Best place / website for answers ?

Hi all,

My Dad has been living (comfortably) with prostate cancer for the past 3 / 4 years.

My Mum has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have no idea on the ins and outs, other than she has been refrered to the cancer clinic at the hospital, there are a couple of lumps, they dont believe it has spread to her lympth nodes, but she has spoke with the care nurse at the original hospital and it looks like breast removal is the next step !

There is no cancer in the family (as far as im aware) but then within 3 years, my Dad gets Prostate C and my Mum gets breast C.

Really..... My Mum is nearly 70, my Dad is 75.

Not really sure what im asking to be honest.....

 

  • Hi,

    You're probably just asking for reassurance as that's so tough your mum and dad both have cancer.  And you've come to the right place.  I think the chances of getting cancer increase with age so there's nothing going on other than bad timing.  Breast cancer treatment is pretty good these days.  Your mum will find out what kind of breast cancer she has fairly soon and what treatments at hospital she can expect to have.  And if you have more questions, come back on here and we'll help you.  

    Your dad is doing well so take comfort in that and give your mum a hug, she'll appreciate that more than anything right now as she won't know much more than you do.  And look after yourself too.

     

     

  • Hi,

    It's worth bearing in mind that cancer is primarily a condition related to ageing. Our DNA starts to malfunction after so many decades and developing cancer is one of the effects. Until a hundred years ago, most people didn't live past 60 years old, so age-related cancer was very rare.

    About 40% of cancers are preventable - smoking is the biggest factor in triggering these, coupled with alcohol consumption and being overweight or obese. 
    Flipped over, that statistic means that about 60% of cancer cases are down to DNA and/or ageing. That's why it's so hard to find cures for each of the hundreds of types of cancer. 
     

    I hope you Dad carries on coping and that your Mum's treatment goes well!

     

    Good luck!

    Dave