My Dear mum passed away just a week after finding out she had gallbladder cancer. I still can't get my head round it. My heart is broken.

On the 25th of November 2025 we found out my mum had Gallbladder cancer, she passed away on the 1st of December 2025. One week, I still can’t get my head round it. How did this happen. The hospital said the weren’t even looking for cancer. My heart is broken, I’m finding it hard to even get out of bed in the morning. My beautiful mum has gone, I had no time to even process what was happening to her. She passed in the hospital and all I can say it was traumatic, don’t get me wrong I have so much respect for most of the nhs but my local hospital couldn’t care less for my mum she was waiting for over an hour for pain relief, to hear her crying out in pain will be something I have to live with forever.Sorry if It’s not what you want to hear on here. Gallbladder cancer is a horrible disease I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. As a family we have to try to live without out beautiful mum wife sister and nan, who we all miss so much. How do you cope with grief it’s overwhelming. 

  • Hi Haylay, 

    How traumatic it must have been to lose your mum within days of her being diagnosed with gallbladder cancer. I am so sorry for your loss and it's completely understandable that you are in shock that it was only one week and they were not even expecting to find cancer. As you rightly said, you didn't even have time to process what happened. I am so sorry to hear that the hospital experience was traumatic and these images will be playing in your head for a long time. I just wanted you to know that we are all here for you and you can talk about anything on the forum and other members of our community will understand and may have been through something similar themselves. 

    I can imagine you all miss her so much and the grief can indeed be overwhelming. It all happened so quickly that you and your family are probably still in shock. There isn't one way of dealing with grief and we all grieve differently and you might feel a range of different emotions but I thought you might be interested in reading the information we have on our website on coping with grief. If you feel things get too much or you are feeling really down, don't hesitate to get in touch with your GP who will have I am sure some helpful tips for you to help you cope during these difficult times. 

    I hope that you will hear from other members of our community who have also sadly lost a parent or a loved one and that they will be along shortly to share their story with you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • I'm so sorry to read of your mums passing, I too lost my mum to cancer but this was bowel cancer. She was diagnosed in July and we were positive on every step  treatment, scans, outcome, than bam 7 months into the treatment she was detoriating before our eyes, passed in the hospice 1 week after admission. My mum gave up the fight, she was my world, my go to and the glue to us all.

    I have had grief counselling through the hospice and this did help. My children are my strength to carry on, some days are worst than others, its my 50th tomorrow and we planned to have a big party for her, myself and my daughter and her partner, all milestones but i cant go through this knowing she's no longer here.

    I'm still in shock  her passing wasn't peaceful and I stop myself living the image daily as I would crumble. I don't speak to my dad or brother as our differences became too much so I stood back from them both , I'm angry sometimes too why my mum, she was loved and cared about us all, those that don't are stil here it's hurtful.

    I can only take it day by day. Its too upsetting knowing I will never hear her or see her again.  I find talking to my mum helps me and her voice comes back to me in my mind. 

    My mum said she never wanted to leave us but I had to tell her we were fine  we are OK  worst lie I ever told. She was there for my first breath and I was there for her last. I try to be happy but not always easy.

    Don't be hard on yourself, cry, scream do what you wish. No right or wrong way to grief. Take care.

    Feel free to chat.

    Best wishes

    Emma x