My mum is having breast cancer surgery in an hour and I feel like I don't know enough about it all?

Question

My mum is 58 and went for routine breast screening where something showed up. She went for various tests then we were told it is breast cancer. She is having an operation at 11.30 this morning to remove the cancer in her breast using the guidewire procedure and also having lymph nodes under her arm removed. We know she'll be having radiotherapy at some point. Other than that that's all we know. Does it sound like the prognosis is good? What can we expect next by way of treatment and how my mum will be physically?

Answer 1

The prognosis for breast cancer depends on the type and stage of cancer. Over 80% of stage I patients are cured by current therapies. Stage II patients survive over-all about 70% of the time, those with more extensive lymph nodal involvement doing worse than those with disease confined to the breast. About 40% of stage III patients survive five years, and about 20% of stage IV patients do so.

Again depending of the stage of the disease Chemotherapy and Radiationtherapy will be given. It also depend on the same factor about the medicine and dosage of the above therapies.

Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all utilized in the treatment of breast cancer. Depending on the stage, they will be used in different combinations or sequences to effect an appropriate strategy for the type and stage of the disease being treated.

SURGERY. Historically, surgical removal of the entire breast and axillary contents along with the muscles down to the chest wall was performed as the lone therapy, (radical mastectomy). In the last twenty-five years, as it has been appreciated that breast cancer is often systemic early in its course, the role of surgery is still primary but of less and less magnitude.

Today, surgical treatment is best thought of as a combination of removal of the primary tumor and staging of the axillary lymph nodes. If the whole breast is removed along with the entire axillary contents, but the muscles of the chest wall are not, the modified radical mastectomy has been performed.

You are telling that Lymph nodes will be removed and this causes anxiety about the stage and condition of the patient. The side effect of all the treatments will be horrible and she has to put up with it. Since CANCER IS STILL AND ENIGMA we have to take it as it comes and do our best to give all possible treatments.

In this connection I request you to please read the several blogs I have written in Yahoo 360 - http://360.yahoo.com/jayaramanms... , which will give you a fair idea - Best of luck

Answer 2

It's impossible for anyone on here to tell you whether or not your mum's prognosis is good; only her medical team can tell her that, and only after they have had the results of the tests on her tumour and lymph nodes.

I had a mastectomy, and the pain from both mastectomies and lumpectomies is far less than you may expect; it's sore rather than painful, and normal painkillers are usually sufficient. Your mum will be out of bed for breakfast tomorrow.

She'll have physiotherapy, probably tomorrow, where they'll show her arm exercises which she must do regularly to ensure she regains full arm movement.

She'll probably be very tired when she comes home, so make a bit of a fuss of her, and she'll be sore too. The physiotherapist will have told her about the things she should avoid doing for a couple of weeks, such as ironing and vacuuming.

As she's had lymph node removal, she must be very careful with the affected arm for the rest of her life, moisturising it, treating cuts, insect bites etc with antiseptic immediately, avoiding sunburn and avoiding heavy lifting.

It will probably be around two weeks till she gets her results, and then she'll begin treatment. Radiotherapy is tedious but not painful, and is given every weekday, usually for between 15 and 30 sessions. The side effect she is most likely to have is tiredness.

I had a poor prognosis - stage 3 grade 3 with 13 lymph nodes involved. Four years after diagnosis, and following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I am fit and well. I'm 54.

Good luck to you and your mum.

Answer 3

You won't know much until the pathology report is in. That will provide lots of information about the cancer. Breast cancers are estrogen, progesteron and her2 positive or negative. The characteristics of the cancer determine the treatment regimen. It might include drugs. The other important information is whether the cancer is limited to the breast or has spread to the lymph nodes (and how many of them). If there are positive nodes, chemotherapy will likely be suggested.

A lumpectomy really doesn't amount to much, likely she will be up and walking in 6 hours or so. She will likely have a surgical drain which is a tube running from her armpit incision to a recepticle. It's kind of disgusting and an annoyance but most people get them removed in about 10 days. She will have to make sure to do the exercises so she retains full movement of her arm. She will have to do the radiation, again it doesn't amount to much, but it is a bother going in every week day for 5 or 6 weeks. If chemo is needed - it depends on the type.

I would guess that your mother's prognosis is excellent. Do not pay too much attention to the statistics you see on the net. They are all out of date. There have been a lot of treatment breakthroughs in recent years.

The best website is breastcancer.org. There is lots of information there and numerous forums where helpful women are more than willing to offer suggestions from their experience.

Good luck and don't worry too much, I recommend funny movies during the convalescent period.

Answer 4

The cancer may be localised and not spread to any other part of the body and that is a very good sign. It seems to me that they have caught the cancer in its early stages and the prognosis may be good.
The lymph nodes are being biopsied to make sure the cancer hasn't spread to the lyphatic system, it will take a while to get the results back for that. Everything the surgeon cuts away will go to the labs to be analysed and the type of cancer will be identified. Again the results take a little time to come back.
Radiotherapy is performed by an X-ray machine, rather like a big camera. It will shoot strong radiation into the local area of the cancer. This is done because cancer cells are weak and they die easily when irradiated. However, DXT (Deep X-ray Therapy) will be done on a daily basis for a number of weeks and as a result, your mum will suffer side effects. Mainly nausea, fatigue. It may also affect her bowels and she might get the runs for a while.
Cancer is NOT always a death sentence, in fact full recovery from breast cancer is very achievable and higher and better results are being seen all the time.
All my hopes and best wishes go to your mum and you from me. I hope all goes well and that your mum recovers very soon. X

Answer 5

You would be well advised in speaking with your Mothers Consultant about prognosis. Indeed breast cancer treatment is often very successful with all the increased treatents available today.
You could also contact Cancer research Uk as they can offer guidesheets and advise.
Sorry your Mother has breast cancer but with this detection then the treatment will be quick.

Answer 6

It has been many years since I went through this with my mom and things have changed since then for the better. I can tell you that they remove the lymph glands to check to see if the cancer is spreading. They want to find it all so they can take care of that too. Your mom is going to be tired and need your help around the house and she could feel sick from the treatments. This can take a year to get through the worst part. just be there alot for her help with whatever she needs you sound like a bright and caring kid I applaud you wanting to know more about this and wanting to help. You will be a big help to her if you just be loving with her she could go through a feeling of not being a whole women anymore let her know how much she means to you. she will be fighting a huge battle and you need to have her back and help her through it she can make it but do not put her through to much stress as that does not help one to heal. good luck and God bless

Answer 7

as to if she will have the means to be completely fantastic after her therapy is a few thing basically time can tell. As all her different techniques grew to become out ok this provides her an more suitable risk of an entire restoration. The operation she is having to get rid of the breast will get rid of any tumour contained interior the physique of the breast tissue. The radiotherapy is used as a 2d line of therapy to be certain that the mattress of the tumour and any cells left in the back of after the surgical technique are additionally destroyed so there will be much less risk of a recurrance interior the destiny. From what you have reported there seems to be a intense risk of an entire restoration to your mom. desire all is going nicely.

Answer 8

Get her a recording that will help her through recovery. It's fantastic. I got it for my mum...and we swear it did something and removed what cancer she had. This company has been written up in medical magazines and is created by a therapist. The company is called Independent Achievement Productions and the recording is called Breast Health although it is about breast cancer.....it is truly to get you to see the positive side of your life....

Answer 9

if your mum has a good surgeon she will be fine and all of the cancer removed.in fact cancer is very treatable especially if caught early ,well known saying early detection saves lifes.your mum might have a drain that is nothing to worry about .the worst of the treatment is the radiation .i was wondering the grade of the cancer your mum has it sounds a low grade because you never mentioned chemo.when your mum has her radiation she will be asked to take tamaxifan tablets they can make you put on a bit of weight.also radiation make you feel very tired your mum is in safe hands.after all that she will have to go for checks every 6 mounths for 5 yrs.

Answer 10

After the op your mum will be mentaly and physically drained for a while and could take up to 2 years to feel right again. My mum had breast cancer 3 years ago and still feels drained and cant move her arm much where she had her lymph nodes removed. dont worry tho she will be ok. just make sure you help out with as much as you can! she might be in hospital for 4 - 5 days after the op! hope she gets well soon and keep strong! x