Dear j88. It must have been a dreadful shock for your mum. Diagnosed with breast cancer, then mastectomy, how old is she? She's been through so much trauma, losing a breast is pretty major stuff. She possibly feels that losing her breast means she no longer looks beautiful. You and I know she's still the same person, but, to her, she isn't. Have you been in touch with a cancer survivors group? I would contact them, ask your Dr/specialist for a referral. If she can talk to other survivors, it would give her the opportunity to get more support. She needs to talk to people who've been through the same thing and understand her fears and doubts. It's possible that even though she's been told she's 'clear', she simply doesn't believe it. She's also possibly scared she will lose the other breast. Get hold of some printed material about surviving cancer, leave them where she can access them. Don't force her to read them but if she sees them, curiosity may cause her to have a look. Do you have a father, she desperately needs reassurance that she's still beautiful. If she has your dad or a partner, try to encourage him to show her how much he loves and wants her. Once she talks to others who have survived cancer, hopefully it will help her. Encourage her to talk about her fears, keep reiterating about getting her into a survivors group. Printed matter will also encourage a survivors group.
