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hnjohnson
hnjohnson Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

Hello,

Breast cancer wasn't a big thing in my family before.  I thought breast cancer research was good but it wasn't like i was super involved. all that has now changed since my aunt (pretty much a second mom to me) was diagnosed with breast cancer in september.  She had a lumpectomy on Sept 11 and is now starting treatment.  She has to have chemo and radiation.  They are starting the chemo next wednesday.  I got an email from her today talking about her PET scan she had yesterday and i'm very worried.  She told me that she just doesn't know how she is going to make it through everything.  She gets very claustrophobic when doing scans like those and she gets headaches easily.  She ended up getting a terrible headache from not being able to eat before the scan.  After the scan she felt ill and threw up several times when she got home.  i just don't even know what to tell her.  I feel like i'm helpless.  i want to help her so badly!! i'm a college student so i'm very busy with school and work.  because of those things i'm not able to help her as much as i want to.  i'm constantly praying that things will get better but they always seem to get worse.  what do i do?  what can i say to make things seem better?  what can i say to encourage her?  what tangibly can i do for her even though i'm extremely busy???

as i said before, i feel absolutely helpless. 

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  • Isabella4
    Isabella4 Member Posts: 2,166
    edited October 2009

    Hi there hn.

    The best thing you can do for your Aunt is to stay in close touch. It really helps to get an email.

    If you are in college and work you'll find it difficult, but just a quick 5 minute email will let your Aunt see how much you care. She will know you are busy.

    When you get a spare few hours go round, clean some house, polish some windows !!

    She will feel rough the first few days after chemo, TRY and fit in a visit to help her out whenever you can.

    Treatment is very varied, we all have different scans, radiation and chemo treatments.....some of these are scarey. You tend to feel very alone, and are glad of someone who cares just doing what they can, your Aunt will understand what your college and work commitments are. Can you make up a bit between terms and go visit to catch her up with housework, and, as she gets further along, and is feeling a bit better maybe arrange a shopping trip together? Because she will get thru all this stuff, it takes a few months, but we do get thru !

    Point her in the direction of this board, she will find answers to any questions she has, and LOTS of support from ladies who have all travelled the same road. It helps enormously to 'talk' to others in the same boat.

    Good Luck, keep us informed.

    Isabella.

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