Hello, this is my first time to talk about how scared I am. My mum (63, smoker) has had a hoarse voice for about a year and a half, maybe even 2 years. She has been going to various doctors where they did not know what it might be caused by, and they gave her antibiotics. Anyway, she was finally sent to a specialist who suggested laryngoscopy with full anesthesia. They removed a little bit of tissue for biopsy. A week after, my mum went for an after-surgery check-up and they did not tell her that she has cancer, rather they told her that there are some cells that are not 'normal' however that it's too early to begin treatments (radiation they said). Apparently they will keep observing it and she should come again in 3 weeks.
She and I are of course worried that 'not normal' cells mean cancer. They did not say that word though. My mum is depressed, so I am, I am scarred that they will tell her she has cancer. Can you please tell me how to communicate with her? I need to help her feel a little better and to be more positive. She keeps saying things like 'nothing matters anymore'. I am also worried that it might be in advanced stage, since she has had the hoarse voice for so long. It's getting better and then worse on-and-off.
Thank you so much and all the best to you all. Sara