mum with possibly a recurrence

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hope-is-all-i-have
hope-is-all-i-have Member Posts: 17
edited June 2014 in Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis

Hi

I am from India and a 24 yr student in Germany now. 2 years back, my mum, 57 yrs, was diagnosed with ILC, stage IIIc, with 14/16 lymph nodes affected. quite aggressive and advanced stage. She went through all the ordeal of  mastectomy (left breast), very strong chemo drugs, radiation and been on hormonal therapy since. This year in May, barely 5 months back, the PET-CT scan showed no evidence of disease or metastasis and therefore a great report. 2 months later the doctor examined her right breast and everything was alright. 

last week, mum observed a lump and yesterday got an ultrasound test which shows suspicious behavior of the painful 3.5cmx2cmx2cm lump with irregular edges. tomorrow the report from breast biopsy will be available. the doc says it might be bad news again. I am praying hard for the report to show some mercy. 

I am pretty much in a fix. I do not know how to console my mum this time. she is a strong woman and possibly seeing her got through all this again makes my heart ache with deep sorrow. She underwent great pains during my fathers (now deceased) chronic illness with two young children at home. I support her in every possible way. 

why should life for good people be a total bitch! she's been maintaining top notch health since childhood with no disease whatsoever apart from this BC diagnosed 2 yrs back.

I am looking for advise. if tomorrows report goes anywhere close to bad, I need to drop a semester and head back home. I cannot even imagine whats going on in her mind now. i have a younger sister, 19 yrs, and a wonderful supportive extended family. 

what do you guys suggest?

my best wishes and keep fighting the hell out of BC! 

 

   

 

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  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited October 2011

    I am sorry your mum is facing this and it must be difficult for you being so far away. You will know soon if it's another cancer. If it is bad news I hope at least it will have been caught early.

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  • TheSunWillComeOut
    TheSunWillComeOut Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2011

    Hi Hope,



    Did you guys get the results yet? I'm hoping the lump is benign. I don't want to advise you on what to do but if it were me I would go be by my mom's side. I definitely understand what you're going thru as I also signed up on this site for my mom's sake...and like you i watched her go thru aggressive treatment, lose her hair, etc.



    Here's to our moms' health...may they live long happy healthy full lives.



    Keep us posted.

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  • hope-is-all-i-have
    hope-is-all-i-have Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2011

    Hi girls

    Some good news. Mom's needle biopsy report came today (it took time because of a string of holidays and weekend) and it says " Smears reveal atypical lymphoid cells with a few benign ductal epithelial cells". Its a good report but doc wants to be extra sure and so he will perform a lumpectomy tomo to further test the lump. he doesnt want to take chances considering her aggressive condition with many lymph nodes affected. all other preliminary tests are normal. 

    Its indeed a relief as for the last 1 week I completely gave up on study and work. The doc had said its less likely to be benign but now the report is our favor. freaking happy today!!!

    @racy and @thesunwillcomeout..Thanks for the kind words. It was indeed helpful.

    @thesunwillcomeout Cheers to the bond we share for our mums..and yes, they WILL live long happy healthy full lives...She's been my strength and continue to be. 

     

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  • sweetbean
    sweetbean Member Posts: 1,931
    edited October 2011

    Yay!  Happy to hear that!

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  • hope-is-all-i-have
    hope-is-all-i-have Member Posts: 17
    edited October 2011

    Hi

    Unfortunately, bad news. ITS BACK!!!! I do not know what to say but needle biopsy failed to detect the cancer. The tissue samples might have been taken from non-cancerous part of the lump. This time its pleomorphic invasive lobular cancer and according to the doctor slightly lesser aggressive than the older one. Doc also said the lump (4cmx2cmx2cm) couldnt grow so fast considering PET_CT scan was done just 4 months back and it might have been present during the scan! PET-CT scan didnt detect this growth! I mean WTF! the state-of-art diagnostic tool missed cancer...is that even possible???

    My mum came to know about the recurrence yesterday and it was hell! She wouldnt eat/drink or talk..n all she wanted was to die and not do the mastectomy...her another problem is that the earlier strong chemo made her veins extremely hard and its difficult to find veins elsewhere...last time for lumpectomy, IV was given in her foot...We gave her some anti-depressant tabs and today she agreed for the operation.during the operaion, doc will remove the lymph nodes to test it and decide on chemo/rad etc...

    being so far away, i pretty much cant concentrate on anything else...and why should I?  

    I have a request. Is there anyone who can speak to my mum via skype for some words of encouragement? We (close relatives, sisters, daughter and I) are all there for her but there is a lack of a support group. It will go a long long way and I will remain indebted to you forever.

    regards

       

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