Wow. My family has cancer. Pretty harsh.
Life in 2008 was going along pretty swimmingly until February 22nd when late in the day I got a phone call at work. It was my Mom crying on the other end. My sister, who's just 32, has breast cancer. Breast cancer??!! She's way too young for that. That's what the doctors thought too.
And even harder is the fact that my sister has been estranged from our family for sometime now. We didn't know if she'd talk to us or let us be there for her. Luckily for all of us though, she's allowed us back into her life and we're all so happy to be there for her.
Slowly the word has been getting out to family and friends of her situation and I've been really touched by all the loving emails that have been coming in, in support of my sister and our family. It's still pretty weird though, not only that my sister has cancer but to realize that wow, my family has cancer.
Everyone has been touched by this disease somehow, everybody knows somebody.....but then when it's a family memeber, it really changes everything. I didn't realize it until speaking with a friend who was telling me how his Mom also has breast cancer right now. He was asking about my sister and then about me. It really hit home when he said that while my sister is the cancer patient, it's the family that has cancer. It's true. My family has cancer and we're all having to deal with it. So far I've pretty much been in shock. I haven't really known what to do or how to act. I've tried to be really strong around my sister, been positive and supportive, but really, what can I do? I imagine some of you reading this have had to deal with cancer before and I'd love your comments, advice, suggestions on how to deal with cancer. Obviously the focus is on my sister and getting her well, but I want to make sure I too deal with this so that I can be the best person for her.
I know this isn't the happiest topic, but if anyone has any advice for me or for my sister I'd really appreciate it. Think of it as your good deed of the day. In the meantime, here's a link that I think I'll be using a lot in the near future. It's the Mayo Clinic's website with lots of information on breast cancer. Hopefully you'll never have to use this link for yourself.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
My Family Has Cancer
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Hi Rebecca,
My family has cancer too!
Im so very sorry to hear that your sister has breast cancer. Last year we celebrated my Mom's 60th Birthday with our family and her very best friends, knowing The next week she would begin her treatment for Breast Cancer. I had NO idea how to deal with my feelings...I felt like I wanted to scream, cry, love, deny and be opomistic all at the same time. My Mom endured a year of chemo, radiation and surgery...she was thankfully(Thank God Thank God Thank God...) given the clean bill of health January 2008!
I truly believe that in order to be strong for your family and your sister you need to be strong and healthy yourself. Take care of your body your mind and your loved ones.
Last year I signed up for The Test of Medal.. There were many many many days that I didn't want to train and I wanted to quit. I felt guilty, sad... Instead I put a picture of my Mom on the frount of my handle bars and everytime I rode I thought of her and I dedicated every single hour of training and every muddy hour on race day to her. It helped me SO much to ride with friends to stay social and to stay strong mentaly and physically. I found I was a better support for my Mom my kids and my family that way. My sister and I also got a team together to Run for the Cure in September.
My Mom said that she truly loved that we all did that for her. She really didn't have energy to do anything but sleep...she loved that we were always thinking of her even if we couldn't be with her all the time.
Rebecca You totally know how to be there for your sister! Bring her that beautiful smile of yours, share all the info you collect with your family and with your sister,cry and laugh when YOU need to, keep being the wonderful person that you are...
Hugs to you and your family
Audrie
Almost seven years ago now, I had just gotten back to my friends house after canvassing for BC Cancer, when my mom called to tell me she had breast cancer. I remember feeling like my heart had dropped out of my body. Cancer? But nobody in our family has had beast cancer. How could this be? As the news got around our family we found out that, indeed, more than one of our close relatives had breat cancer. She had even had a mastectomy that almost no one had known about. I can't imagine how alone she must have felt. Aren't we so lucky as women now to have so much support when it comes to this disease. My mom has taken this diagnosis and changed her life. She has become active in "survivor" teams, in fundraising, and most importantly, she has become active in her own health. My mom and I became extremely close during the process of her surgery, her treatment, her recovery, and now her FREEDOM from cancer. I don't know if we would have the relationship that we have now...
You will all get through this with tons of support from all of those around you! Love you.
Christie
Hi Rebecca - Cancer hits so many people at the most unexpected times. Eric lost his uncle to lymphoma 7 years ago. My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer over 6 years ago - She found out two days after her 36th birthday that she had it... After a full right mastectomy, chemo and a cocktail of drugs for 5 years, she is officially in remission and cancer free as of last August... I lost a dear friend 5 years ago of cancer to the appendix... and I just found out early Feb that my dad has prostate cancer. It is a difficult thing to go through, but with lots of support and love, you can weather most of it. Good luck to you and your family, and especially your sister as she faces a difficult battle. All our love and thoughts are with you!
Linda
Post a Comment