chemo or not? someone pls advise

ismary
ismary Member Posts: 5
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
My mother had a radical masectomy 3 weeks ago with reconstruction. However her nipple looks really black and i am worried. Her doctor is taking her info to a panel to decide on chemo since only 2 nodes were affected but otherwise she is clean (invasive was only 1.5). We are nervous and undecided about chemo. Someone have advice? Pls help me.

Comments

  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #2
    I'm no doctor, but I really think you better talk to one. The cancer you are describing has left the breast and has started to set up camp elsewhere. If it is in even ONE lymph node, then it is aggressive. It has shown the ability to spread and set down roots. Think about dandelion seeds. They send their seeds out on the wind, but most land nearby. If the seeds are fertilized and have the ability to grow into plants and conditions are right, the weeds spread, starting with nearby. The doctor may be able to find the cancer growth that spread nearby the primary site, but that doesn't mean that other seeds, well really cancer cells, haven't spread through the lymph system to the rest of her body. Usually the surgeon checks the nodes to determine the aggressiveness of the cancer. If the nodes are infected, then the cancer has evolved genetically into the kind that can spread and set up camp throughout the body. If I were the patient, I would be demanding the best treatment I could to beat the cancer back as far as I could. I would also want tests to determine if the cancer had already begun to set up camp elsewhere in my body. Chemo is strong medicine for a serious problem. There are times when chemo cannot be considered because of other health problems. Also, cancer is an umbrella term for many different situations that need different kinds of chemo or other medical treatment. But if it is spreading to the lymph nodes I'm sure it is serious enough to need treatment. Please talk to a qualified oncologist about what is happening to your mom.
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #3
    Well I think if have spread to nodes that one should consider every opportunity at every percentage of survival. If it had not spread I would say maybe not but this is my own feeling only. I had radical mastectomies and stage 3 with 11 out of 21 positive nodes and did it all since I was decided to fight.
    Just my thought
    Tara

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