Struggling so much. I can't watch my mum die

My mum has been fighting cancer for a year and a half now. She was originally diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer . However, over the year she has had a few random lumps on her body which were cancerous. She has had chemo ,radiation and operations and has successfully got rid of them all except one lump(original lump) .But with this, the doctors thought my mum had lymph node cancer, thankfully she doesn't. That was such a scary time  for everyone. Mum has had a hard year and she has finally gotten to the point were she has just given up. A few weeks ago she had an appointment and she told the doctors she couldn't carry on with the treatment anymore. The doctors warned her that the cancer could go terminal, if she doesn't carry on the treatment .She's given up on herself, on hope and on me and my family. I understand why ,as I've had to stand and watched her go through this terrible time. Feeling so helpless as I can't do anything that will really help her. But I can't help feeling angry as to why she would give up on us her family. Why would she throw her chance of life away? And to be honest I feel like I have given up my self. I'm finding it so hard with everything that is going on at home ,school work and outside things. I've gotten to a point were in school I would rather go and find a empty classroom and sit there and not see anyone all day. I just can't face anyone as I feel I would just put everyone down. My friends are lovely and so supportive . But, I don't want to put them in that position were they are walking on egg shells around me because they don't know what to do/ say. It's happening to me and I don't know what to do. Also, I feel so guilty If I'm laughing and having a good time because I always think we'll my mum isn't she's  sick ,lying in bed, being really really down and not coping . I'm 16 years old and I thought GCSEs were hard trying to cope with it all but it seems to be getting worse. I have a sister who is 19. Me and my sister haven't really been close, even when we where little.ive tried but she's not one for talking. So I can't really talk to her about anything . She is like my dad, they only express their feelings in anger and no other way. Which most of the time makes me feel even worse because they take it out on me. I know it's having an effect on my dad as he has all the pressure of providing for the whole family. He's constantly angry, and when he comes In i try and avoid him as much as I can. I'm so scared if my mum dies he's going to have break down. My family is already falling a part, nobody talks to each other anymore, the house is just silent.  I feel like I have no one to turn to, as the only one I want is my mum and I don't know how long she is going to last. This Christmas could be her last Christmas and I don't think I can face that. I feel so numb and depressed I just want everything to go back to normal. But I know it can't. I just can't do this anymore. It's always been me and my mum ,she's always got my back ,she always try's her best for me and picks me back up when I need it. She's the strongest person I know and to see her like this heart breaking .i just can't see a future without my mum. I try so much not to cry but I can't stop when I start. I love my mum to much and I don't want her to die.

  • Dear Jess. 

    I was so saddened to read your post. I truly feel for you and this horrible situation you are in. I can't image how you must be feeling. You're a very mature 16 year old and I'm sure your Mum is so proud of the young lady you're becoming. 

    Have you opened up to anyone in school about your situation? A teacher or a teaching assistant? They'll be able to help you access the support you need. There are counselling services out there. If you're not comfortable talking to someone in school, perhaps try your doctor. 

    Please don't take it upon yourself to hold your family together. You need to work together but you'll all take this news differently so please try not to fall out with each other. 

    Feel free to message me on here, 

    Dawn x

  • Hi Dawn,

    Thank you for replying I really appreciate it . I haven't talked to any teachers in school, only a select few of friends know about most of it . For a while I haven't really wanted to let the school know, as no matter who I tell everyone ends up knowing your business. But also, I didn't want my parents finding out how much I'm struggeling, as we all are finding it hard . And I don't want to put that extra pressure on them ,worrying about me. So I'm a bit stuck. But recently as things have been getting worse, I've thought more about getting the school involved. But I'm not sure. I just don't want to make things at home worse.

    Jess x

  • Hi, I'm so glad you replied. I completely understand that you don't want to worry your parents at this time, but believe me, they're already thinking of how this is affecting you. It's what parents do. I would encourage you to talk to someone. Teachers have a duty of care to you, so while I understand that you don't want everyone knowing your business, perhaps in the long run having their support will help lighten the load for you. You're under a tremendous amount of pressure; you must look after yourself too. I'm 33 and lost my Mum in September, so I completely understand how frightened you must be about everything right now.  I'll find some support contacts for you and post them on here. Please stay in touch x 

    Dawn x 

  • Hi, I found a website called riprap.org.uk Its part of cancer research uk (that's where I found the link) Its focus is on young people who have a parent with cancer xx Please take a look x

  • Thank you so much for what you have said. ive never really thought about it like that. On Monday I'll go into school and speak to someone about it. My friends have said the same things that I should get support from school. But I've always been too scared to ask for help, as I normally just deal with it on my own so I'm not used to it. But I know it will help . Thank you dawn. I'm so sorry to hear about your mum .thank you for the contacts as well. I will defiantly look into it. I didn't realise how much this could help just speaking to someone older than me and getting a different perspective. Thank you so much. Jess x
  • Hello Jessh,

    Dawn83 has given you some fantastic advice. Although Riprap isn't part of Cancer Research UK, we moderators often suggest it to young people like yourself who have a parent with cancer. You can find out more about this site here and I hope it is useful to you.

    Best wishes,

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi lucie, 

    yes dawn83 has helped me a lot. Okay thank you I will defiantly look at it. 

    Jess :)

  • Hello Jess,

    The advice you have been given is brilliant and I really think it will help you. I recently lost my mum to cancer and I just wanted to say that I understand how you are feeling right now, the world keeps on turning and you just want it to stop for everything to stop and rewind back to when your worries and fears were insignificant and your family were together and happy. I don't know whether that feeling ever goes away, but I do know that it helped my mum to know that I was ok and had got a good support network around me, so defenitly speak to someone otherwise these thoughts will just build up and if you don't feel you can talk to your family (which I didn't either and still don't) do speak to someone who is detached from your situation. It is going to be an incredibly difficult time for you all and I really hope that your mum wins her battle. Feeling guilty is completely normal, I do still and probably always will, but I always remember that my mum said hearing us enjoying ourselves and knowing we were still going out and seeing friends made her feel so happy and reassured that we could still have some normality in our lives. The only reason I have managed to get out of bed most days is knowing that I made my mum proud and I want to continue to do so, I am sure your mum is soo proud of you. The most important thing is to spend as much quality time with your mum and family. Please ask for support with your GCSE's aswell, completing GCSE's is a stressful time anyway and with the added pressure of everything going on at home you are going to need the support of people who understand what is happening and can help relieve the pressure according to your needs, when my mum was diagnosed I was in my third year at uni and if I hadn't have asked for support I think my head and heart would have exploaded (literally :) ). If you ever want to chat you can always message me. Christmas will be really really tough, just enjoy it as much as you can; cry, laugh, eat loads and be with your mum and family. Take care and best wishes for your mum.

    Jessica

  • Evening xx 

    I'm so glad you've decided to speak to someone in school. JessicaMay has also given you some great advice and words of support too. 

    Please let us know how you get on, I've been thinking about you. You're an incredibly brave young woman. 

    Take care and please let us know how you get on. I'd like to continue supporting you on here so feel free to message me anytime xx 

    Dawn x

  • Hi Jess, was just wondering how everything is with you? x