I know most people post in sanctuary for spiritual support when family is ill but I am not religious and do not pray so thought this the best forum.

My mom has had various illnesses for sometime now. She has cirrhosis of liver, has had bladder cancer, type 2 diabetes, kidney stones that required several surgeries and more.

Most recently she had a mammogram and they sent her back for an ultrasound. The results were sent to her physician that she has been with for a long time and he has scheduled her for a biopsy on Sept 24. He told her that it is probably malignant and stage 4. She didn't know what stage 4 meant and I was too overwhelmed to explain it but her sister told her, there is no stage 5.

She has one sister who has breast cancer that had a mastectomy a couple months ago and another sister who just found out she has breast cancer and is waiting to see what the oncologist recommends.

I am kind of in shock right now, I think. I don't think anybody is ever ready to hear this kind of diagnosis. I don't know what to do. Everything like cards and flowers seem so insignificant. I want to spend time with her but I find it hard to not show my fear in my face.