My Mum Is My Hero

by Lisa Wright
(Nottingham)

My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2008. From the day that she was diagnosed she has always been very optimistic. She never thought the worst. When she had breast cancer I only ever saw her cry twice.

When she started the treatment I was 14 and it was hard for me as I had 3 older brothers, but none of them lived with us. We all had our own ways of dealing with our mums cancer.

One of my brothers acted like it wasn't happening, and only faced the truth when he had to. If he didn't have to then he just didn't speak about it. One of my brothers just went out all the time with his friends and never really came and saw my mum, not because he didn't want to but because he couldn't deal with the fact that it was happening to our mum. My oldest brother just tried to put a strong face on around everyone even though we all knew it was killing him inside. He used to go to the pub and try and forget that way.

I didn't really speak to my mum about it either unless I had to ask her something about it that I couldn't hold in any longer.

My mum never really saw me cry either. I had a counsellor at school that helped me a alot and my friends were also very good to talk to. I only ever cried on them. I had to be strong for my mum because none of my other siblings were.

Through her treatment it got worse for me because she started loosing her hair and it was hard to see my mum like that. One day she had so much hair coming out that she asked me to just shave it off for her. I got half way through it and cracked. I don't think I have cried so much in my life. That was really the only time my mum saw me cry. My aunty had to finish it.

My mum was very strong through it. She had a wig, but never really wore it. She either wore hats or her bandanas. She used to find it hard when she was shopping as everyone would look at her with those sympathy eyes and she didn't like being the centre of attention... she never did.

Then she started having another treatment. This time it was at home and she didn't have to go to the hospital for it. This was hard for me as I didn't know who was going to be at my house at what day and times. Before all the treatment however, she had to have a mastectomy. She always said to us that she wasn't scared about it.

When she came home she asked me and my brothers if we wanted to see her scar. She said that showing people didn't bother her. Me and two of my brothers said we would see it but one of them said he didn't want to, and to this day he still hasn't seen it. He says that if she is ok then there is no need for him to see it. To this day she still shows people her scar if they want to see it.

My mum is my inspiration as she has coped with a lot of health issues in the past and still today.

I love my mum to pieces and she is a true survivor. She never gave up fighting. It just shows if you fight and don't give up then you beat cancer.

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