My mother passed away from Cancer and I did not cope well. However, looking back there were some things that I wish I had done. I wish I had not been angry with her. I wish I had played games like monopoly and cards with her instead of worrying constantly about WHEN "IT" was going to happen. I wish I had worked through some things and found peace while she was alive. I wish I had asked the doctors more questions and understood that they had decided not to treat her cancer agressively because she could not afford it. So do those things you can now while she is alive and concentrate on quality of life.

Very difficult news indeed.. how do you cope? Well, when I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer (cancer of the lymph nodes) at 32 my girls were 8 and 9 years old. They coped by just being there for me, holding my hand when I needed it, laying with me when I was in pain waiting for the meds to kick in, and loving me every moment I was alive instead of mouring me as though I was already dead.

I think the mourning thing is the most important thing they did NOT do.. a loved one who is diagnosed with cancer needs people to treat them like they will be fine no matter what they say/think/do, even if it makes them mad sometimes. If people had been whispering about how badly i was doing all the time, or crying like they thought I would die soon... mabey I wouldnt have survived, hard to guess. But they didnt, they loved me everyday like I was just the same old mommy and didnt let me dwell on how awful the situation was.

*With love* Jenn

ps.... if you ever have any questions that no one seems able to answer, Im not sure I can either, but please ask because I promise I will try.. google is great if nothingelse...