all you very courageous ladies and I admire you immensely but I cannot bear the thought that I might lose her.  Are there any mothers out there who would like to share their ways of coping.  

  • Hello there and welcome to the forum.I'm so sorry that your two loved ones have been diagnosed with cancer. No wonder you are overcome with grief. My heart goes out to you at this terrible time. It must be very hard for you to think of losing your husband and now perhaps your only child. I have lost several members of my family to cancer and I have cancer now myself. It certainly is a terrible disease. Parents are not supposed to bury their children and when they do, it adds a whole new dimension to that grief. I lost my only son to suicide almost 12 years ago. We don't ever recover from that kind of loss; we do learn to live with it though as hard as that is. Even yet, I tear up when I hear of another parent losing a child because it puts me right back in that place when my son died. Losing a child to death is devastating no matter the cause. I wish there was something I could say to comfort you at this terrible time. Hold your loved ones close and don't forget to take care of yourself, so you can be there for them. I hope you have other family and/or close friends who can give you support to help give you strength to get through this. I wish you peace and strength on this journey as your daughter and husband fight this terrible disease.

    Sending you prayers and hugs.

    Lorraine 

  • Dear Lorraine. I really appreciate your taking the trouble to contact me. I don't know how you got beyond your grief but I take comfort that I'm not alone found through this nightmare. This forum is a godsend but you have to be strong when we hear other ladies are going through nightmares too. Thank you so much for getting in touch. Arlene