Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel angry and cheated of this friendship

7 replies

WinterKitchen · 06/07/2025 09:10

My oldest friend is in hospital, possibly being moved to a hospice soon. She has been in hospital for 10 days now with a catalogue of different ailments mostly caused by self neglect and badly controlled diabetes. Her sisters, only one of whom lives locally, and I have tried to help over the last few years with health issues but she's ignored what we suggested and got worse. She's been very depressed for some time, on medication but also had some phone counselling that to be honest didn't help. She regularly cancelled appointments because she was frightened.

When she went to hospital she told one of her sisters she had something to show her - she's had a lump in her breast for months almost a year. She's also had excruciating back pain for about three months that until we knew about the breast assumed sciatica. The doctors think it's spread to her back/spine.

She's not eaten properly for about six months and had queasiness and the runs on and off since Christmas.

Another friend is currently being treated for breast cancer caught early and she's doing well. The opportunity to tell me at the time I talked to her about it was there and she said nothing. I found a lump a couple of years ago and she went on at me to get it checked (I did and it was nothing) so aibu to be so angry and devastated that she didn't take her own advice?

She's got an aunt and a sister who've both had BC and recovered. She's never told her doctors about this. Her sisters and aunt have yearly mammograms.

I'm heartbroken that I'm going to lose my oldest friend through her own foolishness. I know I may seem harsh. We were at school together and very close at uni and since then. I'm heartbroken for her having wasted her life and for her sisters.

I don't know how to handle it.

She's on morphine for the back pain and talking a lot of nonsense but does have normal moments. I've not said anything to her that I'm angry about it. She told one of her sisters that she'd given herself a death sentence.

OP posts:
Batbrown · 06/07/2025 09:22

Have you posted about this before? But let the anger go. It’s too late. She made choices and the this is the outcome. Don’t tell a dying woman you’re angry with her. Leave it.

60andcounting · 06/07/2025 09:22

I think you are grieving for what you are sadly going to lose. Anger is often a part of grief.

WinterKitchen · 06/07/2025 09:25

Batbrown · 06/07/2025 09:22

Have you posted about this before? But let the anger go. It’s too late. She made choices and the this is the outcome. Don’t tell a dying woman you’re angry with her. Leave it.

No, I wouldn't tell her! I'm trying to process how I feel. I had three close friends at 16, she was one of them. Of the others, one died of covid (she was a nurse caring for covid patients) and the other died last spring. None of us are old either.

OP posts:
ArabiattaPrawn · 06/07/2025 09:27

This is so heartbreaking, I'm so sorry for your friend, and for you. Your anger is completely understandable, but continue to keep it to yourself. As a PP said, it won't change anything now.

Batbrown · 06/07/2025 09:27

WinterKitchen · 06/07/2025 09:25

No, I wouldn't tell her! I'm trying to process how I feel. I had three close friends at 16, she was one of them. Of the others, one died of covid (she was a nurse caring for covid patients) and the other died last spring. None of us are old either.

Edited

Like the PP said, anger is a part of grief. It’s understandable you feel like this especially if they have neglected themselves. I hope you find peace op.

Boddica2000 · 06/07/2025 11:48

You handle it by just getting up and breathing in and out, one day at a time. Grief is painful, and you are not being unreasonable to feel anger but would be very unreasonable to show it to a dying woman. Grief counselling might help.

WinterKitchen · 10/07/2025 22:09

Boddica2000 · 06/07/2025 11:48

You handle it by just getting up and breathing in and out, one day at a time. Grief is painful, and you are not being unreasonable to feel anger but would be very unreasonable to show it to a dying woman. Grief counselling might help.

Thanks @Boddica2000 I've contacted someone for grief counselling.

My friend knows what's wrong with her and haa just said Que Sera Sera. She's more lucid now though still has confused moments. No I won't tell her I'm annoyed with her, I'll support her.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page