Forum Discussion
Keep me strong
I was diagnosed 15/4/20. I had a Mastectomy on my right breast 30/4/20. The cancer was 10.4 cm & the 6 node soldiers have returned all cancerous. Tomorrow I go back into hospital to have the rest of t...
Dear @jodiek
Best wishes for your return home. You will hear this refrain many times but somewhere you will need to put yourself first. Your mother, who is doubtless caring and well intentioned, is exhausting you and herself. Let her feel that you welcome and appreciate her concern but then make whatever excuses you can dream up to get the space you need! A practical helper can be a great asset but effectively having to look after someone else at this time is not productive. I didn’t have a breast care nurse but if you have one maybe she can help smooth that problem. My mother was well into her eighties when I was diagnosed and in a nursing home. Staff there were really helpful about whether to tell her or not. After a bit of initial distress, she decided that she could best help by being positive and ‘normal’ which she did, which benefitted us both. Best wishes.
Best wishes for your return home. You will hear this refrain many times but somewhere you will need to put yourself first. Your mother, who is doubtless caring and well intentioned, is exhausting you and herself. Let her feel that you welcome and appreciate her concern but then make whatever excuses you can dream up to get the space you need! A practical helper can be a great asset but effectively having to look after someone else at this time is not productive. I didn’t have a breast care nurse but if you have one maybe she can help smooth that problem. My mother was well into her eighties when I was diagnosed and in a nursing home. Staff there were really helpful about whether to tell her or not. After a bit of initial distress, she decided that she could best help by being positive and ‘normal’ which she did, which benefitted us both. Best wishes.