Newly diagnosed mother
Hi everyone, My mother has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. We are only in the early stages. They have found the cancer in her lymph nodes under her arm and currently can not find the primary...
Forum Discussion
I'm good thanks ...now out 8 months on chemo.
Yes if tumor large they often will do chemo then surgery as get better clear margins. I expect your Mum should also be looking at genetic testing since I presume it is a brother with bc? It doesn't change her cancer treatment now, just what she might do later. Also your Mum's treatment will be based on her cancer, it's pathology report etc. Not what her brother's was. Even if both carry a defective gene (which they may not, could just be real bad luck) they could have different types of breast cancers. There is info on this site about the different types of breast cancers. My sister and niece also had breast cancer, no identified gene and all 3 slightly different pathology.
Chemo is hard but totally doable and they will monitor your Mum's side effects. What's important is to keep communication open and tell the treating team whats happening as they adjust things to sort nausea, constipation, reflux. Whatever the problem. Hydration super important.
Most public hospitals have a wig bank. Check out Kmart for inexpensive cotton scarves and wooly hats if not living in QLD. Also if you Google chemo hats you will find many sites. Important to get a sleep cap...virtually no seems. Your head gets cold without hair.
I used my private cover in public hospitals and no gap that way. Just a few bills for oral drugs.
Netflex is handy if she is resting a lot to help with boredom. A super comfy recliner with a sheepskin was my best friend. Get her into "look good feel good" workshop ..once chemo underway. ..as it helps. I had my eyebrows done by professional makeup tattoo artist (before all gone)...as it was the big thing that I was worried about. (So weird...both boobs off...okay ...but no eyebrows and I'm stressed)
So lots to think about and get you planning. A diary for the appointments and a filing system for all the stuff...path forms, bills, info...you'd be surprised what you need to refer back to.
Take Care and ask away. Kath x
Yes if tumor large they often will do chemo then surgery as get better clear margins. I expect your Mum should also be looking at genetic testing since I presume it is a brother with bc? It doesn't change her cancer treatment now, just what she might do later. Also your Mum's treatment will be based on her cancer, it's pathology report etc. Not what her brother's was. Even if both carry a defective gene (which they may not, could just be real bad luck) they could have different types of breast cancers. There is info on this site about the different types of breast cancers. My sister and niece also had breast cancer, no identified gene and all 3 slightly different pathology.
Chemo is hard but totally doable and they will monitor your Mum's side effects. What's important is to keep communication open and tell the treating team whats happening as they adjust things to sort nausea, constipation, reflux. Whatever the problem. Hydration super important.
Most public hospitals have a wig bank. Check out Kmart for inexpensive cotton scarves and wooly hats if not living in QLD. Also if you Google chemo hats you will find many sites. Important to get a sleep cap...virtually no seems. Your head gets cold without hair.
I used my private cover in public hospitals and no gap that way. Just a few bills for oral drugs.
Netflex is handy if she is resting a lot to help with boredom. A super comfy recliner with a sheepskin was my best friend. Get her into "look good feel good" workshop ..once chemo underway. ..as it helps. I had my eyebrows done by professional makeup tattoo artist (before all gone)...as it was the big thing that I was worried about. (So weird...both boobs off...okay ...but no eyebrows and I'm stressed)
So lots to think about and get you planning. A diary for the appointments and a filing system for all the stuff...path forms, bills, info...you'd be surprised what you need to refer back to.
Take Care and ask away. Kath x