Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Someone very close to me was just diagnosed... actually going through the whole diagnosis process now after a positive biopsy. She has two growths, one in each breast that are approximately .5cm each. Since they are on the small side, would this most likely be classified as Stage 1? What treatments would she have to undergo if God willing it did not spread to her lymphnodes. Lumpectomy? Mastectomy? Chemo and Radiation? I know that everyone and every doctor has a different protocol, but I'm just trying to get some understanding by hearing your experience. Thanks so much.

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

My mother recently was diagnosed with breast cancer. At first she found one growth and went to the doctor whom told her it was small and would need a lumpectomy, and then she felt another one a few days later in the same breast. They told her due to the different placements of the tumor they would need to do a masectomy, and my mother opted to do both to be on the safe side. They were both small on the scans and when she told me she said that she would just need surgery and that was it, since both were small.

While she was getting surgery (she had reconstruction at the same time, tissue and fat for her stomach were put into her breasts), her oncology surgeon came out and told us the tumors were bigger than they thought and that they spread to the lymph nodes. Thank goodness only two, but she then had stage 2B, and was told she would need chemo for 4 months.

When chemo finally finished and she thought that was the end, they told her she needed radiation for 1 month every day.

I am proud to say this is her last week of radiation and I pray every day that this is it for her and soon we can celebrate anniversarys of her being cancer free. It has been a long six months, but all you can do is be supportive for your loved one.

I hope this helps, feel free to message me if you have any other questions.

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

I wish you and your family the best of luck. I never thought we would of had to go through this either, my mom was so healthy. Just know that you guys are not alone

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.

I went through breast cancer treatment after being diagnosed last year about this time. I had found a small well formed lump on the outside part of my right breast. It was about 1cm in size and felt like a jelly bean. When I looked carefully at the side of my breast in a mirror I could see that something was starting to pull at the surface of my skin from underneath and formed a classic cancer dimple.

I was considered early stage. At first it was thought I would be a stage 1, but after the lumpectomy I was diagnosed as a stage 2 grade 2 because micro cancer cells were found in several lymph nodes. I had a lumpectomy, then four rounds of T/C chemo spaced three weeks apart, after having an oncotype test which indicated that I would benefit from chemo, followed a month later by six weeks of radiation every day. The works basically. I finished radiation in October and am on Hormone Inhibitors right now and will be for the next five years. Being diagnosed is very scary, but please assure your friend that there's a lot that can be done to help her.

A very good website for breast cancer information is www.breastcancer.org It has lots of good info plus a wide range of active forums where questions can be asked and tons of information can be gleaned by simply reading. I found it to be very valuable, and both hospitals I go to endorse it. I suggest starting at Information and Resources for New Patients and Members which can be found here: http://community.breastcancer.org/

The best thing your friend can do is take careful notes every step of the way, ask lots of questions and read all she can about the disease and its treatments. Some people bring someone else with them to appointments to help remember what was said and discussed.

Please tell her that if she has to have chemo that she doesn't have to lose her hair, in spite of what her doctors might tell her. She can use cold cap therapy to save it. I did and kept mine. I had to move to New York Hospital's Weill Cornell Breast Center, where they are welcomed, to use them as MSK wouldn't let me, though not for any medical reason. It's rethinking its policy at this time as its has been losing patients like me who want to use them. Go to www.rapunzelproject.org for information on scalp cooling to save hair.

She should also ice her fingers, toes and feet to prevent both neuropathy (nerve damage) and nail damage such as discoloration or complete loss of nails during the administration of any taxol family drug. Icing works beautifully. I found out about it from a lovely young Swedish woman who was having chemo in France where they routinely give ice mittens to all chemo patients. She had posted about it on breastcancer.org

Best of luck to your friend. Support her as best you can this coming year. Modern medicine can do wonders nowadays.

Message edited 3/7/2013 2:23:51 AM.

Re: Breast Cancer - Questions if you or someone you know has been diagnosed.