My mother assumed to have breast cancer?

I’m sorry your mom is going through this. I’m even more sorry you’re so scared and needing to reach out for help on her behalf. My heart goes out to you and at the same time I’m awed by your strength, courage and determination to reach out to us and to help your mom.

First, not all lumps are cancer. Even if they grow. There are many benign breast conditions that this could be.

Second, if it is cancer, treatment options vary depending on what type it is. Some cancers don’t require chemo. Radiation isn’t always necessary either. Surgery options may include lumpectomy instead of mastectomy (either option is a valid one, though). Some of us just have surgery and take a pill everyday for 5 years. Others of us do some combination of the above treatment options.

Third, the earlier what’s going on is identified, the earlier she (and you) will be able to change your worry and fear of the unknown to a plan of action.

I don’t know your mom’s personality or the dynamics of your relationship. Sometimes, a loved one won’t make the appointment themselves because the fear is too great and they’re almost paralyzed by the fear and they need someone else to take the reins at least temporarily. If you can’t convince your mom to make her own appointment (and I’d advise you to go with her as a second set of eyes and ears is important to catch all the information the dr will give her), you may want to try making an appointment for her. And letting her know that it’s been made and reassure her that you’ll go with her for support - that you're in this together.

I wish you luck, I know it’s hard. Well wishes and warm thoughts for you and your mom.🍀🌷

my mother had breast cancer, had a mastectomy but no chemo or radiation. I had breast cancer, mastectomy, chemo, and now will start radiation. The side effects from chemo were not too bad I was just more tired. I barely felt nausea. The meds are great at controlling that. I was really scared f the side effects of chemo, and tho it was not fun it was not as bad as I expected.

Everyone is different, but treatments are very different than they were even a few years ago. All the best.

This may not even be breast cancer! There are a lot of other breast conditions which can cause lumps, bumps, and rashes that are NOT CANCER.

Cancer is a different disease in every person. You can't really compare one type of cancer to another. I've known people who had lung cancer whose treatment made them very ill. I know of others who had other cancers whose treatment didn't affect them much at all.

My sister had breast cancer 6 years ago. All she required was a lumpectomy and radiation once a day for 5 weeks. She sailed through it and now you can't even see her scar. She takes an anti-hormonal drug daily (because her tumor fed on estrogen, a female hormone) and has had no side effects.

My journey was a bit different. I unexpectedly ended up with chemo and a bilateral mastectomy, after my cancer was deemed to be more aggressive than first thought. Still, the treatment was doable. I alsotake an anti-hormonal drug and have had no side effects from it.

i wish your mother the best. Some people are very worried about getting bad news, to the point that they refuse to go to the doctor at all. The thing with breast cancer (if this IS even breast cancer!) is that it's so TREATABLE.