Real Life

Mother and daughter battle breast cancer together

When mum is sick I look after her, and when I am sick she looks after me.

One diagnosis of cancer is awful enough for a family but a Queensland mother and daughter have both been diagnosed with cancer just months apart.

North Queensland teen Bethany Carlton was just 17 when she was told she had Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer, the Brisbane Times reports.

After having a lump removed from her breast just months before her 18th birthday and starting chemotherapy Bethany’s mother, Mybritt Larsen, revealed that she too had been diagnosed with breast cancer a mere three months after her daughter began treatment.

“I just started laughing and then she started laughing and I said, ‘I am so sorry, I feel terrible but this is just so random, what are chances of this happening,'” Ms Carlton told the Brisbane Times.

“I said, ‘Why are you trying to steal my thunder Mum? I am the one with cancer, not you!’.

“After that I went to my friend’s house and I had a little cry because I was a little upset.”

While the testing experience might be enough to crush any family Bethany, who is due to finish her treatment next month, says the whole ordeal has brought the family closer together.

“When mum is sick I look after her, and when I am sick she looks after me,” Bethany says. “My appreciation for the little things has grown.”

“I love waking up in the morning and feeling good. I used to sleep in until 11am in the morning and now I get up at 7am, have my breakfast and get out and do stuff.

“It has changed my outlook and appreciation for things. All the novelty things that people want in life is just nothing to me. As long as I am healthy, I have friends and family around me, I have food and a roof over my head, I am really lucky.”

VIDEO: Ellen and Portia Adopt a Kid!

Loading the player...

Related stories