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Breast Cancer

October 13, 2008 - 1:05am — rovermom

As I've been updating on OurChart, moms been updating me. It's been over a week since she had her lumpectomy. The small mass was deep, and they took 20 lymph nodes to biopsy.

Which came back from the lab this past Thursday. Out of the 20, 18 came back positive for cancer. My mom has decided to do a Bi-lateral mastectomy - and to remove all the lymph nodes, and go through the Chemo.

We talk several times a week, sometimes almost daily - but we both get so busy and sometimes the schedules just don't line up. But it seems every time we talk this things just gets worse. I know she feels the same way when she has to talk to her doctor. But sometimes I dread calling. Because I might get some more bad news. I just wish I was there.

Hopefully soon.

Does anyone have any stories of battling breast cancer?

2 Comments

October 13, 2008 - 3:04am — marywriter

My Partner

My partner, age 45, is currently battling Stage IIIc breast cancer. She had a right breast mastectomy with an auxiliary lymph node dissection on Sept. 18. There were 15 out of 40 lymph nodes positive for cancer. Her tumor is also HER2/neu positive.

She starts chemo soon, probably this week. Then she'll have radiation. She also will take Herceptin for a year. Her oncologist is also trying to get her into a clinical trial for a new drug that reduces the possibility the cancer will cross the blood brain barrier.

It's scary as hell, but I have to believe she will get through this. She's an otherwise healthy woman. She has a 12 year old daughter. So, failure is not an option.

Mary

October 13, 2008 - 1:38am — brianna101

best wishes

Hi Rovermom,
My mum battled cancer for several years and while it was brain and not breast, i still feel that i can understand what you're going through.
i just want to say that no matter how hard it gets, cancer is not by any means a sentence, nor an obstacle which cannot be overcome.
my mum was told she had a 40% chance of surviving and that if she were to survive, that she risked being blind or unable to walk due to complications from the surgery.
after 32 treatments of radiation and nearly 2 years in hospital, she has now been home and well for 7 years.
while this may sound cheesy and totally impossible considering your current situation, the only thing to do is to stay positive and to be there for your mum. it is not going to be easy, but women are so strong, it really is unbelievable.
i wish you all the best,
Brianna