Wondering if anyone else feels this way

My mom was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes. her brain. her liver. her back and her throat.

Since she was diagnosed, I feel like I have been selfish. Focused on the way it affects me. I know what she is dealing with, but since they have told her she wasn't suppose to make it to chemo, I have been finding myself lost in my own mind.

Lost. Sad. Anxious.

I find it consumes most of my thoughts. My time at work is spent googling outcomes, statistics. My conversations are centred around it. The more I focus on it the more the pains in my chest start from anxiety. I sleep, all the time.

I know this isn't about me. She's the one with terminal cancer. She's the one who is sick. My dad is the one loosing his life partner. But - With me being only 24 I can't reason this. And I can't help but have it consume my mind. Knowing she won't be there for my wedding... My children. Ect.

I know it is suppose to affect me. But the amount it takes over my mind seems to be too much.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

  • I'm sorry about your mum, my mum has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has spread and all I can say is what you describe is definitely normal. Originally we were told my mum had suspected ovarian cancer and like you, I spent hours googling everything I could. It then transpired the primary cancer was pancreatic and it had spread to the ovaries and elsewhere. I then started to google everything about pancreatic cancer but everything I was reading was not boding well, and I decided to stop. A couple of the things she was diagnosed with (which I only found about by letter that was sent to her, luckily after she was admitted to hospital so she didn't find out like that), I don't understand at all but have not googled either as it will probably just add to the anxiety etc. I was having such bad anxiety that I resorted to going to the Dr who prescribed Prozac. It has helped somewhat but it takes a while to fully kick in. This wasn't the route I wanted to go down but felt I really had no choice. Feeling the way you do is not selfish, don't feel that way, it's a perfectly normal emotional response. .