Dear Abby: Daughter Hides Illness From Centenarian Mother
The daughter says doctors expect a cure, but her low white blood cell count prevents her from flying to help her 100-year-old mother.
- A daughter writing to Dear Abby revealed she cannot visit her 100-year-old mother across five states because a cancer diagnosis has compromised her immune system, leaving her unable to travel safely.
- The daughter, known as 'Guilty in Washington,' explained she kept her illness private from family, now struggling as relatives condemn her unexplained absence and question her commitment to her mother.
- Doctors advised against travel because her 'immune system is low,' yet they expect a cure since the cancer was caught early, creating a medical paradox that justifies her difficult choice.
- Advice columnist Abigail Van Buren urged the daughter to stop infantilizing her mother, recommending she explain her 'immune system is low' without necessarily using the word 'cancer' immediately.
- Van Buren emphasized that if the mother inquires, the daughter should tell her the truth, stressing that open communication is vital despite the impulse to shield aging parents from harsh realities.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Dear Abby: I don’t want to tell my 100-year-old mother that I have cancer
DEAR ABBY: I have cancer. I have been expecting to be diagnosed with it since I was a teen. It is my family’s disease. My mother is 100 and still has her faculties, but she is frail. I have shared the diagnosis with my children, and I assume they told my grandchildren. My husband and my best friend know of my condition. The doctors say that because I caught the cancer very early, they expect a cure and are not just prolonging my life.
Michigan Live
Dear Abby: Daughter hides illness from centenarian mother
Dear Abby: Daughter Hides Illness From Centenarian Mother - West Virginia Daily News
DEAR ABBY: I have cancer. I have been expecting to be diagnosed with it since I was a teen. It is my family’s disease. My mother is 100 and still has her faculties, but she is frail. I have shared the diagnosis with my children, and I assume they told my grandchildren. My husband and my best friend know of my condition. The doctors say that because I caught the cancer very early, they expect a cure and are not just prolonging my life. My mother …
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