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Elise1489's avatar
Elise1489
Member
9 years ago

My mum- 46 yr old, grade 3 IDC- Lumpectomy surgery today

Hi Everyone,

I'm 27 and my mum (46 years) has recently been diagnosed with a 14mm (pre surgery) grade 3 IDC and is about to have her lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy today. We wont know what stage and hormone status she is until the 29th.
To give a bit of a background, her nanna and mum have both had breast cancer, with her mum being diagnosed at 44 (ILC, ER+ HER- recurrence in other breast 5 years after, Metastasized to bones and brain). Her mum passed away 10 years ago (60 years old) after a long battle.
As you can imagine, this has been a fear of my mum's for many years and now that it has been realized we are all at a bit of a loss as to what is next in the process. Although treatment and technology have come a long way since my nan's diagnoses it is quite scary after seeing the battle my nan fought.
At this point I'm just looking to reach out to people who have traveled this road. The anxiety and waiting is really hard to deal with and not knowing the full picture at this point.

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  • Share's avatar
    Share
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hi @Elise1489, I am so sorry for your family's ongoing battle with this insidious disease. Life just seems so unfair at times and your family has already gone through so much for 3 generations now battling breast cancer.

    I am sure that you will hear all sorts of platitudes - "Such dreadful news at this time of year " (a bc diagnosis is NEVER good news, at any time); "I know someone who had breast cancer and they are well now" (that someone is not your Mum).

    In some respects, your Mum has perhaps had this fear hanging over her for so long now, especially having watched her Nanna and her Mum go through this. In 2014, my Mum passed away with secondary bc in the bones at 78, so I can absolutely understand yours and your Mum's fear.

    I was diagnosed with early bc in 2003 (er+) and had a lumpectomy followed by chemo and radiotherapy. I had a recurrence in the same breast in 2007 and had a mastectomy then.

    Last year I was diagnosed with secondary bc in the bones and have had targeted hormone therapy and radiotherapy to several sites where the pain was quite pronounced and bony mets severe.

    Apart from a 3 week stay in hospital earlier this year due to a few complications, I have bounced back quite well.  

    I have to say that 15 months on from diagnosis, following the above treatment I am relatively well and able to work 4 days per week.   

    I wish your Mum all the very best for her surgery today and also the follow up can be so difficult with the wait - it can seem so interminably long especially with the public holidays etc.

    So glad that you have reached out to the online forum and welcome. It is not a club that any of use wish to join if it was our choice but there are so many people who share their stories that hopefully you and your Mum can find information, a sounding board, somewhere to vent etc.

    Also check if your Mum has received a BCNA Hopes & Hurdles package - that is really helpful. Maybe our wonderful admin team like @Di_BCNA can help. Or you can contact the breast care nurse. BCNA or check the website here.

    Your Mum is fortunate to have a wonderful daughter like you. Elise, my hope is for you and your family to enjoy the festive season together (as difficult as it will be) and look forward to spending many more together.   

    Big hugs to you and your Mum.  

    Sheryl xxxx

  • Mira's avatar
    Mira
    Member
    9 years ago

    Hey Elise, good luck to you and your Mum for today.  I was diagnosed with a 12mm lump almost 2 years ago now.  For me it was a (reasonably) simple case of a lumpectomy, radiation for 4 weeks and now I'm on Tamoxifen for 5 years.  It was just a blip in my life for 3 months.  I also have a strong cancer history in my family.

     I know its very stressful at the moment for you both but hopefully in a few days time your Mum will have a treatment plan.  Once you get that things seem to settle down a bit and you will both know what needs to be done. 

    Best wishes to you both.  I hope she has a speedy recovery from the op and her treatment goes as well as mine did.