Mom just diagnosed.

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pumpkin05
pumpkin05 Member Posts: 28
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
Hi all,

You may remember me from a few days ago - I posted about my mom's breast/lymph node tumors. Well, the biopsy came back positive. We don't know yet what type of carcinoma it is (I think they said either ductal infiltrating carcinoma or lobular something-or-other....I'm not very up on the cancer terminology!). She will most likely have to have a sentinel node biopsy sometime this next week.

Just wanted to keep you guys updated - your replies to my last post gave me a lot of encouragement, which is something I think I'm going to need lots of in this upcoming time! I'm the oldest sibling, and my mom is a single parent to my littlest sister, who has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and is usually in a lot of pain. I have another sister who is busy being a college student and she needs to just focus on her grades and graduate! So, I am preparing myself for a lot of extra responsibilty (and a lot of extra stress!). Thanks again for your kind words...I'm glad I found this place!

PS - any Hoosiers in the house? Just wanted to know if there were any locals, and what your opinions are about Indy's best docs. Let me know your thoughts.

(I also posted this in the komen.org forums...I've joined there too...the more support the better, right? )
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  • DFW
    DFW Member Posts: 120
    edited July 2006

    I am a Hoosier. What area are you in? I know a great oncologist in Indy. I had and still have wonderful care.

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  • csp
    csp Member Posts: 2,765
    edited July 2006
    Pumpkin,
    Just wanted to welcome you back, and yes the more support the better! We will support you while you help Mom.
    This is the best place to get info and lots of very kind and giving people here to help you with this rollercoaster
    journey. I kinda like to think of us support people as co-survivors ( I did'nt coin the phrase) but that is how it feels to me anyway . Before long you will know all the terms, at first it is very overwhelming and confusing
    no question is dumb here, nor no emotion that someone here has'nt felt ! looking forward to getting to know you and Mom better!

    Hugs,
    Carrie
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  • suzie14
    suzie14 Member Posts: 344
    edited July 2006
    Pumpkin, so sorry to read about your Mom's diagnosis. She is very lucky to have you on her team. Come back often and ask questions, vent, cry and do whatever you need to do to get through this.

    hugs,
    suzie
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  • cowgirl
    cowgirl Member Posts: 777
    edited July 2006
    pumpkin,
    Glad you are prepared, this is a big job with your sister's dx too. Go with your mom as much as you can to find out the dx, get a copy of her path report and google it yourself! That way you will understand every word of the cancer babble. It will become very common for you to know everything soon, it is a trial by fire. We all know more about cancer than we would like to.
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  • pumpkin05
    pumpkin05 Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2006
    Hi all,

    Thanks for your kind comments...

    My mom had her first appointment (with a surgeon) this past Thursday. The news was not as terrible as I had feared, her tumor is Stage II, and the surgeon does not think it has spread to her lymph nodes. (She will probably have a sentinel node biopsy to confirm this, but the surgeon sounded pretty positive.) Considering the fact that my mom felt the lump and let it go for so long, I was so worried that it would be more advanced. She will see the oncologist for her first visit on August 8th, and we'll go from there. The surgeon's reccommended plan is chemo, then a lumpectomy, then possibly radiation. She also reccommended a port-o-cath. (Mom wasn't too thrilled about that one, but I think she'll come around when she realizes what a convenience it will be...)

    Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers...I really do have a positive outlook on this, but the upcoming weeks/months are not going to be easy for any of us, my mom or my sisters. My mom's spirit is so "down" right now; she's got a million other stresses in her life plus this new diagnosis, and she seems like she has no fight in her. That's what worries me the most; I know attitude is such an integral part of her healing, and she seems very sad and lost right now. I don't know what to do to make it better for her...just pray, I guess.

    Thanks again for all your kind words...it means so much. I have a feeling I'll be leaning on you guys a lot in the next few months. It's really nice to communicate with people who know what you're going through.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited July 2006
    image

    Thoughts and prayers are with you and your mother Jen.
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  • csp
    csp Member Posts: 2,765
    edited July 2006
    Jen,
    Lean away sweetie that is what we are here for giving and getting support. Stage 2 no nodes is good news! Chemo to shrink the tumor.. alot of the ladies have done that here
    and had good response. Make sure Mom gets her path report
    after surgery, and if we can't help you with all the terms we will send you to a good web site that can.

    Everyones response to chemo is different so no words to the wise how to prepare, but we can help you with the side
    effects if she has any.
    Depression is very common for Mom and everyone involved. This is a life changing thing, and although attitude is helpful it is not going to determine weather Mom will respond well to treatments. Just let her know you are there for her and she can do this. Tell the Doctor about her feeling overwhelmed it is very common to need some help with anxiety and depression for patient and caregiver
    This is big stuff!

    Big hugs and prayers going up for you and Mom~
    Carrie
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  • cowgirl
    cowgirl Member Posts: 777
    edited August 2006
    Jen,
    Stage 2 is a beatable cancer, my mom was stage two. The port will make her treatment easier. I am praying for her and you!
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