She just called me from the hospital. They did a needle biopsy and the doctor told her right then that she has breast cancer. Have any of you gone through this? What is next?
2006-09-06 05:00:16 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
To spencerlimo....we all die. Some are just more prepared for it.
2006-09-06 05:12:25 · update #1
Thank you all so much for your encouraging words. I feel much better and after doing some research, I feel like her chances are pretty good. I appreciate all of your help.
2006-09-07 00:41:24 · update #2
Rachel, sorry your mom has breast cancer. I'm going to be 54
next month and I am a 4 year cancer survivor Of course it depends on the size & stage of the cancer, but winning attitude really helps at a time like this & you can really help her like my daughter helped me just by being there for her Even when I was losing my hair during chemo my daughter shaved my head for me and we laughed& joked about it So it will help your Mom if you try to stay positive & if it helps you could pray for her
Good luck Rachel & God bless
2006-09-06 14:20:36 · answer #1 · answered by gma2705 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi - There are different kinds and stages of breast cancer. From the biopsy, they will be able to get an idea on the kind of cancer it is, then the Docs will figure out what stage it it - that means surgery, including a test of the lymph nodes. It does not necessarily mean she needs a mastectomy. I encourage her to talk with the surgeon. Also, she should talk with an oncologist. There are several good sites for basic information on breast cancer: PDQ, Y-Me, ACS - to name a few. They generally have up-to-date information on breast cancer. Depending on the stage and type, a treatment plan will be worked out with her - what kind of surgery - mastectomy vs lumpectomy, also: radiation, chemo, etc (as well as long-term treatment). I think the main thing is to realize this is not a death sentence - also, the more you know about it, the easier it is to make decisions. I'm not sure what ages we are talking about here, but she will need a lot of moral support - regardless of the type or stage. Hope this helps - and God Bless
2006-09-06 17:39:09 · answer #2 · answered by JannahLee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a former co-worker who had breast cancer. They did an operation called a massectomy, where they removed part of her breast and added a piece called a prosthesis to make it appear that both her breasts were "normal," and she was also given chemotherapy. She said the surgery and recovery weren't bad, but the chemo made her feel weak and she lost all her hair. The good news is she has been cancer-free for over 10 years now. Your mother may want to consider having her head shaved and having a wig shop make her hair into a wig if she has to undergo chemotherapy -- at least that way she won't have to go bald or wear a hat all the time. It's going to be a long process, and it's not going to be pleasant for your mother, but if they caught it early enough the chances of her making a full recovery are excellent. I wish you and your mother the best.
2006-09-06 12:09:31 · answer #3 · answered by sarge927 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi Rachel. I am sorry to hear about your mom. As others have said, it will depend on quite a few things...how large is the tumor, is there more than one, has it spread....all those things can alter what kind of treatment is needed. What I did after being diagnosed was have my baby (I was 8 months pregnant at the time) and then I had a breast MRI and more mammograms and ultrasound to see if it was in the other breast and how big approximately the tumor was, and actually, I had 3 tumors.
After that I had a mastectomy, then I did chemo, radiation, and a preventative antibody treatment called Herceptin. There were other tests and things that happened in between all of that, but I thought I'd try and make it as easy to understand as possible. Let me know if I can help you at all.....good luck to your family, and ignore that numbnut who talked about your mom dying....what a dink.
2006-09-06 15:08:05 · answer #4 · answered by BriteHope 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Breast cancer is a complicated topic. A lot depends on the size of the tumor at the time it is discovered, and whether or not it shows signs of having spread into the rest of the body. For early breast cancers (small tumors that have no signs of spreading), 95% of women are free of disease even 5 years after treatment with surgery and chemotherapy. However, for large tumors and situations where there is evidence of disease spread, only about a quarter of those women will be disease free at 5 years.
The treatment for breast cancer has to be tailored to the size of the tumor. A small tumor can be removed surgically without removing the breast. This is followed by radiation therapy to the breast which helps prevent recurrence. Large tumors, or moderately large tumors in small breasts sometimes necessitate the removal of the entire breast, because what would be left over would have no breast shape to it.
All breast procedures involve checking the armpit for lymph nodes that have cancer in them. The goal is to determine whether or not the cancer shows signs of spreading to the rest of the body. One or several lymph nodes are removed and are evaluated under the microscope for cancer.
Most women get chemotherapy after surgery. Some get it before surgery. Some also get estrogen blocking medicines because the cancer shows signs of growing in response to estrogen. The chemotherapy for breast cancer is very effective. In some cases, it eradicates the disease entirely. In any case, it adds significantly to the length of women's lives who have breast cancer.
If you have further questions, I'm available by email. Your mom has a tough road ahead, but I've seen a lot of women go down it, and there are lots of helpful people along the way.
2006-09-06 12:46:06 · answer #5 · answered by bellydoc 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. First I wish your mother all the best. I am a breast cancer survivor. I was diagnosed June 04. I had stage 2. I had a mastectomy and chemo. July 04 the mastectomy. Started chemo that Aug. until March of 05. Just trying to give you time frames. I then was put on tamoxifen for 5 years. It made me have mood swings. So I now take Femara. Be sweet to your mother, even if she gets moody. And she will. I have a great oncologist. I now get test every year. Best of luck. Stay strong.
2006-09-06 22:27:02 · answer #6 · answered by hello 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rachel,
I am sorry for your mom's diagnosis. I have not been through any cancer treatment. You will probably get lots of replies on this.
Ask at the hospital for "support group" information. You and your mom can go. There are lots of books on this as well.
Each patient undergoes treatment differently. Breast cancer treatment is very common and I believe you should find a lot of information and support.
The American Cancer Society has links for breast cancer.
Good luck to you and your mom.
2006-09-06 12:08:52 · answer #7 · answered by Malika 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cancercenter.com has a site that may be helpful.
I personally urge everyone who is diagnosed with cancer to read Patrick Quillen's Beating Cancer with Nutrition, and Dr Murray's How to Prevent and Treat Cancer with Natural Medicine. Both books are endorsed by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Do Not lose hope. Work with your oncologist. Read the books. They are a goldmine of info.
2006-09-06 13:28:06 · answer #8 · answered by Mad Roy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
CANCER - as I wrote it is a very bad disease. The treatment for it is -
The care chosen to treat an individual with breast cancer depends upon a number of criteria including the type and stage of the cancer. The treatment decision will be make by the individual with breast cancer and the health care provider. Most individuals with breast cancer will have some type of surgery. Surgery is often combined with other treatments such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of treatments. The care given may consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or a combination of treatments. Treatment regimens may be used to prevent the spread of breast cancer to the opposite breast and to reduce the incidence of breast cancer.
Best wishes for speedy recovery of your mother.
2006-09-06 12:16:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
i was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 2 yrs ago, and i think worst thing was i was by myself. what your mom needs now more than anything is the love and support from her daughter. she needs to know you are there for her no matter what, and you need to keep a strong faith attitude. my husband made sure not to break down in front of me, and he wouldn't let anyone else either, and i tell you, that was the best thing. i was so emotional myself, i don't think i could have handled seeing other people around me break down.
the next step is help her find a great oncologist and cancer hospital. i don't know where you live, but if you are anywhere near MD Anderson in Houston, TX...that is the place to go. also, there is a fantastic breast cancer hospital in abiline, tx. that is soooo important! you have to take things step by step, and making appointments, etc. is the next step. calling to make appointments and getting insurance set up, referrals, etc. was so hard for me. i should have asked someone to do that for me. anything you can do to make her calm, do it! those things would be a HUGE help for your mom.
i will be praying for your mom and your family. God will Bless her and keep her safe. Stay close to Him and there will be no fear.
hugs
2006-09-06 12:29:39 · answer #10 · answered by cutecancerchick 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋