My 57 year old mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in August 2012. I don't know many details but I think there is liver involvement. Just a couple of weeks ago we found out it spread to her shoulder too. Her upper humerus ended up fracturing so she went to get it surgically fixed about 10 days ago. She went to Memorial Sloan in NYC. The doctors replaced her entire upper humerus bone.
Since she's gotten out of the hospital she doesn't seem to stop crying. I'm writing this as I listen to her hysterically cry in the room next door. My dad is trying to comfort her but it doesn't seem to be working. I asked her what was going on and she said she didn't want to feel like this anymore. I don't know if that's cancer in general or just pain from the surgery. I feel so helpless. I'm 19 and my life has kind of gone downhill ever since my mom was diagnosed with cancer.
I think she was really traumatized from the hospital experience and it made cancer even more real. As far as I know, my mom will never be cured, and I think the hospital visit and the operation freaked her out.
While she isn't crying 24/7, she will usually wake up and cry for a little while, and she'll randomly cry throughout the day. I am wondering if this is okay. I don't know what to say when this happens. I tell her that it will get better day-by-day but I have no idea.
Does anyone have any advice? How much crying is normal? When does it become abnormal? What can I say to my mom when she starts crying like she's doing right now?
Thanks