So many questions and not enough answers...

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JessCam
JessCam Member Posts: 2
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

I'm new to posting although I have been reading on here since my mother first found her lump on Monday. She went to have a diagnostic mammogram today and they found 2 tumors in her right breast that were hard. Not sure what that means but the tech told her is wasn't a good sign when the tumors are hard and not filled with fluid.? So far, I am the only one who knows about what she is going through. She doesn't want to tell my dad or my brother yet, at least not until she knows more. My family has dealt with our fair share of tragedy, so I know she doesn't want to scare them. She has an appt tomorrow with her regular dr to discuss going and seeing a cancer specialist to do a biopsy. They told her he might want to do a needle biopsy or a scrape, i have only heard of the needle and don't even know why they would want to do a scrape. It's even harder to deal with seeing that i live over 1000 miles away and can't be there to hold her hand. Breast cancer doesn't run in my family so I don't even know what to expect. I'm terrified and not sure how to stay strong for the women who means the world to me. 

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2014

    Oh, that's a heavy load on both of you. Glad you found our community. But, take one step at a time, and see what they find after they do additional testing. It may indeed be nothing...... Stay strong! (hugs) 

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2014

    Hi JessCam,

    I'm  sorry you're going through this- I know how stressful it is and imagine it's extra difficult to not be there in person. But you are there for your mom emotionally and that's what counts. I know it's hard not to imagine the worst, but 80% of all breast biopsies come back benign- the odds are greatly in your mom's favor that she will not have cancer. Techs aren't supposed to say things like that- the only thing that not seeing fluid inside of the lump means is that it is not a cyst. Of course cysts are more easily diagnosed as benign, since they are very rarely cancerous, but the fact that the lump is NOT a cyst doesn't mean that it IS cancerous. It makes me angry when things are said to make people more frightened, especially since only doctors and nurses that have been authorized to explain things are supposed to tell you anything. 

      I hope that your mom is able to get more reliable and objective info from her doctor. I would think that they might send her to a breast surgeon/specialist to do the biopsy, maybe that's what they meant by cancer specialist. Just remember that the onky way to duagnose cancer is by actually sending tissue from the biopsy to pathology- until then, nobody can say for sure, so try ( I know it's next to impossible! ) not to think the worst.

      Regarding the scrape, I really don't know what they are referring to. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in on that one! My only guess would be if your mom has any skin inflammation and they want a sample, but that is only speculation on my part.

      Hang in there and keep us posted. You are a wonderful daughter and I'm sure your mom is grateful to have your support :) .

    Dee

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  • JessCam
    JessCam Member Posts: 2
    edited February 2014

    darkestB4dawn-

    Thank you for your response to my post, it actually helped to ease my mind :) My mom has her appointment with the breast surgeon today and hopefully they will go ahead and schedule her biopsy this week. So for now we wait and wait and wait for answers, as I know so many of us are playing the waiting game. I see above that you have been here before with your mom and I hope that she is doing well, thank you for your support!

    - Jess

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited February 2014

    Jess,

    Wishing the best for you and your mom. It is very difficult to carry this worry. I don't know your family but if your mom thinks it better not to say anything until you have more info, you have to honor that request. On the flip side, there's that old say, "A worry shared is a worry halved". My family would not be happy if I withheld any thing ! As to family history, very, very few cases of bc are caused by the known genetic mutations. 

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  • AlyonA
    AlyonA Member Posts: 49
    edited February 2014

    I am guessing they
    want to do a scrape cytology. Fine needle aspiration can be considered a
    cytology test, but a scrape is a scrape, and I don’t really get how they can do
    that. The most well know crape test is the PAP test. I don’t think you can do a
    scrape for bc, unless they remove the tumor. And that really is putting the
    horse before the cart. Scrape cytology is sometimes used instead of histopathology
    after tumor removal, but really, histopathology is the golden standard.

    In other words – do a
    biopsy. You know where you are at when you do it.

    As for the other
    things…you just need to stay strong, for her and for yourself. And don’t let
    her see that you are scared, or down about the whole thing. I cuddle deep in my
    blanket and cry most nights. I don’t want my mother to know, because then she
    would be in full blown mommy bear mode, and it’s just not fair to her.

    Love is important.
    Mothers know they are loved. 

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