chemotherapy or Surgery

Options
ghazal
ghazal Member Posts: 2

hi All I need your help Doc diagnose my mom Breast cancer..there is around 3.5 inch tumar on her breast and 4.something lymph node..Docter suggest for 8 chemothropy then surgry.I am not docter

please any one there guide me is it correct treatment? 

Comments

  • ebann
    ebann Member Posts: 3,026
    edited June 2010

    Hi ghazal, 1st what kind of breast cancer is it? There are different kinds. I know for me that I had chemo and then surgery. Then for me they found more cancer after surgery so I had chemo again and radiation. I can tell you I am a survivor of Ibc. It has been a year. My Dr. made the right decision. If you do not like your  Dr. then you may want to consider a 2nd opinion. Be there for your mom and go to her appts if you can. She is not going to remember everything that is being said. Wish your mother and you the best.

  • ghazal
    ghazal Member Posts: 2
    edited June 2010

    Thx ebann for your reply..normally i go with my mother in all visits..but I dont know the type but it is in 3rd 1 stage..cancer germs are in main tumor and in lymph node but not in bone or any other area..I dont know much abt cancer so really not any idea abt my Doctor is doing fine or not..but in Pakistan they normally do chemo then surgery .she also done with first chemo and all her hair loss...Doctor said they first do 8 Chemo then surgery then radiation(if require) .

    Thanks again for your reply.

    Can you please also tell me diet which is good for her in chemo. 

  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited June 2010

    I had a choice of surgery then chemo, or the other way around... I chose chemo first.  My prognosis was the same either way.  Here (in the US) the treatments vary depending on type of cancer, stage, etc. so not everyone has that option.  

    After my surgery (lumpectomy) I had radiation. 

    The more you can learn about your mother's cancer the more you'll understand what they're doing and why.  See if you can find out:

    what kind of breast cancer she has

    what stage it is

    what grade it is

    if it's ER, HER, PR positive or negative

    (I'm probably missing some things that are good to know -- others may chime in, or you can search this site for information on "what to ask your doctor" or something similar)

    This information will help you understand the cancer and treatments.  Ask her doctor about anything you don't understand.

    There are a lot of things that are good to eat during chemo, but a lot of it depends on what she can stomach. A typical healthy diet, high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and protein, is generally recommended.  This websit has a nutrition section that may help you.  For your mother it may be a question of what she feels like she can eat.  I know I was told to do the best I could, but to eat what I could stomach, whether it was especially healthy or not; about all I could eat was fruit and some meat (but a lot of things I normally love, I couldn't tolerate during chemo).  I think the most important thing she can do is drink lots and lots of water. It helps flush out the toxins from the chemo.

    My very best to you both.... I know this is a difficult and confusing time.  Please keep asking questions and searching this site (and others) for answers.  The women on this site are the greatest.

Categories