Please help me.

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cardains
cardains Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

I'm terrified for my mum.  She was diagnosed in july 2010 with grade 2 IDC and DCIS, no lymph involvement. She has had 2 unsuccessful lumpectomies as unable to clear margins.  She is 67. It is hormone receptive and she has been told she will have to have Tamoxifen.  her path report says lymphovascular invasion on the second exision report.  I'm terrified it might have spread, she is my best friend, what will I do wthout her? Please someone ease my mind as I sit here sobbing.

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited September 2010

    Hi Cardains, like all daughters, and I have two, you are really scared for your mum and that is sooooo understandable.  The only way to know if the cancer has spread is to have a Pet scan for soft tissue and a nuclear bone scan for the skeleton and if your mum's docs thought that it had spread, I'm sure they would order those tests.  Have they spoken to her regarding a mastectomy as they don't seem to be able to get clear margins?  Maybe you should pose the question.  Do you go with your mum for appointments?  Have you asked if she would like you to come?  Perhaps attending an appointment with her would allow you to ask some questions of her doc and so put your mind at ease.  Please, for your own sake, don't go second guessing what your mum's doc is fully aware of.  The fear of loosing your mum is uppermost in your mind but what you should be doing is giving your mum all the love and support you can muster and taking full advantage of every single day to make the best memories possible as none of us has a crystal ball that will tell us how long we have on this earth and that includes the healthiest as well.  I hope I have helped a little with your anguish.  Please stay in contact with this forum as we are only too happy to support you as well as your mum.

    Love n hugs to both you and your mum.  chrissyb

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  • nene2059
    nene2059 Member Posts: 270
    edited September 2010

    I will try to help.  I was IIa IDC as well.  You did not say if she had chemo.  If so great because the chemo would have travelled through her system and killed any little suckers that might have escaped the breast.  If not, then that is good news too.  That means that the dr decided that her risk of distant mets and potential benefit from chemo were low.  Great news there too.  Also keep in mind that the hormonal meds such as Tamoxifen and the Aromatase Inhibitors, which they will most likely switch your mom to after a few years on Tamox, are VERY POWERFUL drugs.  They keep cancer from returning and treat cancer that has come back very effectively.  What is the story with two lumpectomies and no clear margins?  Time to look at mastectomy?  There is more information that needs to be gathered from the dr.'s but it does not sound like mom is going anywhere anytime soon.  Small tumor, hormone positive, grade 2=well behaved, slow growing tumor usually.  Have they done a CT or PET scan on your mom?  This will help with peace of mind.  I know you feel powerless and are frightened but take it from someone that has been there, with her stats her prognosis should be excellent.  Best wishes and happy thoughts!!

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  • mumito
    mumito Member Posts: 4,562
    edited September 2010

    Is she having chemo? In my case this destroyed all the tumors even the one I had in my Lymphnodes.

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  • cardains
    cardains Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2010

    Thankyou all so much for your replies, she has not had any chemo as yet as they thought she would just have lumpectomy and radiotherapy but unsuccessful with this.  She is going today to speak with her BS re options.  I want her to have mastectomy with chemo then Tamoxifen to make sure they got the stray cells, if any. I am driving myself insane with worry. She has not been offered any scans as yet, they will most prob discuss this with her today. I am too scared to go with her to her appts so my dad goes with her. I'm such a wuss.

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