Hi sorry to read about your mum, do you live with her?

When I told my son and daughter we all cried and I've since told them not to hide their fears from me. 

I'm extremely close to them both and it's been a difficult year. My mum passed away in January, then my daughter got made redundant then my diagnosis. I have told them no matter what they are going through I'm always at the end of the phone even on my worse days. 

Talk to your mum she will realise the effect its having on you. Just be there for her whether it's on the phone or personally. On her good days just doing simple things together will make a huge difference. I met my son and daughter inlaw Saturday in their town we just had a wander round shops and coffee and cake outside a lovely cafe it was a lovely day. 

Hope her treatment isn't too bad. 

Louise xxx

Hi Louise,

Thanks for getting in touch and sorry about your diagnosis. This last year has been a bit crazy for my family too - my dad is currently waiting for a heart valve replacement. Four days before mum’s diagnosis appointment he collapsed at home and we had to call 999. He is okay but we are all trying to keep him from doing too much. There’s a good chance that he will end up in hospital at the same time as mum but a different hospital in London just to confuse things.

Just want to do the best I can for them - mum is naturally nervous as her mum died of kidney cancer and her sister has lung cancer. I don’t really want her to know how scared I am as I want to be strong for both her and dad. 

MG