sisters are always better than friends

GreekLetterGirl · #1 06-18-2002, 11:59 PM

Just got some shitty news, I found out my grandmother has skin cancer, and I am very very very close to her, she is going in on Thursday for surgery.. I know that skin cancer is one of the " better cancer" ( if there is such a thing) to have, and but we don't know how far along it is, or how much it has spread or anything like that.... we won't know more till the Thursday..

Needless to say I called a friend who has called on me NUMUROUS times in their hours of need... ( in fact one of them was last night) yet they couldn't rouse them selves out of bed enought to figure out that something was wrong.... this hurt me GREATLY because I would and have gone to great lenghts for this person, yet the favor was not returned... so among other things it hurt me a lot, gave me a wake up call to how much they put in to a friendship yet don't give back....

Anyways I called my best friend/sister and they knew as soon as they answered something was wrong... she offered to come and get me and take me out for ice cream and was just there for a great cry and cried with me and listened to me... just made me glad that I have such a support system when I need them ...no matter what your chapter's ranking on campus this is what sisterhood/brotherhood is about... being there for your sisters and brothers ... just knowing I could call her and just cry about this makes me so greatful that I have joined my GLO....

sorry for the randomness of this but I just needed to vent...

CutiePie2000 · #2 06-19-2002, 12:13 AM

I am sorry to read that.
My sister survived malignant melanoma and she is doing well now.
If you are having a tough time coping, see if you can find a support group for Cancer Survivors and their Families. My sister went to one at her hospital and found it very helpful. They may have one at the hospital that your grandma goes to?

Also, there is a trial drug out there called 'Interferon'.
You might want to see if your Grandma's oncologist is aware of this. My sister used it and did not have to have chemotheraphy.
It worked and she has been skin-cancer free since 1998.

Your grandma needs you and your family members around her right now...make sure that you are spending time with her and just enjoying each other's company. She needs to know how much you all love her!

Good luck to you, God Bless and Stay Strong!

amycat412 · #3 06-19-2002, 03:48 AM

I am so sorry to hear about your Grandma.
My Grandfather has had several bouts of skin cancer and has survived each one with relative ease.

Good luck! I think CP2000's advice is right on. Talking to people who have been thru or are going thru what your family is now could be very helpful.

DeltaBetaBaby · #4 06-19-2002, 10:46 PM

I am so sorry to hear about your grandma. I know what you are going through, because I lost my stepdad during finals week. There was an outpouring of love and support from my sisters, and I actually slept at the house the night it happened because I couldn't go home until the next day and I didn't want to be alone in my apartment.

The problem was with some of my other friends. Jewish tradition says that we mourn at the house for seven days after the funeral, and friends stop by to comfort those in mourning. Some of my friends never stopped by or called, and it is really hard not to be angry at them.

I mentioned this to someone and he told me that he wasn't comfortable stopping by, but I think that is really selfish. His roommate was there, so it was not even like he would have to come alone, and it seems that a good friend would handle a little discomfort when I need them. Especially my Jewish friends, who know the tradition and live in the area.

On the other side, some of my friends from whom I have grown apart were there by my side, stopping by and calling to check in on me. Sisters with whom I am not that close weren't sure what to do, and a lot of them called other Jewish sisters to ask.

It just really made me re-evaluate some of my friendships, and how much effort I should be putting into them for what I am getting out.

FuzzieAlum · #5 06-20-2002, 11:39 AM

Skin cancer runs seriously in my family, and if it's any encouragement it's definitely the "best" cancer to get. I know, that doesn't make it good news, exactly, but keep your hopes and prayers up.

Maybe your friend will redeem herself; it's always better to have more supports when times are tough. But your sisters have taken the pledge to be there for you, even the ones you aren't close to or don't know as well, and times like this are some of the best for showing how valuable those ties are.