Hi, My Mum has just been Diagnosed with a Grade 3 Invasive Carcinoma.
We are all alittle upset at present, she was diagnosed today.
Every time i think about it i start to cry. I am trying to think positive, of this i am a firm believer.
She has been put on tablets to see if they can shrink it via medication. after 6 weeks , she will find out if the size of the tumour has reduced in size…
My Mum was assessed by an anesthetists who said any operation was risky for her due to her suffering from Asthma.
I just need a little help in understanding what the next step will be if the tumour has not reduced in size. Is it Chemo?
At this moment in time, we do not talk about it as it is too upsetting.
Hi Tracey I was where you are five months ago. My mum was dx and was immediately put on Letrazole to shrink her 4cm tumour. It did shrink considerably and instead of having the full mastectomy that was needed initially she ended up having a partial with reconstruction. She is due to start rads in two weeks time and will have a six week course intensively over three weeks and then will continue with the letrazole. She is doing really well. I am a bit surprised about the no surgery approach as never heard of this before because the only way to find out if there is node involvement is to remove on via surgery. Keep us posted with her progress and good luck. It does get easier I promise.
Have you thought about ringing the helpline number on this site? I did once and the nurse was lovely, really set my mind at rest about something that was bugging me. It’s for relatives too, not just those of us with bc.
Your Mum’s lucky to have such a supportive daughter.
Good luck
Mum has been put on Anastrozole .The tumour is the size of a walnut.We are hoping with the medication the tumour will shrink… We will know what the next step is in 6 weeks.
I will keep you posted.
As kinden says the BCC helpline is available to relatives as well as individuals diagnosed with breast cancer so don’t hesitate to call if you would like to talk through your worries and concerns about your Mum’s diagnosis. The number is free phone 0808 800 6000 and the line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 2pm.
The Arimadex did not shrink the tumour.
The doctors said the tumour needed to be removed as it was growing.
2 months after being diagnosed she went into hospital , and under a local anesetic had her right breast removed and 4 nodes that were effected. I dont think i could have been awake like she was…I am so very proud of my mum.
We went back to see the surgeon last week who said it is all healing nicely…
Now, because she has a bad heart and cannot lie still for long periods of time due to severe arthritis it has been decided that chemo and radiotherapy would not be wise.
She is still taking the Arimadex and they dont want to see her for another 6 months.
Gosh - what a brave mother you have, to have a mastectomy and lymph node removal under local anaesthetic! Because they have ruled out chemo and radiotherapy, I suppose the Arimedex is the only other treatment they feel is appropriate. My best wishes to your Mum.
hi tracey hope your mums doing well and i second what redders says about your mum being really brave having op with just local. a lady who was diagnosed at the same time as me had the same treatment plan as your mum and she is doing really. she has been told she will be taking arimadex indefenately and so far its working. good luck to both you and your mum.
Wow, what an incredible mum to have that done under local, I have not heard of that before.
I hope she is still healing well and feeling ok.
Do ring up the no, above if you have any worries or queries, dont worry in silence.