Katie - 15 years old

I think my mum is one of the bravest people on the planet. She has gone through all this and literally not once complained, the only thing she has said is she's worried how me and my dad are going to cope.

When I was about thirteen I found out my mum had grade 3 breast cancer which means it's a more aggressive type, I found out 2 days after coming home from a school trip on which I was heavily bullied. After my mum and dad explained everything to me I was obviously distraught. Me and my mum are so close because of everything going on I had the day off school but when I came back I was bullied about my weight, people saying oh where were you yesterday, KFC got your loyalty card with you and unfortunately I ended up telling everyone my mum has cancer on the comments of a bully's post.

Now I tear up and cry when people tease me about KFC as all the emotions of when I found out come rushing back. My mums care plan was 6 doses of chemo every 3 weeks surgery then radio. The chemo was extremely painful for her and she had two lots of surgery, one to extract a sample piece of tissue the other to try and remove the tumour. After the surgery her consultant went on maternity leave and her new consultant told us we don't need radio, the surgery was successful. This was about December 2012 we were very happy but I wasn't satisfied, I wanted the radio to make sure but obviously that's not my call.

After 1 month of feeling in the clear an MRI scan showed the cancer was back and that she must have more surgery and more chemo. The surgery left her with a drain in for two weeks and once removed she had to go back every other day for a week to get fluid removed as the drain was taken out to early. By this point her hair had grown back but not for long as she had more chemo but stronger doses which didn't affect her as she had built up an immunity to the pain. They then told us she was cancer free.

A couple of months later about December time she went for a check-up and yet again the cancer was back. She had 4 doses of chemo every other week until half way through they said no good it's not working at which point they said to try radio. Her original consultant was back by now and furious that she didn't receive the radio originally.

She has completed the radio and is currently on chemo tablets even more stronger. We were told at the start of her radio (January) she will be lucky to make it to Christmas. After losing her hair 3 times now, 4 doses of chemo, one radio and 3 lots of surgery she is going strong. The consultant now thinks she may last until next year but who knows.

I think my mum is one of the bravest people on the planet. She has gone through all this and literally not once complained, the only thing she has said is she's worried how me and my dad are going to cope. There's just the 3 of us and we have no other family. I have 2 uncles in Newcastle whom I've met twice and my mums other brothers don't care and don't want to even know her for a stupid argument I won't go into. My mums only worry is me and my dad as we constantly argue and never get along. She does everything for us, sorts our arguments, makes tea, does the washing, walks the dog - EVERYTHING and I really don't know how I'm going to survive as my parents are in their fifties and my dad also has health issues and my mum thinks he won't be far behind her so soon it's just gonna be me.

I'm so scared and through all this I have my GCSEs as I'm in year ten. I have dental surgery coming up and currently stressing over my weight. I don't know what I'm going to, do nobody can seem to relate. I'm in counselling, I've been in anger management, teachers and friends don't really care. It just all seems to be going wrong all at once :'(

 

Page updated 4 April 2014