Guest blog: Being the Mum of a cancer patient

As all mums know, when your child hurts, you hurt. To be told that your child has cancer comes as a devastating blow. Your initial reaction is to want to punch holes in doors and you question what went wrong and why such a decent, clean living, generous and clever person should be the one chosen for this illness. None of this though is constructive or helpful to the patient so what you have to do is accept it and get on with it. The most important thing is to adopt the mood of the patient and be positive and to play to your strengths. If you know you will be stuck in the hospital loo or cry, then stay at home and do what you are good at. Cook a nourishing meal, or buy some food in, buy anything that will make life easier or more comfortable for the patient. Do anything in the background that you can without showing any sadness. Talk about wigs as if it is second nature and watch your child go through all the stages because six months on, after you’ve bought every toilet roll that the supermarket ever stocked and you’ve forgotten what it’s like to go to sleep or wake up without cancer on your mind, your child will be looking better, sounding better and laughing at your jokes.


Amanda's Mum