The C Word - Real Mum story on MoM

24 Comments

Last year my mum dropped the C word during a phone call. I was devastated, dropped to the floor and started crying. My mum had been having issues with her health for years, but never one to see a Dr, she thought she was going through lengthy menopause. She hadn’t had a Pap Smear test in 12 years (yep, 12).

Now she was on the phone in tears. She had just undergone a hysterectomy and the biopsy results had just come back. It was Stage 2 Uterine cancer. Early last year, I had no idea how many women were diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. I didn’t know what Stage 2 meant, what a Portacath was. I had no idea how draining, both mentally and physically, Chemo and Radiation are.

Mum was told she would begin Radiation 5 times a week and Chemo once a week for 3 months. Then there would internal Radiation treatment for 4 weeks and then another 4 lots of Chemo, each session to be spaced 3 weeks apart as it was so strong.

My darling mum really struggled. She had terrible nausea, hair loss, loss of appetite and thirst. She was unable to shower or dress herself for months. Unable to make herself a cup of tea or do grocery shopping. Mum reacted badly to all the treatments. She picked up two terrible infections which had her admitted to hospital both times. She was so scared she stopped leaving the house all together, not able to stand the thought of feeling worse than she already did.

It is heart breaking to watch the woman who raised me and my 3 sisters be so broken and sad. Unable to pick up her grand daughter, missing the birth of her second grandchild, unable to get out of bed on Christmas day.

Fast forward to today. Chemo and Radiation are done! I haven’t seen my mum look so bright and cheery in almost a year. She can now shower and dress herself. She can walk from the lounge to the bathroom withought losing her breath.

My mum fought Cancer and kicked it’s butt! I am so proud of my stong, corageous and beautiful mum. To all those who are fighting, I wish you all the best, from the bottom of my heart. I had no idea how hard it is to get through an hour, let alone a day. To survivors, I wish you nothing but many more years of good health and happy memories. To those who have lost someone to cancer, my heart goes out to you.

I am walking 60km in October for the Walk to End Women’s Cancers so that one day. a daughter won’t have to see her mum struggle against such a horrendous ordeal.

Posted by bridgette_hamilton, 11th February 2014

24 Comments

- - mum888 said
  - 03 Jan 2016
    6:43 am
Thank you for a hopeful and positive story . MY SIL was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and so far coping very well. Thank you .

- - mom113055 said
  - 14 Sep 2015
    3:46 pm
c word

- - mom103936 said
  - 16 Jul 2015
    10:48 am
Wow that is a nice story. It is important we get these female checks.

- - mom118423 said
  - 14 Jun 2015
    4:36 pm
Glad there was a happy ending

- - mom113055 said
  - 24 Apr 2015
    1:55 pm
i like reading these stories it s fun
- june11 replied
  
  20 Mar 2016 , 2:10 pm
  Your comment on this article is highly inappropriate.
  The result could have been terminal.
  To the brave lady that wrote this article, thank you as this gives others a timely reminder to have a check-up.
- - mom103936 said
  - 13 Jan 2015
    2:21 pm
Nice to here a positive story.
Have sadly had members of my family pass away from cancer.
Really touches my heart.

- - mom57522 said
  - 10 Jan 2015
    7:39 pm
It’s amazing how many peoples lives have been affected by cancer.

- - mom56842 said
  - 26 Sep 2014
    8:18 am
Please accept my best wishes to your and your mother and she really did kick butt – didn’t she.

- - no1ladydj said
  - 04 Aug 2014
    11:24 pm
It is the hardest thing in the world to see someone you love go through surgery, chemotherapy & radiotherapy for cancer. My mother went through it too, and it really makes you appreciate the “small” things in life, the ones that we often don’t acknowledge. I’m so pleased that your Mum is on the mend, and I hope that you and she have many more years together.

- - Yasmin Amber said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    10:47 pm
best wishes to you and your family and good luck in your journey

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 16 May 2014
    4:43 pm
what a fantastic daughter you are, raising money to help research, I wish you well with everything

- - scottie said
  - 15 May 2014
    12:23 pm
Good on you for doing the walk!

- - kathryn said
  - 30 Apr 2014
    9:45 pm
I know how receiving that phone call is like as I got similar with my dad who is fighting bowel cancer

- - coppin85 said
  - 30 Apr 2014
    7:06 pm
Your mum sounds amazing and what your doing is amazing!

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 27 Apr 2014
    5:07 pm
What a great thing you are doing in participating in the walk. It’s great to hear your mum fought cancer and won!

- - shazzbot said
  - 10 Apr 2014
    4:17 pm
Thank you for sharing your story, I am glad your mother is doing a lot better now. Unfortunately, I lost my mother 4 years ago to cancer, it was very quick in the end and unfortunately I did not get to say good bye. So I really feel for anyone with cancer and the people who are left behind.

- - mindafaye said
  - 09 Apr 2014
    6:35 pm
That is wonderful news! I’m so very sorry that your mum and your family have had to go through such an horrendous time, it is such an invasive and insidious disease! I know you probably already do, but treasure each and every minute that your mum remains in your life – I lost a dear friend of mine last year (she was only 31), and would give so much to just be able to hug her again. I have another friend who was given 12-18 months to live almost 3 years ago (breast cancer, she’s still stage 4 metastatic), she’s fighting it, and I hope she wins. I’m so very happy to read that your mum has come through the other side.

- - christial said
  - 06 Apr 2014
    1:38 pm
Stay strong. Very happy that your mother is doing well.

- - jodie80 said
  - 01 Apr 2014
    12:39 am
im so glad your mum is doing well now…..

- - fatheroffaprincess said
  - 31 Mar 2014
    7:02 pm
stay strong, al the best in time to come