Community Chat

[Jazzybelle]

Please be kind as I am having a sad day. If you can't be kind, please just don't post.

As some of you know, my sister passed away in January after a horrific 3-year battle with inflammatory breast cancer. She was only 49. I feel guilty that I am still alive. I know this is irrational, and I know all about survivor's guilt, but that is where I am right now.

Last week my 82 year old mother was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma in both breasts. She also has Alzheimer's and has been hallucinating for several months causing her to be fearful in her home. Even with the hallucinations, the fear and the memory loss, she has periods of lucidity.

Here is the part for which I am requesting your opinions...

While out to dinner with my mother, brother and SIL Friday night, I said to my SIL that I did not know how the situation with my mother's breast cancer was going to work out. My SIL responded saying that she wouldn't do anything. She continued with, "she's lonely, she's scared, her memory's gone,... what will her quality of life be like?"

We haven't even seen the surgeon yet! We don't know the stage of the cancer or what her options might be. I feel that my SIL wants to "let her die" because she's too much trouble. I was really offended by her response.

Try to imagine yourself in my place. How do you think you might feel about what my SIL said?