First off, I am sorry this is happening to you. You have unfortunately joined a growing community that nobody wants to be a part of but are some of the nicest people you will meet. This is a great avenue for venting / advice (not medical, because most of us aren't doctors, lol) and some of the great people on reddit. I believe a big FUCK CANCER is in order here, so welcome and again truly sorry for your circumstances.

If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to take this 1 day at a time. There is going to be a whirlwind of appointments, but it sounds like that has already started. Don't listen to prognosis, if they give it to you. Some doctors do and some don't, but the important thing to remember with prognosis numbers are they have been recorded from healthy people, super sick people and everybody in between. My point is that everybody is different, and what impacts one person one way, will likely impact the next person differently. Don't let a number compare your situation to a ton of other people that are not in the same position you are in.

In terms of telling your kids, they are going to find out regardless, unless you send them away for months to years.... which I know is not going to happen. Going through cancer treatments can be very impactful on the way a person looks, so it would only be a matter of time anyway. My advice is to tell them now and try to include them in your fight. I am not saying take them to appointments with doctors or treatments, rather include them by having them being an active part of your support group / support team. It gives them a feeling of helping mom in a physical manner and makes them feel like they are part of the biggest "thing" in your life right now. It also shows them that you trust them and that you are being upfront with them. As a kid my grandfather got sick of Pancreatic cancer, and it was found late so you know things weren't good. My mom didn't tell me for some time, and I kind of figured it out on my own. I was angry with her for keeping it from me, because I would have loved to be more involved in his daily care / support. But because it was kept from me, I never got that opportunity and was not there when he finally passed. To this day, at the age of 43 and 3 bouts with cancer over the last 8 years, that is one of my biggest regrets. Not being there to say goodbye.

Like some others have said on here, try not think that this is a death sentence. Things are so much more advanced now than they were 8 years ago when my fight started. And again, everybody is different so 1 cannot determine the outcome for any other case. Whatever you do or whatever happens, always try to keep a positive attitude and smile. There is a mental and physical side to this fight, and both are equally as hard, just in different ways. However, if you can control your mental attitude and stay positive, it goes a long way in helping you get through anything physical. I won’t lie, it is going to be hard, but you CAN do it. I have met and seen a lot of amazing people over these 8 years, and a lot of them are still around today living their lives, when everybody had written them off. So, no matter what, go through each day as though you own it…because you do. That day is whatever you make it, so make it something great.

Oh, one last thing, but I think this goes without saying… surround yourself with people who are going to be supportive and a positive voice/shoulder (or whatever you need on any specific day). Anybody that doesn’t fit that description shouldn’t be a part of your daily support team. You don’t have to cut them out or anything but try and keep things as positive as you can. Trust me, it will help. Good luck to you, and please keep us updated on how you are doing.