Welcome to OCF. You will find lots of support here to help you with your questions. I know its upsetting to you, but please try to stay calm so you can think logically. Your mom will need lots of help to get thru this. I hope you are able to find a way to go back home temporarily to help her, your brother and sister. Im sorry to hear of the other family members you have lost to cancer.

Just by having a cancer diagnosis doesnt mean its a death sentence. Many many people live thru this. Treatments arent easy. Surgery is easier most of the time than chemo/radiation. This all depends on many different factors like her age, stage of cancer, location of the cancer, her overall health, etc.

Many cancer treatment centers offer emotional support for family members. I would highly recommend this for your brother and sister. My children were teenagers when I went thru this and they struggled with coming to terms with my illness. As teenagers are usually very self sentered, it takes some adjusting to realize their parent isnt invincible and needs help.

Please feel free to lean on us for support and to answer your questions. There is also tons of info on the main OCF pages.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile