Hi Jennifer,

Amy and Mike's wife have said the best. I can only relate my own experience...

My mother was mean to me, when I was going through treatment, a sort of a reverse story.

I was angry at her for the insensitivity I felt was coming from her in regard to my situation. But I also understood her strong emotions...the anger towards this disease, the thought of losing a child, and also she had lost her mother to cancer.

I also lashed out, being unsure of my future. (I hated being nasty, but sometimes it just popped out). Now my mother has cancer, and we have become closer in a special, different way, both being patients.

My elder sister has been wonderful in helping us both with chores and medical visits, but she also lashes out at times to us both (quite understandable, her closest family ill - Mum and I call her Mrs Hitler!), and all of these strong emotions can be very volatile, besides the tears...

Sometimes it's hard to deal with these volatile emotions, but they do make you stronger and much closer. Talking helps heaps, and hugs, and tolerance.

Tizz