Can't see an end to this :-(

Hello everyone.

 

As I said before my Mum has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. The plan is for her to have a lumpectomy (although there is a chance she could need a masectomy), radiotherapy and then be on hormone treatment.
As her ultrasound and mammogram showed the tumour as different sizes she had to have an mri on the 27th and we find out the results tomorrow and should get her op date too.
I’m just so scared. I keep thinking what if they have found out the cancer is worse then they thought. And what if its grown since? Although it shouldnt have because she has been put on hormone treatment whilst waiting for her operation.
So many what ifs going through my mind. I keep thinking if it had been worse then first thought then they would have called her back before her appointment tomorrow but would they have?
I just cant see an end to this. I cant imagine our lives going back to normal, to how they were before. And I cant imagine my Mum being better or imagine her having an operation. I know she has cancer but every time I think it, it’s still like a shock to my system like its the first time I’m finding out if that makes sense? xx

Dear bumblegirl,

 

All this waiting around for results, treatment, more appointments, it really gets to you doesn’t it.  Your mum’s cancer sounds very similar to mine. Ductal invasive, grade 3, mine was 36mm (3cm) so not huge. Sometimes when a size has been estimated, it turns out to be a bit bigger after surgery, this is why an MRI as well as mammogram can make that estimate a bit more accurate. Anyway, to cut a long story short, my treatment overall has taken from November 1st 2012 when I was diagnosed, with my surgery (mx) taking place on 12 December 2012, until May 23rd when I had my last chemo session - and I’m still taking a hormone tablet every day and will do for at least 5 years. It does sometime feel as though there is no end to it. As for lives going back to what they were before - that is unlikely, but there will be a kind of normality again, a new normality which we all have to get used to. Don’t try and imagine your mum having surgery, you won’t be there to see it happen, but concentrate on helping her afterwards as she recovers  ready for the next stage of her treatment. 

 

Wishing you both all the best.

poemsgalore xx

Hi poemsgalore. Thank you so much for replying. Well my mums situation definitely sounds very similar to yours. So nervous about today but obviously my mum must be feeling much more nervous so going to keep it together for her sake. Another worry I keep having is when this is over what if it comes back. I mean are the chances high or low of that happening? Just so scary xx

Hi bumble girl, it’s now standard practice for the sentinel nodes (nodes closest to the tumour) to be removed during surgery. If any rouge cells have broken away this is the first place they’ll go and the surgeon / oncologist is then able to give the best treatment based on the results.

I also had hardening / thickening where the needle went in from the biopsy 4 weeks later so this is possible.

Hi bumblegirl,

As Tracy has said, lymph node removal is now standard practice. When I had my last biopsy, the radiographer was almost kneeling on me to get the needle in!! I have very dense breast tissue and the tumour was deeper than the other three. The needle actually buckled under the force! So, I had thickening afterwards… I wouldn’t be too concerned about that.

The surgeon will be looking to get a clear margin around the cancer, so they take a good diameter of tissue from around the tumour. This is then tested so they can check for clear cells all the way around the edges of what they take away. This ensures they’ve got all the cancer. Radiotherapy is often then used to clear any ‘strays’ to be on the safe side.

I know it’s all very scary and there are lots of questions. Half the time you forget what you want to ask, or what you’ve been told within minutes of leaving the hospital!!! There’s usually someone on here who can help, so don’t ever hesitate to ask anything. xxx