Mom is having mastectomy tomorrow, what next??

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idterm1
idterm1 Member Posts: 1
edited July 2015 in Surgery - Before, During, and After

Hi all, first time poster here.

We found out about my mom's stage 2 breast cancer about a month ago. She is having surgery tomorrow and we are very nervous and anxious. The information on breast cancer gets very overwhelming to be honest, and I'm not even sure where to look half the time, so I'm glad I found this discussion board where I can talk to real people that are going through this terrible thing as well.

The doctor told my mom that after her surgery, she will be meeting with an oncologist. I know what an oncologist does but I'd still like to know exactly what goes on in those meetings? Do they talk about what they found in your mastectomy? Treatment options? You see, my mom doesn't speak English so this has been even more difficult for us since she can't ask all the questions she wants if an interpreter isn't present. She also doesn't have insurance so we've only been able to stay in the hospital that helps out uninsured patients. I'm just afraid we're not doing everything we can even though the hospital has been very helpful. I'm sorry if my post doesn't make much sense, my thoughts and words have become very jumbled.

I've just been feeling really helpless, knowing we're leaving all of this to fate and in the hands of this hospital since we can't go anywhere else where they would do the surgery at very little cost. I know they're professionals, but it still doesn't shake the feeling that we should be looking into other places as well. Being rich would really be handy in this moment more than others.

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  • inks
    inks Member Posts: 746
    edited July 2015

    So sorry you are dealing with so many issues on top of cancer. I think you are doing the best you can by being there for your moms appointments. The language barrier is a definite problem since you do want your mom to feel that she is in charge of her treatment. The treatment is the same weather you are rich or poor and is very straight forward, sometimes the oncologist seem to be robotic with breast cancer. The oncologist will most likely decide if your mom will need chemo and/or hormone therapy. Just because you are dealing with a place that treats uninsured patients does not mean you are getting substandard care. I wish your mom the best!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2015

    Hi Idterm-

    We want to welcome you to our community here at BCO. We're so sorry for what your mom and family are going through, we know the first days and weeks after a diagnosis can be so very hard.

    What type of surgery is she having? During her meeting with the oncologist, they'll most likely go over the surgery and her recovery, and then lay out a treatment plan based on what was found during the biopsy. This is where she'll learn what sort of treatment she'll be undergoing, like chemotherapy, radiation, or both. Once you have that information, coupled with the specifics of her diagnosis, you'll have a better idea of what you're dealing with. You can also contact other doctors for second opinions, if that is an option, and something you feel is necessary.

    Is it possible for someone to be with her while she's meeting with the oncologist? So that any questions she or anyone else has don't get forgotten, and she feels more comfortable with what's being discussed.

    Please keep us posted on how her surgery goes! In the mean time, you may find it helpful to connect with some of the members on our caregivers forum, for support and advice: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/16.

    The Mods

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited July 2015

    Inks is right; the medical oncologist helps determine whether or not chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy is appropriate in your Mom's case. If you attend the oncologist appointment with your Mom, it will help if you can share your Mom's general health issues with the oncologist. For example, does she have heart issues? If so, some chemos (like Adriamycin) would not be appropriate. How are her bones? Postmenopausal women are often prescribed aromatase inhibitors (AIs) if their cancer is being fed by hormones like estrogen. AIs help suck the estrogen out of our bodies, making it more difficult for hormone positive cancers to thrive. Unfortunately, AIs also lead to bone thinning. If your Mom already has bone issues, let her MO know. Also, ask if your Mom can get an oncotype test. That test can help determine whether or not your Mom will benefit from chemo. Best wishes for your Mom!

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