So sorry for your mum. I was diagnosed in February this year with hormone breast cancer. I had no idea. No lump etc. It was picked up on my mammogram. I had the lump removed removed it was deep inside also some lymph nodes. But the results showed it in just one lymph node. I had to have a second operation. They took another 17 lymph nodes and a bigger area from the original lump. The results showed all the cancer was gone. I had a week off radiotherapy which I finished on Friday. I am feeling ok. My boob is feeling tender and quite warm at the moment. I will have to take tablets for 5 years to block my hormones. It's all very positive now. Good luck to your mum. 

Thanks so much for replying! I'm really glad to hear you've finished your treatment and hope that you feel back to your normal self soon. 
Sounds like you and my mam have got a similar story so I'm hopeful she will be fine too xx

Hello there and thanks for posting

I am sorry to hear about your mum's situation and appreciate this must be a worrying time and for you both to have some questions.

Hopefully other members will also jump on and share their own stories and experiences and advice with you as you take this journey.

There is information on our about cancer website about breast surgery and radiotherapy here and here. It is important that the wound has completely healed prior to having radiotherapy but often this will be done 4-6 weeks after surgery, although we have heard from some people who are waiting longer. 

The images from the mammogram and ultrasound are very good at picking up early stage breast cancer. For the majority of people diagnosed with early breast cancer, imaging won't find any any evidence that it has spread. Full body scans are not usually needed unless there are suspicions about cancer spread to another part of the body.

When cancer spreads it usually will first spread to nearby lymph nodes and in breast cancer to the nodes in the armpit (axilla). From there in time cancer cells may pop off and travel around and possibly  if they survive grow to form another tumour in a different part of the body, but this takes time. When this does occur, often the breast tumour is  larger and there may be more than one tumour found and the cancer cells making up the tumour when looked at under the microscope may look more aggressive ( look completely different to normal cells and are growing quickly).

This is why it is important to check out the lymph nodes and carry out a sentinel node biopsy during surgery, see here. After the surgery the breast tissue removed and lymph nodes are examined to confirm the stage and how much more  treatment is needed.

For early stage cancers that haven't spread, surgery and radiotherapy is a standard treatment usually along with a type of body wide treatment. The body wide treatment tends to depend on features of the breast cancer for example if it is hormone sensitive then hormone therapy is used; chemotherapy might be used as well but it might not be be.  If the specialist team felt that chemotherapy was needed they will discuss this with your mum and the reasons why but it isn't always required. In general treatment can vary and the doctors take into account the risks of the cancer coming back which is estimated from features of the disease and how fit someone is to decide on the best plan.  You can read more about the different treatment options here. 

In regards to the holiday encourage your mum to talk to her doctor or breast care nurse to ask if this would be possible and if there is any way in fitting her treatment around this.

Do get back if you have further questions but I wish your mum all the very best.  Both try and take things one step at a time and ask the team involved in her care any questions along the way so you are kept informed and understand things fully.

Take care

Naomi

Thank you so much for your detailed response, it's really helpful in helping to understand everything.