the beginning of the end..

Hi, I'm new here but I need to share my experiences. My mom, who is incidentally my BEST friend, has been dealing with brain and lung cancer for the past 8 years. They initally gave her 4 yrs, so she's definitely been beating all the odds. However, it has recurred in her lungs. She went through radiation, which focused on a certain spot. Turns out it has spread and now she has it in both lungs. The next step is chemo and this is supposed to be the last resort. She could possibly respond well to this chemo and maybe it'll extend her life a few extra years. I just can't imagine life without her. i live with my parents and i'm not nearly as close with my dad as i am with her. This is so hard for me as i've been through the grieving cycle over and over again. It's exhausting and I'm wondering if I should take some time off from school. (I'm going into my third year of university). I see a therapist but I hate talking about this. It's too hard to deal with so until now, I've just kept it inside. How can my mom leave me already? I'm only 19.

I'm sorry that this is happening to you. And I'm very sorry that I can't give you any advice about this. I just want you to know that your in my prayers along with your mother. I am also pretty close to my mom. I don't tell her everything, but I tell her more than most poeple would tell their moms. And I know I'd hate to lose my mother!! You have my sympathy, and i'll definately pray for you!

Hey Hun,
I just want you to know my deepest regards are with you. I had an uncle pass away from brain cancer in 1999. I know it is really hard.
I know how hard it is to have someone so very close to you die. I've had it happen a lot in the past 10 years. I'm only 16 and I've already lost at least 12 relatives. I lost the person that I was closest to in 2003 to a one car drunk driving accident. She was my aunt, but she was more like a mom than anything. She was more of a mom to me than my real mom is. This death was VERY unexpected. She was the last person my family expected to lose. The worst part is it happened on one of the few holidays that my family celebrates.
My e-mail address and messenger addresses are in my profile if you ever want to talk.
My deepest regards are with you, hun.
*hugs*

~Jamie~

Thank you for your kind words. I'm sorry to hear about your loss, Jamie. I'd love to chat so I added you on msn.

Anyways, we saw the chemo specialist on Wednesday and it wasn't very positive. She has fluid building up in her lungs which needs to be removed before they do anything. That's not such a big deal. But when my aunt asked if they'd do chemo, she said "that's not an appropriate option". Well they already tried radiation and they can't really operate since she had her left lung removed 8 years ago. The doc wouldn't volunteer info unless my mom asked, so they never discussed life expectancy. So my aunt asked her friend who's a thoracic nurse. She predicted three months, which is similar to what my family doc was implying when we spoke. I can't believe this. I'm feeling panicky. How can life go on without my mom?

what will i do wrote:Hi, I'm new here but I need to share my experiences. My mom, who is incidentally my BEST friend, has been dealing with brain and lung cancer for the past 8 years. They initally gave her 4 yrs, so she's definitely been beating all the odds. However, it has recurred in her lungs. She went through radiation, which focused on a certain spot. Turns out it has spread and now she has it in both lungs. The next step is chemo and this is supposed to be the last resort. She could possibly respond well to this chemo and maybe it'll extend her life a few extra years. I just can't imagine life without her. i live with my parents and i'm not nearly as close with my dad as i am with her. This is so hard for me as i've been through the grieving cycle over and over again. It's exhausting and I'm wondering if I should take some time off from school. (I'm going into my third year of university). I see a therapist but I hate talking about this. It's too hard to deal with so until now, I've just kept it inside. How can my mom leave me already? I'm only 19.

Hey Amanda,
Your mom may overcome this. My grandma was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, on my brother's 18th birthday, and went the wanted to try chemo there was a 15% window of opportunity that the cancer would be cured. She got lucky and the 15% window just so happened to be the one that she got. I don't know what to tell ya, hun. I really don't.
Anyways, I gotta go.

~Jamie~