Woman battling cancer caring for her elderly mother

MJ has been living in Ville-émard for the last 20 years. She lives with her elderly mother, who she takes care of while also undergoing radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer.

The treatments are spread out, not only because of COVID-19 concerns and things generally moving slower at the hospital, but also because radiotherapy burns and MJ needs time to recuperate at home.

“There's not really much else I can do besides go to the hospital and get radiotherapy,” said MJ.

Each treatment session lasts about three hours and she said they're painful and not easy to sit through. She doesn't know exactly what will come when this round of treatment ends. She also hasn't received a clear prognosis since her diagnosis in August.

“I don't know how much longer I have,” she said. “Maybe two years, maybe less, maybe longer.”

She could also recover completely, but she's cautious about getting her hopes up simply because her form of lung cancer is considered aggressive.

Right now, her focus is purely on doing what her doctors say and showing up to all her appointments on time.

MJ is retired and has been living on welfare the last 20 years.

Besides treatment and taking care of her mother, there isn't much else she can do. She needs to save her strength and, in her condition, she is considered high risk for COVID-19. Going for walks isn't possible right now.

Her mother is in good health, but understandably concerned about her daughter. Meanwhile, MJ will do everything she can while she takes on the fight of her life.

This year, MJ will be one of the thousands of Montrealers in need to receive a $125 cheque from the Montreal Gazette Christmas Fund. The fund helps make the holidays a little easier for those in tough situations.