Yesterday my mom told me her Dr. thinks she has breast cancer. She has had a lump for over a year and finally decided to do something about it. The mammogram doesn't look good. She is having a biopsy done on the 26th of May. She is only 55. A while back she told me that if she ever got cancer she would just let it take it's natural progression till it killed her. She had no interest in Chemo or radiation. Needless to say, now we are really worried about her. I think we can talk her into getting it removed if it is cancer. Can anyone tell me if they just remove the lump or do they also do radiation with it? I really don't know much about it as she is the first member of my family to encounter breast cancer. I know that I had what appeared to be skin cancer a few years back, they removed it and that was that, but I just don't know anything else about it. Thanks, and prayers are welcome.
I wanted to add, I know this is her decision, I am not trying to push one way or another. What I am trying to do is get an idea if there is someone that has just had the tumor removed with no other treatment. It would ease my mind a little to know that that is a possibility, since she is unwilling to do anything else. I know I shouldn't worry about it till the results come in, but it's like a nail through the foot. Just because I ignore it doesn't mean I still can't feel the sting.
I'm guessing if she's letting them do the biopsy, then she will let them do chemo also. BUT...she hasn't even had the biopsy done, so there is a good chance it is negative. I know it's stressful, but try not to worry too much.
I am so sorry that your mom has been diagnosed with possible breast cancer. I take it as good news that she has agreed to the biopsy--if she really didn't want to do anything, what use would there be to her to find out for sure? This is a good sign.
The only person I know who has had breast cancer is my grandma, and that was in the 80s. I'm not sure what current practice is. (She is still very much alive and in her late 80s now!)
This may help you: http://www.mayoclinic.org/breast-cancer/
God Bless.
I know that this may not be a popular response but your mom is able to make her own decisions. The added pressure of having family wanting you to do treatment/s that you may not be up for is a horrible stress. With that said of course nobody wants to see their love ones suffer and leave us behind but in reality it is a very private decision to move forward with any health treatments. And she needs your blessing with whatever she decides to do . It's the most unselfish hardest thing that you could do for her. I would make sure that she is clear on what treatments that are available for her and the success rates they can hold before respecting her health choices. I think she might be surprised by what is offered today. Also hoping for her and for you that the report comes back good.
Best Regards,
C.
J.,
My mom had breast cancer at age 44. She had a lump in her breast and some cancer in one lymph node. She did a modified radical masectomy followed by chemotherapy and 5 years of Tamoxifen (a drug that prevents breast cancer from reoccuring). She is now 65. She lived to see all of her children graduate from college, one get married and have two children (yes, 2 grandkids) and retire! She is doing great!
My grandma (paternal) got breast cancer for the first time at 45. She did a masectomy followed by chemo and radiation. She got it for the second time (other breast) when she was about 80. She did another masectomy but passed up the chemo that time. I don't think they offered radiation as she had been severely burned by the radiation the first time around. She died from the breast cancer 7 years later. Her last 2 years were very miserable. It is a very painful process- you don't die from breast cancer but from the cancers that it progesses to (metastasizes). You can learn more about that from reading about Elizabeth Edward's cancer story.
If she wants to live, she should follow the doctors advice. If not, you can't force medical treatment on her, but you can tell her that it is a very, very painful way to die.
Good luck to both of you. You should get a baseline mammogram if you haven't already if your mom's biopsy is cancer.
My mom was also the first in our family to be diagnosed with breast cancer at 52 (9 years ago) and she had the tumor removed, received chemo and radiation and was cancer free. Three years ago I felt a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer at 37. I had immediate surgery to remove the tumor (lumpectomy) but 1 of my lymph nodes showed signs of cancer so I too had to undergo chemo and radiation. After my lumpectomy, the genetics test revealed that I am a BRCA2 carrier, which in short means that I'm at much higher risk of a recurrence, as well as for developing ovarian cancer....so after all of treatment I underwent a bilateral mastectomy (with reconstruction) and an oopherectomy (ovaries and tubes removed).
Then since I was positive for BRCA2, my mom got tested and was also positive. So to prevent the possibility of a recurrence she decided to also undergo the same surgeries as me, but during all the pre-surgery prep they found a new cancer in the other breast. A different cancer. Chemo for a year, plus the surgeries. We say that my getting cancer almost killed her, but probably saved her life.
Her and I are now both cancer free and doing great.
There's absolutely no way to give you the answers that you seek because every single case of cancer is different. Read up on the genetics and determine if any of the risk factors exist in your family (ashkenazi heritage among others) and push hard for the genetics test if so. No one ever thought of it when my mom was first diagnosed, if so maybe I would have never gotten cancer, but then maybe i could have never had my kids ... I could go on and on.
Your mom's decision on treatment (if it gets to that) is her decision. Yes, chemo sucks. Radiation isn't bad, but the side effects can be (I'm still suffering from some kind of allergic reaction to mine two years later!). But I'm alive. My oldest daughter started kindergarten this year and my youngest will be starting preschool this fall and I get to be there for all of it and hopefully for a very long time - all because I chose aggressive treatment for my cancer. People called me brave and strong, but the way I saw it was that I had a bad illness and I had no choice to take the medicine to get rid of it and move on -- or die. Period.
I hope that your mom's lump turns out to be benign, but if it does not then just be there for her to support her and be her advocate. I wrote several articles (and a blog) about my experience. If you or your mom would like to read them, here are some links:
http://my-breast-cancer-blog.blogspot.com/
http://hubpages.com/hub/Things-The-Doctors-Dont-Tell-You-...
http://hubpages.com/hub/did-my-cancer-save-my-moms-life
http://hubpages.com/hub/learnaboutBRCAtesting
Best wishes. My prayers are with you and your family...
They will biopsy the lump and, if it is cancer, they will sit down with your mom and discuss the options. If she chooses to do a lumpectomy, where they remove just the tumor, she may or may not need chemo or radiation to ensure that they got it all. Not to scare you, but since she's let this go for a year and is just now getting it checked out, her option for a lumpectomy and nothing else may have passed. It really depends on the type of cancer and the stage it's in what they will offer her for options. But for most cases, it is recommended to do at least one round of chemo and/or radiation in addition to any surgical means to remove the tumor. I know your mom has said in the past that she doesn't want these types of intervention, but faced with the reality of cancer she may change her mind. Get recommendations for good cancer centers in your area. Cancer treatment has come a long way, and she should give it a chance. Sending hugs and prayers for you and your mom.
J.,
First off, im so sorry this is happening. Try not to stress too much, until the doc confirms.
I have 2 aunts currently going through treatment for breast cancer. One had to have a mastectomy & is doing chemo & radiation soon. The other had the lump removed & will only have to go through radiation. It will depend on the stage, if its spread, etc.
Also, my husbands stepdad said (due to his religious beliefs), that he wouldn't ever do chemo or radiation. I kept telling my MIL, we'll see if ge feels the same way once he's diagnosed. I was right! Once he found out that he had an aggressive kind of lymphoma, he opted for chemo. And he's still alive & in remission. I think it's really easy to have an opinion about something when you arent dealing with it. I wonder (& hope & pray), that she'll change her mind & do treatment if she does have cancer.
Wishing you the best!
H.
They usually do radiation as well. If she is really determined not to do that course of treatment, find a good acupuncturist. My husband is an acupuncturist that has worked many years with western oncologists. He has had amazing results.
Good luck. My prayers are with your mom and your whole family.
N.
Maybe she will think differently after she's had the biopsy and talked to her doctor. She is only 55 and can have a good life after treatment (if it is necessary). My prayers are with you and her.
Contact Gayle Stolove, she's in Fort Lauderdale, and a nurse. She had breast cancer that she treated naturally and through diet in conjunction with medical help. She is cancer free for many years. She is now a chef and prepares healthy foods that are conducive to a cancer free existence.
here is her story;
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=170415863014017
Just wait and talk to the doctors.
#1- It may not be cancer. I have had lumps that were nothing but cysts.
#2-The type of cancer, etc... will help the docs make a recommendation. Your Mom may need no chemo at all, just radiation. She may be able to remove the entire breast and avoid any other treatment.
My advice is wait and see and don't get ahead of yourself. Help your Mom make her own decisions. Consider second opinions and do research on her doctors if she is comfortable with you doing it.
I send best wishes with a prayer that your Mom will heal quickly.
My M. had a lump for several months before she saw a Dr,, and had a masectomy on my 18th birthday in Jan of 1972. She was 48 and they told her with the type of cancer it was, how long she had had it, and the treatment available then, she might live 5 years. She passed away in Dec of 2007 at 83 years old. The technology today is so much better, your M. has an even better chance to fight it and live a long long life. Keep the faith.
.
