The MF'ing Waiting Game

tedbrogan5190

Hello from Philly...

Happy to have found this forum. I apologize ahead of time for any profanities (again, I'm from Philly).

35 y/o son here. 65 y/o mom was diagnosed with breast cancer on 1/13. The initial conversation was a blur, and new tidbits of information has been trickling in over the past few weeks. Here's what we know right now:

- Biopsy and imaging confirmed ~2cm tumor in left breast. ER+/PR+, HR-. No nodes enlarged or lighting up.

- Biopsy and imaging confirmed DCIS in right breast (unknown size). Unknown hormone profile etc.

- CT scan showed thickening in endometrium and several nodules in lungs (all but one nodule <5mm). The radiologist and surgeon said these are common findings and they are not concerned / not to worry. Yeah, BULLSHIT. I'm worried! Really fucking worried! Has anybody else dealt with benign lung nodules?

- We have a PET scan and second opinion set up for this week. Should have a plan for surgery and scope of additional tx after that.

OK. That's what we know from a medical perspective.

From a personal perspective, this period of waiting for final staging / diagnosis may literally kill my father. My father and brother are both very successful physicians. I am a senior attorney for a major pharmaceutical company that just so happens to be prominent in the breast cancer space. We know the seriousness of the diagnosis - and, in many ways, the level of hope and advancement that's been made in this area. We feel like we're teetering between a "close call" favorable diagnosis and a very, very, very tough fight...

Of course, the most important thing here is my mom's mental and physical well being... so we're doing our best to be positive and maintain "normal" as much as possible. IT WOULD HELP IF WE COULD FIND A FUCKING COVID VACCINE APPOINTMENT.

It already feels therapeutic putting this into writing.

Looking forward to hearing back from / engaging with you all.

Beesie

Ted, since your mother has been diagnosed and you've also posted this in the "Diagnosed and Waiting for Results" forum, where you've already received numerous responses, it's best if you delete your post here and stick with the one thread in the other, more appropriate forum. It's confusing and disjointed to have the same discussion going in two places.