Mom Diagnosed - Looking for help

ValT · New User Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

My mom (59, pre-menopause) was just diagnosed with Stage II BC w/ lymph nodes involved after finding a lump during a self-exam (about a 2 cm). She was very good about getting mammograms, but it was missed – I’m seeing now that is not uncommon.

She is going to have a MRI to see if the cancer has spread this week. Her surgeon is telling her that she can do a lumpectomy and a full mastectomy is not necessary – she said survival rates are basically the same. This doctor also said she would have no problem with the use of her right side right after surgery, will leave the hospital the same day as the surgery, will need 16-18 weeks of Chemo, and another 6 weeks of radiation. I’m feeling like the info doesn’t add up, but have not been through this myself. I am going to a seminar tonight about BC treatment options – I want to be as informed as possible.

I live across the country (I’m in CA and Mom and the rest of the family are in IL) and the whole family is looking to me to make sure she is getting the best care. I’ve asked my mom to get a second opinion but she doesn’t feel it is necessary. I am coming in for a week post-surgery to help out as I was told this is when she would need me most – is this right? Can anyone give me suggestions as to what kind of care, food, etc. she will need during this time?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Muttsmom

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your mom's dx. I had a bone scan and CT Scan of my chest to check for cancer in other places, but if it's a full body MRI, that I would think would be as good.

This is my personal opinion, so I'm not saying that her surgeon is wrong. I opted for a mastectomy at 43 because my mammogram missed a 5.5 cm tumor and I wanted to be sure there wasn't cancer in any other part of the breast and the only way to know was to have the mastectomy. I also had the other breast removed because of my age (higher risk for recurrence) and Stage etc. I also had Invasive Lobular which is prone to mirror itself in the other breast. Do you know what kind of BC she has? How many nodes were involved?

I think the week post surgery is when she could use the help the most. I think that would be perfect timing for you to go visit.

The length of chemo and radiation sounds completely normal.

Chemo put me into menopause, so it gave me more options of drugs to take since I was estrogen and progesterone positive (cancer fed off hormones). I would think at your mom's age, she has a good chance of the same thing happening to her. Do you know if she's hormone positive?

Did they already do a lumpectomy and node removal but didn't get "clean margins"? The hardest part if not being able to lift after having nodes removed, but they are saying she already has nodes involved, so I'm confused on that part.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

ValT · New User Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

First, Nancy, thank you so very much for taking the time to answer me so quickly. I appreciate any and all information. I am really in the dark and being so far away doesn’t help. After reading the posts here, I realize I have more information I need to get in order to completely understand her situation.

She has not had any surgery, only an ultrasound and biopsy of both the tumor and lymph nodes. The doctor told her at the biopsy procedure she was 99% sure it was cancer, which surprised me. We got the confirmation a few days later. This is when the doctor told her the other info about the MRI (scheduled for 8/4), surgery (scheduled for 8/12), and the chemo and radiation to come later.

I know she is taking hormones for menopausal symptoms and has been told to stop, but I don’t know if that makes her hormone positive.

I will definately more questions so I can be more prepared for tonight’s seminar on treatment. Again, thank you so very much

Muttsmom

Hi,

I've never heard of a biopsy being done on a lymph node, but maybe that's something new some have started doing.

Her taking hormones for menopause symptoms definitely should have been stopped. It's been studied and shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. I'm still amazed at the doctors who prescribe them when other drugs work just as good, if not better and don't increase the risk. Her being told to stop taking them doesn't mean that she's hormone positive or not. Even women who are negative, are told to never take them.

Depending on the kind of cancer will determine the chemo's that will be used. Some seem to be more effective on one kind moreso then another kind. I thought there was "breast cancer", I didn't realize there were different kinds until I was dx.

The most common kind is Ductal, and with nodes involved, it would be Invasive Ductal. Another kind is Lobular. In my case it was Invasive because I had it in 9 of my lymph nodes.

The surgeon will know what kind it is, but I'm really surprised that they are giving your mom a size when surrounding tissue can be cancerous and that's included in the actual size. The tumor and surrounding tissue that was removed during my biopsy, was 3.5 cm. but when I had the mastectomy, there was an additional 2 cm of tissue that was cancerous. It's more then the actual "lump" that can and is involved unless it's "in situ", which hers wouldn't be since it's in node(s).
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

ValT · New User Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

Please forgive me, I have so much to learn...

I am confused and concerned the most about the tumor size/surgery...if they do the surgery and find more, will then ask her to have a mastectomy? Might she have to go through more than one surgery?

Muttsmom

You're definitely been doing your homework and know a lot more about it then I did when I found out I had cancer. Any questions you have, don't hesitate to ask.

Yes. If he opts for a lumpectomy and they don't take enough tissue and they don't get clean margins, they will have to go back and either take more tissue and hope they get clean margins or do a mastectomy. Also, if they do a lumpectomy and get clean margins and it ends up you mom has quite a few lymph nodes positive, she may opt for a mastectomy. There are so many unknowns right now. It might be that if your mom doesn't want to chance extra surgeries, that she tell the surgeon if when they get in there and there are quite a few suspicious looking lymph nodes and or the tissue surrounding the tumor looks suspicious, to go ahead with the mastectomy.

I can tell you that after just turning 43 and going through a divorce, so it wasn't like my husband would learn to deal with me nothing having 1 or both breast, that surgeons can do really nice jobs as far as the scar looks. I don't look "mutilated" like so many think. I never thought about it because I had no family hx (boy did I have a lot to learn), but I might have thought the same thing. You really do get use to it. They now have prothesis that adhere to your skin and you can wear a regular bra. There are bathing suits for masectomy patients. Here we have a store that is nothing but wigs, bathing suits, bras, etc. etc. etc. for BC survivors. I'm not by any means telling her to have a mastectomy, but without knowing how many nodes are involved or the size of the actual tumor, I wouldn't rule it out. When I knew mine was 3.5 cm and no clean margins, I had no doubts I wanted it gone. I wanted the cancer out of me and have never regretted my decision.

As far as the size of the tumor and the nodes, it changes the dx, but it's all a crap shoot. I had a large tumor, young and 9+ nodes and it's been over 5 1/2 years and I'm still doing great and living with NED (no evidence of disease). I've seen ladies with tiny tumors and no node involvment have it come back. Of course the smaller the better chance, but there are many of us with large tumors and lots of positive nodes that are 5 1/2 - 11 years NED and still counting.

There's every reason to have hope and to believe your mom will do great!!! How old is your mom if you don't mind me asking?
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

ValT · New User Joined: 30 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

Thanks for all the great info! You've been an amazing help.

My mom is 59 and divorced as well. There is family close by if she needs help down the way. I'm 36 and quite aware that I will need to monitor myself since BC runs in our family (two great aunts and now mom).

I'm going to continue to do some research and I've already contacted Mom to get more info, thanks to you. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again!

brainman

Hi ValT,

Nancy has already given you better information than I could ever give you. I just wanted to let you know that you and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well with the lumpectomy. Keep us informed.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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