Unsupportive family, but how?

Fuck Cancer

Age 40s single woman flying solo in the city. By flying, I mean floundering, struggling.

My bio family lives a few hours away. They didn’t act like they cared when I had cancer. In part bcuz they have seemingly “normalized” it bcuz nearly everyone in my family has had cancer, but typically not til their 70s or 80s. Having cancer isn’t some “big thing” or “unique/special” to them when nearly everyone gets it. But my isn’t it interesting how this changed a bit since my father now has 2 cancers?

Obviously, they didn’t visit at all during my treatment cuz they don’t care, leaving me to my own devices to compile a random assortment of friends and acquaintances. I drove myself to every single round of radiation.

Some of those folks I had during the JouRney I’ve removed after the JoURney when they revealed their true colors.

My father also has a major mental illness he doesn’t treat, my mother clings to him like a broken bird tho he’s a verbal abuser.

I’m earning a MSW currently, my dream job, because in part of what I saw and went thru during the jOUrney to help others. It’s really hard and involves 2 unpaid internships but it’s my true calling. I can’t tell
My family this, they’ll just say it’s too late for me, no one will hire me, and I’m too old (same things they said during my first masters degree 10 years ago).

Since my parents have no social skills, I’m regularly updated about medical news or family passings via text or email. They have no empathy. I think dealing with my mentally ill and angry father burned out my mother’s empathy.

It’s Mother’s Day, I’m texting not calling. I can’t with them. My father has 2 cancers now. I’m not sure what they “expect of me?” I’m six months behind on an annual breast MRI; obviously not keeping up on my own shit that great cuz I’m so sick of just cancer shit, including screenings and loathe the breast MRI.

I gained a lot of weight on my anti-depressant in the past months and barely exercise. I’m slacking now taking care of my own health. I eat tons of sugar before and during my period cuz Idgaf and the anti-depressant makes me crave it.

I know this is talked about here, and others have unsupportive families they deal with, but how? I’m drained.

Posted May 10, 2026, 10:13 PM UTC · edited

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