Looking for some guidance. My mother has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this, so forgive me if my post is not up to usual standards but I could use some help.

After a routine mammogram, my mum was called back after a couple of suspicuous lumps were located. They took biopsies and have confirmed that although the larger lump is benign, the "very" small lump is indeed cancerous.

The next stage is that they will remove both lumps and surrounding tissues in about a month's time and also remove her lymph nodes and see if the there has been any spread. We'll find out exactly where we are at on October 27th. Following that there will be 6 weeks of short bursts of radiotherapy (10 minues, 5 days a week)

This has obviously come as a great shock to us all as 2 weeks ago we all thought she was fighting fit and we were without a care in the world (relatively speaking) and now there is a whole world of doubt and fear that is almost too much to really take in.

My Mum is 62 and keeps great health otherwise my Dad is a year younger, retired and able to look after her no problem. I'm in my mid-30s have 2 siblings of a similar age, so there is a good support network there too

I suppose I am just looking for as much information as possible so I can be the best support for her as I can be, and also from a selfish point of view, if there is anything I can do to ease my anxieties while we await results. Also, if anyone has any experiences they could share that would help me, I'd like to know exactly what challenges we face.

I'm really at a loss just now, not quite sure it's sunk in yet.

  • Hi Danny I am the mum that went through cancer and the best help you can give your mum is plenty of time to listen, lots of hugs and if she wishes go with her to the consultations. My husband and daughter were great supports and came with me all the time. Helen took notes and they could both ask questions when I had had mine answered. You forget a lot of what you are told. The other great help my daughter gave me was caring for her dad and being there for him. All the best, it is a nightmare but you will be stronger when you get through it. Big hugs x x
  • This post from 2014 and I hope still you do have access to this forum , my mother also diagnosed with breast cancer stage 2 and thankfully it didn’t spread , Next week she is going to have her operation done like your mother after that reidation for everyday 10 Mins , I wanted to know how long your mother had to take that rediation therapy ? Did she require camo therapy also ? Could you please share with me? Thanks in advanced.

  • Hi Alien,

     

    Sorry to hear about your Mum. I remember vividly how terrible a time it was for us.

     

    My Mum needed the radiotherapy for 3 weeks but other than the medication she is still taking for hormones and the occasional check up she has not received any further treatment.

    If the radiotherapy hadn't been successful then I believe chemotherapy was the next option. Thankfully they didn't have to go down  this road.

    I sincerely hope that your Mum has the same results as mine but if it isn't, there are still plenty of other options available.

     

    Best wishes,

     

    Danny.

  • Thank you so much for your reply . I hope your mother is doing Well . My mother already had her mastectomy surgery, the lump and some lumpnode were removed . Now we are waiting for the biopsy and other pathological results. Once the test result arrives my moms oncologist will meet us regarding next treatment. I have been praying to God so that I can hear a good news about pathological results . Every single moment is scary and I am very much panic about how I am going to deal everything. I am her only daughter and we have no other family . I hope God will have some mercy on us , already it’s too much .