Mom was just diagnosed with cancer in her kidney.

[YvonneCa]

1. I am sorry that your mother is going...

...through this. Any cancer diagnosis is unbelievably scary. Mine was thyroid and breast, and I still struggle sometimes with the fear...even as I'm now doing well. Your mom is lucky to have a caring son like you to help her through it. From your post, I can see what a good son you are.

I will also say that a cancer diagnosis has a huge 'learning curve' for both the patient and the family. I thought I knew what breast cancer was, but I knew NOTHING. I was having to do research on my type of cancer.. which frightened me more. If you can do that along side her.. when she's ready... that will help you to understand and support her decisions.

Finally.. and you probably already know this...she is in the stages of grief right now. Denial and anger are the first ones. Anger that she has to deal with this. Anger at what the treatment is. Anger at financial/job implications. Anger that her son has to know and deal with it too. Etc...
Try to be patient. You sound WONDERFULLY patient. And take time to keep yourself strong. This is a marathon. You can only help her if you take care of yourself.

I wish you and your mom hope and strength. And may things get better as you go forward.

Edited to add...
After my cancer experiences, I am a bit touchy when people remind me of the usual 'safety precautions', like lock doors and don't do certain things because they worry about lurking danger. I did all those things and the scariest still got me...cancer.
So the lasting lesson I learned is not to be afraid of life. Live it! And I don't lock doors so much.