Hi everyone. Doing this on behalf of my mum and partly for me. Looking for any advise, you seem to talk a different language but I am a quick learner!
Mum had breast cancer 17 years ago had a full mastectomy, radiotherapy and had her ovaries removed. Subsequently had an over active thyroid so they stopped her taking tamoxifen.
Today it has been confirmed that she has a 2cm lump (T1) in her other breast, its oestrogen receptor positive and heceptin negative? Due to her history they are recommend to do another full mastectomy with a partial reconstruction and a lymph node biopsy.
If all is removed she will need no further treatment but there is a possibilty that she may need radiotherapy and if she did her reconstruction may be damaged and in the future need a further op.
Her world has been completely turned upside down again and I am seeking some kind of reassurance that even though its bad news this is a fairly responsive type of breast cancer which can be beaten just like last time. When she last had it I was 17 and not really involved but this time I am fully there for her, she is a very proud lady that doesn’t like talking personal thinkgs with strangers but I am going to do it her behalf. If you have and advice it would be greatly appreciated, she is due for the op on 17th March.
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Have just strayed onto this forum and wanted to give you some words of support. I too have a daughter who was 12 when I was first diagnosed and then 23 when I found a new primary so my story is similar to your mums, and we both have brilliant daughters!!
I beat it the first time and it is now two years since the second blow - both cancers different, same breast and am doing fine. Actually waiting for date to have reconstruction (hope to have a cleavage for my daughter’s wedding in August).
Have had lumpectomy, radiotherapy, tamoxifen for round one and then mastectomy, chemo and femara for round two. If I can be of any support to either yourself or your mum just yell.
Thank you so much for your kind words Ann. Operation has now moved the 16th. Now she has a date she seems a lot more calm in herself and seems more able to focus, she always manages to put on a brave face. HI hope your treatment goes well and your cleavage is fantastic.
If I understand right your mum is having surgery on the 16th but they wont know if she needs radiotherapy until after the op? It is very true that rads after any sort of reconstruction can cause problems. Has your mum considered no reconstruction as an option? I am probably the same generation as your mum (I have a daughter of 35) and had mastectomies in 1996 and 1999 and have had no desire to have reconstructions. So often today the surgeons are keen to do reconstructs and dont always tell the patient that they can choose not to.
I hope all goes well for the 16th - and do keep coming back and asking for help for your mum if you need to
She pushed for the reconstruction as she really hated the original mastectomy and trying to deal with the prothetics. She has always struggled with her body image and in her words “feels a freak”. The reconstruction will hopefully give her some confidence back, she is an elegant lady and is beautiful to me and Dad and I cannot for a minute try and imagine what she feels on the inside, my frame of mind is “its just a body” but breast cancer has not touched me and I would probably think different if it had.
The consultant didn’t particularly want to do a reconstruction, wanted to wait and see for around 12 months but after speaking with Mum they came up with the plan.
You sound like a very well adjusted lady and confident with your body image. Thank you for your support and words.
It does sound like body image is very important to your mum and if that is the case she has made the right decision for her. It is such an individual thing how we feel about this type of surgery and reconstruction. I have been living with this for 19 years now but with a lot of hiccups en route.
Hello to you all. Just wanted to give you all some positive news. Mum had her operation on 16th March, full mastectomy with reconstruction. She went for a review with the surgeon today not expecting any news of results as appointment booked for next week.
However, the surgery consultant has had the results and Mum has had the 3mm tumour totally removed and there were no cancerous cells showing in her lymph nodes. He doesn’t think she will need further treatment, i.e Radiotheraphy. They just need confirmation from the oncologist.
She is so pleased and it will help her recover from the surgery I am sure.
Thank you so much for all of your kind words and advice. This forum has been incredibly helpful.
Hi Kimotay,
So pleased to hear your Mum is recovering so well from her op, how great for her to have such a lovely daughter who cares so much about her.Also good news that she doesnt need any further treatment.
On a slightly different note,
Ladies, can anyone explain, how a hormone receptor cancer actually develops if you dont have any ovaries? I have read lots of peoples stories on here and its always niggled at me why an oestrogen positive cancer either recurs or a new primary is discovered when all forms of oestrogen have been removed from the body, ie, oopherectomy, hormone therapy, how does the new tumour get started or feed itself?
Don’t quote me on this but my understanding is…it’s not just the ovaries that produce hormones,or usually oestrogen,it’s a few other glands that do this and also fat cells too. I’ve got 100% oestrogen and progesterone responsive cancer and saw the onc for first time this week,was all prepared to be told that as well as tamoxifen would have to have zoladex injections to switch off ovaries or if necessary I would have ovaries out…however, all Im getting is tamoxifen as here in North Wales that is deemed sufficient to block the oestrogen,chatting to others on here it just seems to depend on which view your onc takes as to what they recommend.
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Mum also asked the same question to the consultant who pretty much shrugged his shoulders. She had her ovaries removed first time round and it was confirmed that this occurance was oestrogen feed. It seems to puzzle him but he didn’t have an answer. I know oestrogen is found elsewhere in the body and removing the ovaries would significantly decrease the production but it would remove it fully. She is now on Arimitex for the next six years.