Expat- mother has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Hi everyone,

Wondering if there's anyone else out there who is dealing/has dealt with a parent with cancer while living abroad? I live in the East Midlands with my fiancé and 16 month old daughter. Last Friday, my mom (who lives in the greater New York City area) got the results from her biopsy- she has cancer. She has a PET scan today to tell her whether she has her mastectomy and then the start of chemo, or vice versa. I've had all weekend to process the information, but I don't think it started to hit me until Monday at work. I'm ready to jump on a plane to be there for her, but I also appreciate that if I'm there for surgery/chemo, she might not be able to enjoy her granddaughter as she usually does (due to fatigue, etc). 

I'm still sorting through all of the thoughts and emotions... I haven't told anyone apart from my fiancé, so it's helped keep the emotions at bay a bit. But I am a talker, so the best way to deal with any situation is to kind of question, discuss, analyse... Mom is staying super positive and has a fantastic support network at home which includes my Dad! So I couldn't be happier in that regard. It's just ensuring that I'm doing what's best for her and keep looking at silver linings and taking everything a day at a time, too.

 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated at this time.

Sending anyone reading this positive vibes, love and well wishes.

Best,

Cecilia

  • Hi Cecilia

    Must be very worrying being so far away.

    I guess an awful lot is going to depend on how advanced it is - do you know yet?

    You know if she's got a lot of friends and familly supporting her there right now it might well be an idea to keep a visit in reserve for a few weeks time maybe you can relieve some of the carers when the initial flurry has died down and she hits a bit of a low patch?

    Best wishes for her speedy recovery

  • I know its not a parent, however my older sister (just turned 30 and im 18) was diagnosed with breast cancer on christmas eve. She has just had her second chemo session and feeling really positive apart from the odd wobbly, she lost her hair just last week and decided in the very last moment to shave her entire head. She is doing really well, its just hard. We let her tell everyone and its difficult to bring it up in conversation but once its been said it feels really good to talk about it! -like the last reply- make sure she has a good network of friends or other family memebers around her when you cant get there for support if she is having a less positive day! Best wishes and fingers crossed she has a speedy recovery!

    Amy.