Mitch's brother battles pancreatic cancer and chooses to handle his illness by estranging himself from his family, specifically refusing any help or support from them during his struggle.
Mitch's Brother's Illness and Coping Mechanism
Mitch's brother, who had moved to Europe shortly after graduating from high school, develops a serious health condition. His approach to dealing with this illness reveals a profound desire for independence and perhaps a reluctance to be perceived as vulnerable or to accept assistance from those he grew up with.
The Illness: Pancreatic Cancer
- Type of Cancer: Mitch's brother is afflicted with pancreatic cancer, a challenging and often aggressive form of cancer that originates in the cells of the pancreas, an organ located behind the lower part of the stomach.
- Severity: Pancreatic cancer is known for its difficulty in early detection and treatment, often leading to a poor prognosis.
Handling the Sickness: Estrangement and Refusal of Help
- Self-Reliance: His primary coping mechanism is to distance himself from his family. This decision stems from a strong inclination to manage his illness independently, without their intervention or support.
- Refusal of Assistance: He actively rejects any offers of help from his family, indicating a clear boundary and a preference for battling the disease on his own terms. This might be influenced by a desire to maintain his autonomy or a long-standing dynamic within the family where Mitch was seen as the "good boy" and his brother as the "bad" one, leading to a need to prove self-sufficiency.
For more information on pancreatic cancer, you can visit resources like the Mayo Clinic.
