My mum was diagnosed with BC in Feb of this year. Micropapillary sub-type. She underwent radical cystectomy soon after diagnosis however were advised that the cancer was considered locally advanced and found to be in adjacent organs womb, cervix , ovaries and vagina.
Despite he surgeon advising the operation was considered successful and has prolonged her life she has been referred to oncology for the possibility of adjuvant chemo. Whilst I understand cancer cells can be microscopic and unseen I am confused with terminology. They successfully removed all the cancer that they could see what does this mean in terms of longer term prognosis?
Language like 50/50 have been advised but everything I read about this sub type fills me with little hope. I can’t speak to my Mum about this as her mental health has always been very difficult and the cancer diagnosis has escalated matters to what seems like an unbearable level on some days.
Since surgery (April) she has experienced some bowel issues but I live worrying that any pain she may be experiencing post surgery as part of the internal healing process and overall recovery are a sign of her cancer returning particularly as there is so much confusion for me about this cancer variant , especially as from my reading it’s relatively rare.
I have suggested counselling but my mother refuses it’s almost as if , if she ignores it, it will go away.
I have made attempts to contact her MTD and have been sign posted to McMillan sites, again however there is little specific info on how we move forward in particular around this variant. Finally it is accepted that each individual patient is unique but I find myself turning to this forum for the sake of my own mental health to be in a more informed position moving forward.
