Struggling with My Daughter's Reactions to My Cancer Setbacks

Hey Kelly. Thank you for sharing this. I can only imagine how tough that is, especially after five years of fighting so hard. It’s clear your daughter loves you and wants the best for you, but I hear how much it hurts when her fear comes out as blame. You’re right that when someone we love is sick, it’s easier to focus on the things we think we can control, like food, exercise, or medication, even when we know deep down that cancer doesn’t always work that way. No one does everything perfectly all the time, and none of this is your fault. That said and in honoring your daughter’s thought process, if there are small things you can do, maybe those can become ways to take back some power. Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because you deserve to feel as strong as you can. Even small steps can add up. Sending a lot of grace your way. I hope you and your daughter can keep finding space to support each other through both the fear and the love you’re both carrying. 💛 Suzanne (Community Moderator)

Your thoughts helped me put my daughter’s comments in a little perspective. She doesn’t come around or call much, or answer most texts or calls from me. She a very good RN, but seems mad at me.

It sounds incredibly difficult to navigate both your cancer journey and these challenging family dynamics. When loved ones react with blame during setbacks, it often comes from their own fear and helplessness - they may feel like suggesting changes gives them some sense of control in an uncontrollable situation. This pattern is actually quite common in families facing long-term illness, where everyone is processing their own grief and anxiety differently. Have others in the community found helpful ways to communicate with family members about how their reactions affect them during treatment?