Hi Purplefish. So hard for you to know what to do to help your poor mum, but I echo what others have said. The time before you know exactly what you're facing is the worst by far and yes absolutely, BC Nurses are fantastic. MAS mentioning champagne made me remember the day of my diagnosis, as that's what we did: drink champagne. Might sound daft, but it gave us a chance to be shocked and affirm both life and hope at the same time. Also a bottle takes a while to drink, so gives time for words to flow. It's easy to say 'I'm fine' and shut down, or equally to wail loudly, but if you can give the time to just let a range of emotions flow it really helps and a bottle of champagne's quite a good way to hold her captive while allowing that to happen.
Only other advice I can really think of is, that if your mother's having a tendency to curl up on the sofa, there's nothing wrong with that, but try and maybe help her to see it's something to be got through rather than to let walk all over her. I'm a fair way through the treatment now and there's no denying it's a long slog to get through, so attitude is pretty key in terms of making it all go quicker. I'd bet we've all had days of despair and sofa hugging. Bound to really, but if that's all you do it'll feel like a far worse nightmare. Places like here have really helped me, as the normal talk of day to day and humour about it all show you can live a life during treatment. So maybe tell your mum where we are.
Here am celebrating, as had first Tax cycle yesterday and am leaping around as I don't feel sick!! Amazing after the dirge of FEC. Also now only have two more cycles to go. I do however have to inject myself with something to boost WBC. Am waiting for DS to go out in a bit to see if I can do it. Am more worried by getting the syringe put together and filled properly, than the actual sticking it in bit.
SR, that's fab you've only one cycle to go. Hope you're feeling okay today. Something about the end in sight makes side effects easier to bear I think.
RWU hooray you're back! What's happening with the house move then? Laptop death by Baileys made me laugh. Have nearly done that to mine far too many times, though not with Baileys, more other stuff. The cat nearly did for mine the other day. Sat on it until it overheated. 
If you haven't already gone, happy Arran Cakes. Am jealous. Ward off all midges, and here's hoping DD is on top form. Oh and big congrats on the MRI not showing cancer. What can they do for you though?? Hopefully they can help your get your back sorted now.
KK, just skipped back through some of what I missed and saw your pics. You look amazing. That dress most definitely worked. Your other half looks lovely too. And how fantastic that your son has a girlfriend you like too. Hip-hip-hooray and long may she last.
Sorry I haven't caught up on all posts, but a bit busy trying to work on insane deadline. Cupcaked, what's this Browzings then? Do tell more. Mine are thinning beyond extinction, so I'll have to get onto a solution soon.
And finally seeing as you asked MAS, DS's darkest moment of madness, of course involved poo. When I had my back op before Christmas he went into a control mania phase of needing to hold onto everything. We indulged it for a while and it started off being cute, but then one snowy day he wiggled into the kitchen trousers round ankles, to show me copious amounts of poo on loo paper. It was dripping off the paper, but was apparently 'too beautiful' to flush. Cue hours of wailing after I flushed it, as he was genuinely devastated. To de-traumatise for a while I even agreed to let him photograph all poo. Can't believe I did that, but it was shear desperation! Obviously I am raising a rather strange fish, though fortunately he's moved on from the poo phase.. 
Off to inject myself now. Wish me luck!