Hi everyone . I hope you are all okay . My mum has just been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma , Grade 2 . Three lumps - 18mm, 6mm and 7mm in one breast . Hormone positive . She has to have a mastectomy a date isn’t scheduled until the end of March . This feels like absolutely forever away and I’m really struggling with it . Ultrasound showed no lymph node spread but I’m so anxious it will have spread before the mastectomy . She’s 80 this year but apart from this relatively fit and independent .
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@kellyb1 Welcome, thought I’d pop on as went on the cancer journey with my mums cancer three years ago (she had a very rare blood cancer). Its a horrid journey to go on together but as I now am on the breast cancer on myself I have to keep reminding myself to trust the science and medicine, communicate with those I love and try to remain positive. Your mum is in the best possible hands and with your support she will have additional strength to help her through. I had an initial diagnosis of DCIS, at the same grade and was advised outcomes are very positive. The emotional rollercoaster for all is a doozy but you’ve got this. One day at a time and big hugs.
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Hi @kellyb1 bless your lovely Mum, what a horrid thing to face in her 80s. I just wanted to try to reassure you that er+ cancers are not that fast growing and virtually all of us (myself included) imagine that the cancer is running riot through our bodies prior to active treatment starting but it is highly unlikely to be doing so particularly at your Mum’s age. Four years ago, aged 66, I had a 9mm er+ IDC (but it was surrounded by some DCIS so was 15mm on extraction) and the surgeon estimated it could have taken up to three years to get to that small size. This is why BC is not considered a medical emergency. Your mother’s specialists would move quicker if they thought it was necessary so try to be reassured. I cared for my beloved Mum when her dementia meant she couldn’t look after herself so I completely understand how protective we daughters can get. I hope everything goes smoothly for your Mum but keep posting here with any questions you may have or if you just need a virtual hug.
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That seems a long time to wait for treatment. Perhaps it is due to your mum’s age but as far as I am concerned nobody should be discriminated against just because they are over retirement age. Breast cancer is more common the older you are and it seems odd to me the screening programme stops at 70.Your mother could ask to go to a cancer centre of excellence. That’s what I did. I should add it was a breast cancer centre of excellence. Guy’s Hospital. Seagulls - nb I was 67 at diagnosis and I am 70 now
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