diagnosed with breastcancer

hopin4amiracle
hopin4amiracle Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I dont have breastcancer but a month ago my older sister was diagnosed with breastcancer. It was a news that we didnt expect to hear. We had no family history of breastcancer so it was a shock for all of us. My sister was a hard working vibrant person. She kept herself busy with work and house chores all the time. It all started with a bump on her chest that she manage to keep on her own. She complain of a bump on her chest and mom offered her to get it checked but she refuse because she didnt think of anything at that time. Till one day when she babysitted my daughter for the whole day the bump on her chest burst and wouldnt stop bleeding.When she was taken to the emergency without even doing any test the ER doctor blurts out the word "thats cancer" my brother in law had to keep asking the doctor of what he said. We were angry when we found out the news because how can they say its a cancer when no test has been done. But in my mind i was telling myself he might have seen this kind of problem already for this doctor to say what he said. Days later it was confirmed. Stage 3 bc. My sister has seen some doctors and is currently doing herbal treatment, she is running out of medicines and currently has no insurance. Its been so hard for all of us. Even with this process of trying to get help from public clinic is putting a strain on her. Just today she cried telling me that she cant do this anymore and she blames herself for not paying attention to it. She said she shouldve had it check eversince so she wouldnt be in this situation. I cried and fell to pieces ive never seen my sister like that. I held her in my arms and kissed her and told her she will be ok and she needs to be strong. I love my sister and i want the best for her. I know that there is hope. I pray for her strength to get thru this.I love you my sister be strong were all here for you.

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Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Hi hopin4amiracle,  I'm so sorry you're sister is going thru this.  You will probably hear from a lot of the ladies from the forums very soon.  This is something your sister will need to educate herself about and by staying close to the boards here and looking up information on this disease, staging breast cancer, Treatments and Side effects, you will get thru this.  Please stay in touch.

    image

    Barb

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited September 2011

    Dear hopin4amiracle, I'm sorry that your family is going through this.  Where do you live?  Are you in the USA?  I am asking because I read that there is no health insurance for your sister.  I am sure this is one of the reasons she did not get the lump looked at and this is what anyone in her situation would likely do, hope for the best and try not to worry about the worst case scenario.  There are a great number of resources available to women with breast cancer in terms of getting covered for medical care in the USA.  I would start there.  I am soo sorry that you are suffering through this with your sister.  But try to be strong for her and do what she may not have the energy to do for herself at the moment and look into health care options for treatment.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited September 2011

    Please, please, please get your sister to conventional treatment.  Most cases there are some sort of programs in place to pay for those who are uninsured.  I believe that conventional standard of care treatment is her only hope of beating this disease. So a hospital.

    Herbal treatment is largely ineffective for treating breast cancer.  Which is what I think you are seeing.

    So please get her the MEDICAL help she needs and do it today.  Meanwhile, do research on programs that are available in your state for those in need.

    Don't let her tell you about "some doctors" either.  She needs doctors trained in TREATING CANCER.  I don't believe she has really done this.  She has to if she wants to beat this.

    Good luck.  I am sorry if I was harsh.  But I don't think there is any other realistic course of action here.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited September 2011

    Please look into programs in your community for MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER.  Especially since October Pink Ribbon breast cancer awareness is currently being emphasized.  The hospital will be able to direct you to available treatment programs for the uninsured.

    imageBarb
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  • Annie62
    Annie62 Member Posts: 1,081
    edited September 2011

    Hi, Every person's BC is different. I didn't have BC bursting through my skin ,but I am Stage IIIC, same as your sis, and yes, I have had a recurrence after 6 YRS. But I am here today and as far as I know healthy.l I work full time, care for my DD when I get home from work and am in general energetic and feein' ok. Help your sis get treated for the the acute symptoms and cancer and then take it from there. We are here for her and for you.

     Best,Annie

    PS- Edited to add: Sorry I didn't realize that your sis doesn't have insurance. Please take the adive of previous poster and try to find some programs that will work for your sister.

     You are all in my thoughts,

    Annie

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  • hopin4amiracle
    hopin4amiracle Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2011

    Thank you everyone for the information that you have provided. Thanks for the prayers also. I will do my best to help and guide her through this.

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  • hopin4amiracle
    hopin4amiracle Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2011

    HI kathleen1966, were not in the US were in Guam but its a US territory. We do have resources here but things around here are so badly political. She had applied for government assistance and was turn down because she was missing a document that I think wasnt even relevant to her situation. It was so frustrating. Luckily one of her coworkers knew some senators and thats when she finally had someone to keep the ball rolling for her. Her coworkers husband knew people and actually called them to help her out. But im still worried for her sake to get treatment here.So hopefully things will be ok..Thanks for your support! Im just so glad that there is people that i can communicate to about her situation.God Bless!

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  • hopin4amiracle
    hopin4amiracle Member Posts: 4
    edited September 2011

    They did a biopsy on my sister today hopefully things will be ok with her....Anxious with what the actual findings will be...

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  • jennyboog
    jennyboog Member Posts: 1,322
    edited September 2011

    Sorry, I'm late reading this.  The other girls have given you some great advice, I have nothing to add.  I just wanted you to know that I'm sending you & your sister my hugs and prayers.  This is a wonderful website and we're always here.

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  • damazon
    damazon Member Posts: 66
    edited September 2011

    Hi,

    I was diagnosed stage IIIb ILC 7cm multifocal (3tumours) and multicentric (over 100 individual sites of foci) when path report returned after right mastectomy. How worried should I be -- I am 57, n ever been sick except for breast cancer. All treatments, biopsy one week, mastectomy 3 weeks, 4 weeks later fec-d chemo plus weekly pacitaxol for now 8 weeks after the docetaxol put me in the hospital for days with neutropenia. My onc says she hopes to cure me and that I will need radiation to my chest wall and axilla and supracavicular nodes plus 5 years of tamoxifen. So far I have only been distressed with manageable side effects but reading these boards I am getting more worried. Is my world about to come crashing down!

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