Hi Little Sister,
I have two brothers, so I know what it's like to love a brother. It's close to how we love our children, we are caretakers to them usually.

I had my first cancer four years ago, had my jawbone removed and radiation. The cancer came back on my tongue in August, so had 1/3 of it removed on Oct. 4th. So far, so good. But, I'm back to living in that "limbo" of monthly visits and constant worry. I learned some lessons from my first time around, so this time I've applied them, which is difficult but doable. Trust me when I tell you that your brother needs, and I mean NEEDS someone to talk to him about his fears AND about his fears of dying and what will happen to his family. I needed it so badly but didn't want to burden my family with it. So I started writing it all in a journal that my rather nosey 26 year old took the liberty to read because she felt I wasn't opening up about how I felt. She spent hours talking to me after that, about what to do if I died, what to do with my girls, how to help my husband, funerals, college funds, my dogs, just EVERYTHING that came to my mind if I thought of myself dying and not being here. It's NOT morbid to do, it's a much needed conversation for those of us facing a possible death. Also, my doctor put me on anti anxiety medication and I can't speak enough on how much it's helped me. That along with an anti depressant has truly put me in a better mindset. I've taken on tasks I always wanted to finish but always put off, like getting all of my MILLIONS of pictures organized and into albums. I've been having a blast tracing my families ancestory, and doing other things that are fun but, in the back of my mind, I'm doing them so it will be DONE if something should happen to me. I laugh alot more, let my house get messier, etc. I couldn't do all of that until I took the medication, please get him some medication, it will help. Then allow him to talk freely. If that's to much for him, get him a journal so he can get the feelings out.
I will add him to our prayer list.
Love,
Minnie

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.