Beginning stage breast cancer

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Worriedmom18
Worriedmom18 Member Posts: 5
edited September 2018 in Just Diagnosed

Hi, Im a mom of a transgender daughter in her early 20s. A few weeks ago she called me and told me she had breast cancer. She said it was in the beginning stages and it would be easily treated with a chemo pill. I cried on the phone but she seemed so unworried. She said she was going to make it public on facebook.

A few minutes later I saw her post on Facebook. It was pretty vague and just said "im drunk and I want to get it out I have cancer." I responded with a heart and said your dad and I will be there for you. Within a couple minutes my post was erased and I was blocked from seeing it. I called up crying and asked why she blocked me and erased my comment? She said it was because I was too emotional before. I thought anyone would be emotional and cry... Right? Its a normal reaction. I knew she had blocked me because I could see from my sons account. I offered her to come live with us and said I will take care of her and we would try to buy a larger home. We live over 1000 miles apart and because I cant be there as I have other kids at home. She declined to come home and so I offered to pay for the meds which were expensive. She declined. I offered to pay for ubers to treatment and was told no again. I said that we would come up and visit and she said that would be fine but I couldn't attend dr appointments. I asked questions like the name of the meds, she couldnt tell me the name so I googled it and its called cytoxin. I asked if thats what she was taking and she said yes.

I asked for details and she told me nothing accept it was beginning stage breast cancer and the cytoxin will make it go away but she may have to take it for a year. I asked about surgery and she said they were just using the cytoxin alone. She said her dr appointment wasnt for a month.

Fast forward 2 weeks I asked if she had gone to the dr for the cancer (knowing she already said 1 month till the appointment) she said she had gone the other day and then she was silent. I asked how it went and she said fine. They were very vague answers. I asked if they had done imaging and she said yes and it was the same.

Its now been a few weeks and she has buried the cancer post on facebook with about 50 funny memes or about how shes getting drunk again. Not a word about this terrifying condition known as cancer. She said she has gotten a raise and a better position in the place she works. More hours and more responsibility. My sons tell me that its all selfies and alcohol related posts on social media. My mother in law and sister lives close by her and offered to help her but she declined.

Shes been nothing but distant after always having regular calls. Shes pushing help away and doesnt seem to be taking breast cancer seriously with all this partying. Plus working all the time. Things arent adding up.

So this is my question. Is taking cytoxin alone, sufficient for early breast cancer? I dont really think her being trans has anything to do with the way they treat it. Breast cancer is breast cancer. Also is taking it for a year straight standard protocol?

We are very worried but at the same time are cautious to believe as are other family members. Shes very dramatic and often checks into hospital on Facebook. Shes not really saying much about it. Im scared my other kids are scared. My husband is worried because its like we are behind a piece of glass watching this unfold but are not given any info. We just lost 2 family members to cancer in the past couple month. We did hospice as a family and watched my step dad slowly suffer with this terrible disease. He just passed at the end of June.

Maybe just words of advice and wisdom are what we need right now.

Thanks, worried mom

Comments

  • Georgia1
    Georgia1 Member Posts: 1,321
    edited September 2018

    Hi WorriedMom, and I'm so sorry you're going through this. You're right, breast cancer is breast cancer and there are pretty standard treatment protocols. It is possible that she's already had surgery and the chemo pill is a follow-on therapy to reduce recurrence. But it is also possible that she has a tumor that is on the larger size, and they're using the cytoxin to shrink it prior to surgery. Either way, treatment is very good these days; her age is in her favor; and the odds are that she'll be just fine in a few months.

    Here's some information to read while you wait for someone smarter to come along. Also, you posted the same message three times, so you may want to delete the other two to keep the conversation in one thread, Best of luck:

    https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/druglist/cy...


  • Worriedmom18
    Worriedmom18 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2018

    Thank you. She said her dr said they could treat it without surgery. Just cytoxin.

  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited September 2018

    Honestly, worriedmom, a lot of what she's telling you just doesn't add up for me. I suppose cytoxan might be used, but I've never heard of NOT having surgery for BC. It's usually the first treatment, unless the tumor is large and aggressive. Then they give chemo first (usually by IV) to shrink the tumor, and follow it up with surgery.

    It sounds like you and your daughter already have a strained relationship, so maybe she's just not giving you much information. But what she does share with you sounds a little off to me. Hopefuly I have just misunderstood.

  • moth
    moth Member Posts: 4,800
    edited September 2018

    I agree with mustlovepoodles - this doesn't add up. This wouldn't be the only treatment - it would be either before or after surgery. I think she's not being straight with you. I did read about oral cytoxan being used longer term but it was after surgery & chemo & it was meant to prevent recurrence of triple neg cancer (it was in a trial - not sure if it's actually been rolled out as standard treatment yet)

    Basic treatment for all breast cancer, including DCIS which is sometimes called pre-cancer and is staged as 0, is surgery. Sometimes that's all that's needed but often it's followed by other treatments such as radiation, chemo or hormonal therapy.

  • Michelle_in_cornland
    Michelle_in_cornland Member Posts: 1,689
    edited September 2018

    The average age for women born was female to be diagnosed with breast cancer is age 57. Screening begins for transgender women at a 50, if they had at least 5 years of hormone therapy. They do not have ovaries that have been producing hormones for the entire lives, such as those that were born female. I am not sure that you are getting correct information from your daughter. It might just be a call for attention and I would consult a therapist about how best to deal with these issues.

  • beach2beach
    beach2beach Member Posts: 996
    edited September 2018

    Hi,

    I'm so sorry you are dealing with this, trying to figure out a way to help your daughter. I must agree with the rest of the posters, something doesn't add up. Only thing I can think of would be if it was LCIS , which is not cancer but those cells are a marker and put you at a higher risk, that she might be offered a hormonal pill for it, but any other type of breast cancer surgery would be in there at some point. Does she have anyone who she is close with whom you could reach out to and would speak to you?

  • Worriedmom18
    Worriedmom18 Member Posts: 5
    edited September 2018

    so weird... My post disappeared.😩 all that writing. Well to sum it up, thank you for all your help. I was very young when I had her. My mom took over and over rode each decision I made. I didnt feel I was allowed to be a mom until I had my second at age 24. My other children didn't spend nearly as much time with my mom. My mom has dementia now. My daughter must be feeling that loss since my moms personality changed and she was no longer able to care for herself. Also we live far away but she has my husbands mom, sister, brother niece and friends.also they say she looks well.

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