I'm thinking of staying in a foreign country whilst my mum goes through chemo
You don't want to stick by her side?
It's better for me to be far away when my mum is sick.
If your mom is having chemo then you should want to be close to her. You never know what may happen when someone has cancer. I assume that you being there would give your mom strength as well.
No, I'm going to stay with a friend. He stays away from his mum and his life seems to have improved.
We're all different individuals. Your friends relationship with his mother isn't the same as yours. Follow your own blueprint, not someone else's.