Hi Beth, 

I am so sorry to hear your mum has been diagnosed with breast cancer and I hope that her chemotherapy treatment is going well. It can be really hard to deal with the news of a loved one's diagnosis so it's completely understandable that you are struggling to cope and it can take a while for it to all sink in. It's normal to feel overwhelmed and emotional and to ask yourself why it happened to your mum. But it sounds like your mum is in very good hands and being looked after well and hopefully the chemotherapy treatment will be a success. 

You are not alone though and I hope that you will hear from other members of our community who also have a parent or a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with cancer and who will understand, sometimes better than your closest friends, what you are currently going through. 

There is information on our website for Family, friends and caregivers which I hope you will find useful and which will give you some good tips to help you cope during this difficult time and be there for your mum while also making sure you take the time to look after yourself as well. 

I hope your mum's treatment goes well and that she suffers minimal side effects.

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator