It's a Family Thing

Well, this is something I wish I did not have to write, but kind of knew I was going to.My mother has been diagnosed with Uterine Cancer!  We all knew that something was wrong with her for a long time.  She's had symptoms for over THREE years! But my mother is stubborn and refused to have a checkup.  In fact, she has NEVER had a regular pap smear or mamagram, or anything.  Despite the fact that she had six kids, she has not gone to the doctor since, except for pnemonia.  So we really don't know how long she has been growing this inside her.  But she has told me that she had bleeding every day at a certain time of the day for over three years.  (By the way, she did not tell anyone for 2 and a half years.  And when she did tell us, of course we did everything possible to get her to get checked, but she kept stalling.)  Lately she has been letting me know that the cramping has been getting worse and more painful, and disrupting her life. Now this woman is in her 70's and still works full-time at Walmart.  Nobody can get her to stop, even though she comes home limping every day.  On her days off, she works just as hard.I know that because of what I went through, she decided to get some health insurance and go for it.  But of course she did not tell anyone when the appointments were, and went through the biopsy with no pain killer and waited until she got the cancer word to tell me.   I have many mixed feelings right now, and leading them is anger at her.  She will not let anyone help her, be there for her, talk to her, etc.  I tried to get my doctor to look at her since I know he's the best, and she changed the appointment on me.   I will be talking to my therapist about this, hopefully within the week to keep my sanity.I have two sisters, and already one of them is fighting with me over something my mom said.  I think we are all on edge and don't know what to do or how to react.  I am a nurturer who would do anything I could, and yet my mother will not let me even be there for her.  Also, I think it could have spared me at least one surgery if I had known cancer runs in the family. I know this site is one place where I can find understanding and support, so I've sort of let it all out on you.  I have felt so good about myself, and now I wonder if my mom will be around for Christmas this year.  Funny how you think sometimes.  June 2nd is my parents 57th anniversary, and I'm barely able to think about sending them a card.  Thank God I'm already on antidepressants! Sorry for this downer, but maybe in some way it will bring out something good, even in a discussion form or whatever.Thanks friends!Love ya!Theresa