Advice on ceasing treatment
Hi everyone I hope someone can help me, this journey is horrible. My mum was successfully treated for breast cancer 9 years ago. Last year it returned with aggression. It attacked her intest...
Forum Discussion
I have no idea how to tag individual people. But I'd just like to say a massive thank you to each and every person who has responded, sent hugs and well wishes. It means a great deal.
Please do not apologise for this thread going off course. I actually read it with great interest as this is the most traction I've ever received with my comment and viewpoint. On social media I'm often silenced, comments deleted and blocked. People just don't want to hear reality.
I have done a lot of research and have kept a file since all this started with some clear ideas of areas I'd like to pursue in terms of advocacy. However as you can appreciate, it's not the time for me to undertake that. But it will be.
I've worked in the corporate sector as a business manager, accountant and health sectors and understand all too well that money drives decisions - the pink parade has become a marketing tool for businesses to sell their products. I think the most absurd thing I've seen is pink drill bits with 5cents going to breast cancer research... Sigh. Funding choices and where research is spent also comes down to money and 'who screams the loudest' . We see this everyday with rare cancers that don't get a look in.
Recurrance is a largely not accurately documented some sources and researchers I've discussed this with believe it is in the vicinity of 20-30% of early stage breast cancer will fatally return. They do need better records as often women are only recorded at the stage they were first diagnosed.
In my person experience I see a lot of breast cancer returning. When my mum was diagnosed, there were four other women we knew directly. Out of the five of them in total, three of them had reoccurances, two have already died and my mum is next. They were all early stage ii breast cancers.
The gripe with early detection strategies is that there seems to be a misconception out there that if you detect the cancer early then it's treatable and you'll be cured and fine. This is simply not true or accurate. Even the smallest cancer can turn nasty done the track. The survival stat's based on 5 years don't reflect reality.
In my mum's case and many others I know she was vigilant with screening and self check. Her mammogram showed nothing and 5 months later her grandson kicked her in the breast during a nappy change. She felt a tiny lump. Went to have a mammogram that showed a 1.8cm cancer. It would have been present on thst mammogram but not picked up. She was told a lumpectomy was all she needed. The sentinel node biopsy was clear . When the surgeon went in margins were not clear there were some 'strands' that looked like spider legs hanging off the tiny cancer. She had the entire breast removed, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Yet here we are today. It's clear that early detection strategies are simply not working and not enough.
I am sorry if this thread has caused sadness or raised some bad feelings. It wasn't my intention. I thought the title I picked would be enough of an indication of what this topic would be about and I urge you to scroll through and not take any notice of this.
It's good to know mammograms are free from age 40 and it's ridiculous people aren't going to get them done!! I had no idea this was the case. I had a scare myself 3 years ago and after my mammogram showed very dense breasts, I needed an ultrasound and two biopsies. I was informed to go for mammograms and ultrasounds from age 40 given history and my own situation.
I'd love to start a movement with like minded who are passionate about creating change and giving a voice to others who have been silenced by 'pink'. It might be too late for my mum, but it's not too late for others.
Please do not apologise for this thread going off course. I actually read it with great interest as this is the most traction I've ever received with my comment and viewpoint. On social media I'm often silenced, comments deleted and blocked. People just don't want to hear reality.
I have done a lot of research and have kept a file since all this started with some clear ideas of areas I'd like to pursue in terms of advocacy. However as you can appreciate, it's not the time for me to undertake that. But it will be.
I've worked in the corporate sector as a business manager, accountant and health sectors and understand all too well that money drives decisions - the pink parade has become a marketing tool for businesses to sell their products. I think the most absurd thing I've seen is pink drill bits with 5cents going to breast cancer research... Sigh. Funding choices and where research is spent also comes down to money and 'who screams the loudest' . We see this everyday with rare cancers that don't get a look in.
Recurrance is a largely not accurately documented some sources and researchers I've discussed this with believe it is in the vicinity of 20-30% of early stage breast cancer will fatally return. They do need better records as often women are only recorded at the stage they were first diagnosed.
In my person experience I see a lot of breast cancer returning. When my mum was diagnosed, there were four other women we knew directly. Out of the five of them in total, three of them had reoccurances, two have already died and my mum is next. They were all early stage ii breast cancers.
The gripe with early detection strategies is that there seems to be a misconception out there that if you detect the cancer early then it's treatable and you'll be cured and fine. This is simply not true or accurate. Even the smallest cancer can turn nasty done the track. The survival stat's based on 5 years don't reflect reality.
In my mum's case and many others I know she was vigilant with screening and self check. Her mammogram showed nothing and 5 months later her grandson kicked her in the breast during a nappy change. She felt a tiny lump. Went to have a mammogram that showed a 1.8cm cancer. It would have been present on thst mammogram but not picked up. She was told a lumpectomy was all she needed. The sentinel node biopsy was clear . When the surgeon went in margins were not clear there were some 'strands' that looked like spider legs hanging off the tiny cancer. She had the entire breast removed, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy. Yet here we are today. It's clear that early detection strategies are simply not working and not enough.
I am sorry if this thread has caused sadness or raised some bad feelings. It wasn't my intention. I thought the title I picked would be enough of an indication of what this topic would be about and I urge you to scroll through and not take any notice of this.
It's good to know mammograms are free from age 40 and it's ridiculous people aren't going to get them done!! I had no idea this was the case. I had a scare myself 3 years ago and after my mammogram showed very dense breasts, I needed an ultrasound and two biopsies. I was informed to go for mammograms and ultrasounds from age 40 given history and my own situation.
I'd love to start a movement with like minded who are passionate about creating change and giving a voice to others who have been silenced by 'pink'. It might be too late for my mum, but it's not too late for others.