Hi all,

My lovely mum had major surgery on the 10th August to remove cancer in her cheek and also lymph nodes in her neck.

the operation went well and she is recovering slowly. She is 73 but a very young and active 73 who had not been poorly that I can remember prior to this.

We saw the oncologist yesterday who advised that the lymph nodes showed there was cancer and one of the nodes had cancer outside of the capsule. In light of this we are now embarking on a journey of radiotherapy - 6 weeks Monday to Friday and 2 bouts of chemo chucked in for good measure..

I'm totally floored and devastated with the news, as is she... we weren't expecting it and I don't think our consultant was either. The oncologist yesterday went through all the side effects of radiotherapy... I can't believe how horrific it sounds and  struggling to cope with the thought of her having to go through this. 
 

I suppose reading the information about the side effects there is so much to consider and what will become her new 'normal'... I feel scared, frightened for her and I don't know what to say. I'm an only child (a 38 year old one)! And it was me and mum on our own for many years. I now have a lovely husband and a beautiful daughter who is 8 and we are a small but close family. 
 

No real point to my post, I just thought this is the place to put some thoughts down among people who sadly may understand where my head is at. Also if anyone had any advice on what to tell my daughter about treatment I would really appreciate it.

Reading your stories you are all an inspiration so thank you xx