Feeling helpless

Hi not quite sure what to write and post but feeling quite isolated. My mum has terminal breast cancer and has since had a breakdown and is not in receiving chemo whilst she is very unwell with her mental health. It is unclear how long it will take to improve her MH and if/to what extent this will improve and of course time away from treatment will further limit her time. The worry is she will not recover with her MH enough to get treatment (which she'd normally want) and her quality of life is not what I'd want for her at this time of life. I'm also not able to have any quality time with her like this before she passes, which feels an extra layer of cruelty. It feels as though I've lost/losing her twice. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? I know you're never ready to lose a parent but there's so many milestones she is not going to be part of now and it feels overwhelming a lot of the time. Thanks and sorry if that's rambly.

  • Hello LucyAB and welcome to Cancer Chat! 

    I am so sorry to hear about your mum - it's so sad that she has struggled so much with her mental health and that this is preventing her from having treatment. Have the doctors suggested anything that might help her feel better psychologically? I hope that they will manage to find a way to improve her mental health so that she can resume treatment. 

    I am not sure exactly what type of mental suffering she is experiencing but we have some information on depression and cancer on this page and you can find a list of organizations you could contact as well as helpful resources here

    I hope that you will hear from some of our members who have found themselves in a similar place, who understand the devastating impact cancer can have on mental health and that they will be along shortly to share their experience with you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator