The Painful Truth I Learned Too Late, Struggling with the Painful Truth About My Mum’s Choices”
It’s been six years since my mum passed away from gastric cancer, and it’s been incredibly hard. For all this time, I lived with the belief that her cancer was detected too late, and I constantly wondered how things might have been different if it had been caught earlier. Just a few days ago, while talking with my dad, I learned that she actually knew about her condition much earlier than I thought. When she was first diagnosed, she had three treatment options: chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy. But she insisted it was a spiritual attack, dismissing the medical options. It wasn’t until her condition reached the fourth stage, when her older brother found out and forced her to seek treatment at Shika, that she finally tried to get help. But by then, it was too late. I was stunned and deeply hurt. I often think about what it would have been like to have my mum around during my teenage years—taking pictures, having heartfelt conversations. I cried myself to sleep so many nights after her death. I was emotionally drained and had to take on responsibilities that no 13-year-old should have to. Now, discovering that she might have had a chance to survive but chose not to seek treatment leaves me feeling pained and confused. I’m angry that her decision cost us so much. I’m here to share my heartache with you all and seek your advice. How do you cope with such feelings of betrayal and loss? What can I do to move forward and find some peace with this revelation?
