Just found out my mom has breast cancer

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daughter24
daughter24 Member Posts: 7
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
On Friday, my mom went to have her lump removed, it was determined at that time it was cancer. Tomorrow, she goes back into surgery to have any remaining cancer removed from the breast, have her entire nipple removed, and have the nodes tested to see if the cancer has spread. These past 5 days have been excrutiating. I am soo scared and nervous. Her lump was about 1 cm but that's really all the information we have until tomorrow. I am trying to be as strong as possible for my mom. I am an only child, I'm getting married in June, and my dad just retired so they could do more together and finish projects around the house. We are a very close family. We will get through this together, I just don't know what to expect and I am looking for support and information.

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  • jackiemanz
    jackiemanz Member Posts: 85
    #2
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    I don't know if I'm one to really reply to this since I don't have children of my own and I was also just diagnoised last month with breast cancer but what I have found comforting to me is just talking with my family and friends going shopping just really doing things to keep my mind off of the c word until we know more. What stage is your mom?
  • Mis37
    Mis37 Member Posts: 9
    #3
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    I found out I had breast cancer in January of this year. I am 37, married, and have 4 children. My advice to you is don't give up. Stay positive, and just listen to your mom if she needs to talk. I have had a masectomy and reconstruction of my right breast. 15 of the 24 nodes tested were cancerous. I am in Stage 3 cancer. My doctor keeps reassuring me I can get through this, that there is no need not to think positively. So, that is what I do. I have kids to raise and a loving family to spend lots of time with in the future. I am going to fight this with all I have and come out healthy. Stay by your mom's side and be there for her, that is what my mom, sister, husband, and family have been doing for me. I wish your mom and family the best of luck. Your mom is in my prays. Tell her to keep a positive attitude through this.
  • RNHF1986
    RNHF1986 Member Posts: 26
    #4
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    Hang in there and let us know what is going on. There are so many bright, helpful people on this site.

    I'm thinking of you and your family today.

    Becky--2 years out from bi-lateral and 1 1/2 years out from chemo.
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #5
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    When I was Dx in 2004 I went to the American Cancer Society web site and ordered(free) booklets .. They helped my family,children and grandchildren.. I also read Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book.
    This is a great site to come to.
    Be Strong, Have questions written before you go to the doctors, take notes
    Prayers and thoughts sent your way.
    Cindie 3 yr survivor
  • Rhonda0106
    Rhonda0106 Member Posts: 1
    #6
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    I was diagnosed in Jan 06 and went through chemo and radiation. My tumor was 1.1 cm and did not spread into the lymph nodes. My best advice to you and your mother is to remain positive. The way you approach this has a great effect on the out come. I'm 43 and was Stage 1. I had a lumpectomy and am looking forward to many years to come. I even found humor going through this and I think that had a lot to do with my attitude and how I chose to approach this. Don't be afraid to talk about it. I know it's scarey, but your support and that of your family's will help your mother and the rest of the family cope. Take care and God Bless you and yours.

    Rhonda
  • babs49242
    babs49242 Member Posts: 193
    #7
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    Rhonda0106 said:

    I was diagnosed in Jan 06 and went through chemo and radiation. My tumor was 1.1 cm and did not spread into the lymph nodes. My best advice to you and your mother is to remain positive. The way you approach this has a great effect on the out come. I'm 43 and was Stage 1. I had a lumpectomy and am looking forward to many years to come. I even found humor going through this and I think that had a lot to do with my attitude and how I chose to approach this. Don't be afraid to talk about it. I know it's scarey, but your support and that of your family's will help your mother and the rest of the family cope. Take care and God Bless you and yours.

    Rhonda

    I agree with Rhonda...being positive is tremendous help. I would rent comedy movies or watch funny TV shows to laugh;Laughter also heals.
    When I was going thru chemo and lost my hair, I asked my grandson to put a temporary tattoo on my head..he thought that was great!
    Bunches of hugs,
    Cindie
  • Skybuf
    Skybuf Member Posts: 143
    #8
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    Hi my name is Buffy, I was diagnosed Dec 05/ had surgery just before Christmas, mastectomy, stage 3, l9 lymph nodes removed, 17 malignant..3.5 cm mass....removed....my advise to you is be there for your Mom...my daughter wasn't and I remember that now...my friends and church family were wonderful. My daughter got busy with her own life and new boyfriend it hurt....but tell your mom to stay POSITIVE, the others are right in that...it keeps us going. I am healing now...on Arimidex and the Taxol did permanent damage to my feet but life goes on.
    AND make sure YOU get mammograms every year now to keep up with your good health!
  • Susan956
    Susan956 Member Posts: 510
    #9
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    Ok Daughter,

    The first thing to remember is that the treatments for breast cancer has gotten so much better over the years. I was diagnosed in May 2005... Had Stage 2B, ER/PR + HER 2+ with lymph node involvement.... after about 1 year of treatment I am back to living my life like normal. My son was your age when I was diagnosed... and he went nuts... and yes so did I for a few weeks... especially until I got some of my results back and understood how to fight the beast.... I expect to be around until my Grandchildren get old.... (My son isn't married yet... so I figure I will be around for a long time....) This is a very scary time for everyone in your family... but the real thing I am trying to tell you is that the treatments make it such that most of us do just fine and live through the battle with the beast. If I can help you or your Mom more... Just drop me an email.

    Take care... God Bless...

    Susan
  • Nancytahoe
    Nancytahoe Member Posts: 31
    #10
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    I might suggest that look into alternative cancer treatments. Like Protocel, or Cantron. I had cancer 2 years ago and read a book called Out Smart Your Cancer. That's where I learned about Protocel also known as Cantron. you can learn more by checking out these web sites.
    www.outsmartyourcancer.com
    www.cancerchoices.com
    www.nutrition2000.com
    www.cancertuter.com/Puotocel.html
    A couple of these web sites have testimonials from other cancer patients that used this product with success.
    I am glad I learned about Protocel. I was one cancer patient that refused chemo or radiation, and I have been cancer free for over 2 years now.
    I am by no means suggesting that you don't listen to your doctors, I am only suggesting you educate your self as much a you can about cancer treatments. I had five members of my family die from cancer after chemo and or radiation, so for me, I seeked out as much information as I could.

    Best wishes to your mom, and your family.

    Nancytahoe
  • daughter24
    daughter24 Member Posts: 7
    #11
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    My mom went in for surgery on Wednesday. She had her entire nipple and surrounding area removed along with all of the ducts that run from the area. They also injected her entire breast and node(s) area with dye to see where the cancer went. They took one node (sentinel) to biopsy and it came back negative. They sad it doesn't seem that any other nodes were effected. Right now we are waiting for our next doctor's appointment. Should be this coming Wednesday. At that time they will give us the pathology report. We will know what stage she is in, what type of cancer it is, and what her treatment plan will consist of. We also don't know if it has spread anywhere else in her body. I guess we will find this out through other tests?!

    Thank you all for replying to my original message. All of your repsonses were very helpful and veryy supportive. I truly appreciate all of the information you have supplied to me.

    I will continue to read your responses and I will update this thread whenever I have new news.

    In the meantime, I am keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you!!!
  • JUSTAWORD
    JUSTAWORD Member Posts: 18
    #12
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    I am a working mom and i was dx in aug 2006 and my child scheduled to go off to college in sept. i was er/pr neg and 2 out of 12 nodes cancer. i had surgery scheduled (the day before college would start, but my child left a few hours after the surgery was completed and i was still here). I felt that the pressures of going to school (or in your case getting married) should not be dampened by this minor inconvience. It is my belief that moms are a tough breed and will survive this. The ACS has come along way. and we all have a hope for a long and forfilling life. I take one day at a time. Each day that i wake up and can hold, smell, touch, talk to my child, family, my friends, make me that much stronger to carry on. No time to dwell on what might be but what is right in front of us. Believe me your mommy will dance at your wedding and be their for her grandchildren. the one thing that i tell my family and friends is this, Thank you for your prayers and offers to help if i need it and support. I will certainly let YOU know when that time comes. But as long as the Good Lord gives me the strength to continue my life as ususal, then that makes me feel ALIVE and positive. Its when people give you the sad puppy dog look (as if this is the last stand) it makes me shy away from them i want strong and encouraging and positive people around me. Food for thought, tomorrow is promised to no one. enjoy !!!

    hope there is something in my message to encourage you, but if it sounds to strong, it might be my chemo, cuz i kind of feel like i am p.m.s.ing. (sorry) may GOD bless you and your family.
  • powersgrandma
    powersgrandma Member Posts: 3
    #13
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    Rhonda0106 said:

    I was diagnosed in Jan 06 and went through chemo and radiation. My tumor was 1.1 cm and did not spread into the lymph nodes. My best advice to you and your mother is to remain positive. The way you approach this has a great effect on the out come. I'm 43 and was Stage 1. I had a lumpectomy and am looking forward to many years to come. I even found humor going through this and I think that had a lot to do with my attitude and how I chose to approach this. Don't be afraid to talk about it. I know it's scarey, but your support and that of your family's will help your mother and the rest of the family cope. Take care and God Bless you and yours.

    Rhonda

    Rhonda, I had a mastectomy for my 1.1 cm tumor and CIS also. I had no cancer in my lymph nodes at all, but I am ER +, Stage 1, so they did the oncotype DX assay test on my tumor and said I was borderline high risk for recurrence withint 10 years, so I am doing 4 chemo treatments, I am halfway through, and then Arimdex for 5 years (I am post menopausal) and then I only have less than a 10% chance of recurrence!See if you can't get the oncotype test done!!! It was an eye-opener.

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