Hi Kymmaree, I lost my mum when I was a 23 to breast cancer (1994), and struggled for many dark years without professional emotional support, I began to drink to cope with the pain, which just numbed the inevitable. Without any parents to guide me, I finally accepted that I needed grief counselling, some 8 years later to help me untangle the frozen grief and loss I was encapsulated within. I found an amazing qualified counsellor to talk to, hear all my pain, listen fully and hold the emotional space so I could break down and release my emotional suffering. This was my healing and turning point toward acceptance of her death without feeling guilty that I was abandoning her by wanting to stop hurting because she died. Kate. ... View more

Hi Angelicyang, I am also in a same sex relationship and totally understand the difficulty that comes with extended families not supporting our relationships through sickness and health. Your not alone my sister, I walk with you and hear you. I supported my mother during her cancer journey with several diagnosis, one being brain cancer and feel your struggle, know your worry and sadness, and honor your strength to walk beside by the one you love. I agree that you, and only you, can make decisions about caring for your partner. The length of time together is not relevant to the degree of love and care that we give, I look back and regret nothing about loving, caring and supporting the ones I love. My only encouragement would be that you seek your own support for yourself during this time, I later wished that I had of organised to have ongoing counselling during her cancers for my own emotional support so I could have had someone to cry with and care for me. I spent years caring for my mum and supporting her, being the strong one and put my own emotional care on hold. I eventually ran out of energy and feel into pieces. There is a Lesbian breast cancer support group in Melbourne, if you ring them they may know of some services/counselling that you can access depending where you live to support you during this time. http://www.bcna.org.au/membergroup/group/lesbian-cancer-support-group Kate. Southwest, Western Australia. ... View more

Hi Angelicyang, I am also in a same sex relationship and totally understand the difficulty that comes with extended families not supporting our relationships through sickness and health. Your not alone my sister, I walk with you and hear you. I supported my mother during her cancer journey with several diagnosis, one being brain cancer and feel your struggle, know your worry and sadness, and honor your strength to walk beside by the one you love. I agree that you, and only you, can make decisions about caring for your partner. The length of time together is not relevant to the degree of love and care that we give, I look back and regret nothing about loving, caring and supporting the ones I love. My only encouragement would be that you seek your own support for yourself during this time, I later wished that I had of organised to have ongoing counselling during her cancers for my own emotional support so I could have had someone to cry with and care for me. I spent years caring for my mum and supporting her, being the strong one and put my own emotional care on hold. I eventually ran out of energy and feel into pieces. There is a Lesbian breast cancer support group in Melbourne, if you ring them they may know of some services/counselling that you can access depending where you live to support you during this time. http://www.bcna.org.au/membergroup/group/lesbian-cancer-support-group Kate. Southwest, Western Australia. ... View more