What if radiation isn't possible?

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geek
geek Member Posts: 14
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

Hello,

 First post here.  My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week.  She is going to have a mastectomy on Monday.  

10 years ago she had breast cancer.  They believe that this is a new cancer and not a reoccurance.  Today she has an appointment to find out if she can have radition treatment, because of the treatment she received 10 years ago.  If she cannot, what does that mean?  Is this terribly bad?  I'm 25.  I don't remember much about the last time this all happened.  It's kind of a black hole in time.  I'm sad about this all and just needed to vent.  I think I might be pestering her in wanting to hang out before the surgery and my brother is in Iraq, so I feel a little alone (even though I'm not)Tongue out  Thanks for listing. Love.

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  • Janeluvsdogs
    Janeluvsdogs Member Posts: 242
    edited October 2010

    I'm sorry for how hard your family is having it.

    One of the side effects of radiation to the breast is a second cancer in the same breast 8-15 years later. That's the usual time frame when it occurs. The doctors probably disclosed that to your mother the first time in the release she signed.

     Believe me, you don't want your mom to have radiation twice. They don't do it because it is too toxic -- and can affect the heart and lungs. A mastectomy usually isn't a bad operation. Just hold your mom's hand and help around the house. I'm sure she's more worried about how you are taking the mastectomy than she is about herself.

    Blessings to you.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited October 2010

    I had a double mastectomy 5.5 weeks ago. I found out today the radiation oncologist is not recommending radiation. This is my first diagnosis. Never had radiation before.

    Radiation is almost alway required for lumpectomy but not always for mastectomies.

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  • msphil
    msphil Member Posts: 1,536
    edited October 2010

    hello sweetie, your mom may not need radation, wait and see what doctoe says, I agree to pester her, also sweetie, I had radation when I had a left mastectomy and thank God I DID NOT have second cancer in that area or anywhere else, (Praise GOD), so each case is so different,I,m now 16 yrs cancer free and in December IT WILL BE 17 yrs(God,s WILL), God bless your mom and your family during this difficult time, special blessing goes out also for your brother in Iraq, tell him thanks for serving our country.  msphil

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  • geek
    geek Member Posts: 14
    edited October 2010

    Thanks all for the kind words.  Thoughts and prayers are with all of you.  We women are STRONG!

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  • Cowgirl13
    Cowgirl13 Member Posts: 1,936
    edited October 2010

    Meesh-post here often and tell us how it is going for you.  And of course how it is going for your mom.  You need a lot of support so come here often.

    Bless you. 

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