...
Last night my mum rang me to ask if I could come round as she wanted to speak to me and my brother. Expecting to give out computer advice or help with something, I agree and arrange a time.

I turn up and we are all sat in the kitchen, Mum holding her boyfriend's hand. She starts with "There's not really an easy way to say this..." and I smile and think 'aww, proposal'...

She's been diagnosed with leukaemia, she's 49.

Fuck.
(gin'll fix it, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:11, 17 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

well that's fucking awful

( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:13, Reply)

Oh Gin.
Fuck it. It's a fucking awful feeling.
( thealternativefact, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:18, Reply)

Bloody hell!
My mum is 64 and recently told me she had a mini stroke a while ago. None of us knew or noticed any change in her.

I feel for you and I know there's never a good time to think that your mum won't be around for ever.
( girlinthehole, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:19, Reply)

Sorry
There's not must else you can say, and that word doesn't do it justice.
(The Apeface Cherub is not a cunty-uber-cunt, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:26, Reply)

pants pants pants
Mate, thats shit. If it helps i know of an old lady who was diagnosed 8years ago and is still going strong. I also know a chap who was diagnosed about 6 or 7 years ago and is still ok.

I hope everything turns out well for you, brother and mum.
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:26, Reply)

Oh fuck Gin
Sorry man!
(Herr Doktor Lemminge Is bored, so cheer me up!, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:44, Reply)

That's shit.
*offers teddy bear*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:46, Reply)

This happened to me recently...
I know exactly how you feel. Its such a horrible feeling. What type of Leukaemia is it? Do you know if it is chronic myloid?

All I can say is gets a lot easier to deal with once you know more about the illness and what treatment etc your mum will be going through.
(Errorist, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 13:56, Reply)

If I was your mother
I'd have at least written it on a big chocolate cake. EDIT or i'd have done the AIDs song from Family Guy, replacing the word AIDs with leukaemia, obviously.

Sorry, I have no idea how awful you must be feeling, you have my deepest, sincerest sympathies, you poor bloke.
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 14:16, Reply)

Cheers all...
Means a lot.

I think she mentioned chronic myloid last night, it's very, very early stages at the moment. Quite amazing anything was found at all; she went to have a blood test after having swollen ankles after a plane journey, the consultant (only 30 years old) had a strange feeling about the results and she couldn't explain what it was, and that if she asked any of her colleagues opinions they'd think she was being crazy or over-cautious, but she proceeded on this hunch.

Fantastic news as the earlier the symptoms are recognised, the better chance we have. But not so good as I understand that there has to be a lot of waiting to see how things turn out before treatment starts.

They're going down to London on Monday to break the news to my younger brother who's at Uni down there, and my Gran too.

Literally can't fucking believe it, she's the healthiest, fittest, most pro-active, generous person I know.

She's so positive about it too, she knows she's going to beat it and even said she feels "fucking sorry for the fucking thing for even trying it on", never heard her swear so much before.

Apologies for all this, i'm terrible about speaking to people about things like this but it's very cathartic* to get it out to a bunch of strangers on the internet...

*edit: thanks, cathartic was indeed the one.
(gin'll fix it, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 14:37, Reply)

I think the word your looking for is cathartic?
.
( girlinthehole, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 14:52, Reply)

No, BGB
It's 'arousing' he's thinking of, he's a B3tan, DUH.

*gets it out with a bunch of strangers on the internet*
( Bert Monkeysex is waiting for the mods to delete him, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 14:57, Reply)

***cathartic***

*mumbles something about stupid delaying proxy servers*
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 14:57, Reply)

Chronic Myloid is what my Dad has...
This may sound weird but thats the best type of Leukaemia to have. When my dad first told me I completely freaked out but I've learnt so much about it since. Myloid leukaemia can be controled much better than the normal leukaemia and there are some really good new drugs on the market to deal with it. The new american drug (Imatinib)that my dad takes has sent the disease into complete remission. His white blood cell count is as good as a normal persons now.

Your mum will probably have to have quite a few blood tests and some bone marrow biopsies but there is a lot that can be done for her. The hospital might also ask her brother/sisters and maybe cousins for blood tests too as their blood can sometimes be used for treatment too. Weirdly offspring's won't be such a close match.

I really hope it all goes well for you and your mum, I know how you feel.

Do contact me if you need anymore advice, I'd be happy to help!
(Errorist, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 16:20, Reply)

*hugs*
glad it was caught early and she sounds like a fighter so I am sure she will cunt that leukaemia right in the fuck!
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 16:47, Reply)

*hugs*
Getting news like that must be an awful feeling... Not knowing what the future holds is damn scary.

It does sound as though your mum has as much in her favour as it's possible to have in this situation, and there are positive stories of others who have gone through the same thing.

And if virtual love and support transmits through the ether, there's a whole bunch of it coming from here...
( warmfuzzies Isn't here, Sat 22 Nov 2008, 0:32, Reply)