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What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?
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BusyHealthyBee posted:
My mom just got diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. I just want to make sure I understand what she's going through..Would love to hear everyone's opinions. Thank you so much!
4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?My mom just got diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. I just want to make sure I understand what she's going through..Would love to hear everyone's opinions. Thank you so much!
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kiwiallright responded:
HI,

Always the hardest of all questions. As a double BC all I ever wanted to do was to be as normal as I could, second time around wore me out more, but if she says she wants to cook and clean let her. We are fighting for our lives, be supportive and be her daughter. She is I am sure scared as scared, you did not mention what her treatment plan is. Respect her choices. I try to honest and up front with my children but when talking with my daughter a lot of times I hear the fear in her voice especially when a drug I am on side effects cause you more grief.

Love you Mother and respect her choices and let her be the mother.

Love to all

Mary
Report This| Share this:What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?HI, <br /><br />Always the hardest of all questions. As a double BC all I ever wanted to do was to be as normal as I could, second time around wore me out more, but if she says she wants to cook and clean let her. We are fighting for our lives, be supportive and be her daughter. She is I am sure scared as scared, you did not mention what her treatment plan is. Respect her choices. I try to honest and up front with my children but when talking with my daughter a lot of times I hear the fear in her voice especially when a drug I am on side effects cause you more grief. <br /><br />Love you Mother and respect her choices and let her be the mother. <br /><br />Love to all<br /><br />Mary
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Jenna291 replied to kiwiallright's response:
Hi busyhealthybee -
It would help to know what your mom's treatment plan is.

Everyone handles this dreaded diagnosis differently, and it is really tough to know what someone is going thru when they get this news.

Be supportive, and if you can go to an appointment with her to take some notes to help better understand that would be great.

Look forward to more info on how they will treat your mom.

best to you and your family ~
Jenna
Report This| Share this:What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?Hi busyhealthybee -<br />It would help to know what your mom's treatment plan is.<br /> <br />Everyone handles this dreaded diagnosis differently, and it is really tough to know what someone is going thru when they get this news.<br /> <br />Be supportive, and if you can go to an appointment with her to take some notes to help better understand that would be great.<br /> <br />Look forward to more info on how they will treat your mom.<br /> <br />best to you and your family ~<br />Jenna
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obladee responded:
I am a breast cancer survivor (2 years). The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself by reading the most current books about breast cancer, as the treatments change rapidly as the research goes on. That is what I did to get over the initial shock. Suggest this to your mother. Most hospitals have a library you can borrow from. The other suggestion I have relies on your mother's comfort level and you will have to abide by her wishes. It is suggested that a cancer patient take someone with them when they go to meet their oncologists and surgeon, as they may not catch everything that is being said and they may not remember to ask the questions they wanted to ask. Having someone to be with through chemo is wonderful.
I hope this helps.
Report This| Share this:What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?I am a breast cancer survivor (2 years). The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself by reading the most current books about breast cancer, as the treatments change rapidly as the research goes on. That is what I did to get over the initial shock. Suggest this to your mother. Most hospitals have a library you can borrow from. The other suggestion I have relies on your mother's comfort level and you will have to abide by her wishes. It is suggested that a cancer patient take someone with them when they go to meet their oncologists and surgeon, as they may not catch everything that is being said and they may not remember to ask the questions they wanted to ask. Having someone to be with through chemo is wonderful. <br />I hope this helps.
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LDB123 responded:
HI busy,

For me I was just overwhelmed with information and decisions to make. I had my general surgeon, cosmetic surgeon and oncologist wanting to know what direction I wanted to take as far as treatment. While they are excellent doctors, they will educate you on your options and provide statistics but would not recommend my course of treatment.

Now that I have finished my last chemo this month, am healing from my mastectomy and reconstruction, I finally have time to just sit back and process all that has taken place since the moment I found my lump.

All this new found time on my hands has allowed me to research my type of cancer (triple neg) and while there are many stories of survival; there are also stories that don't end well.

While I feel that I'm an optimistic person, I am flooded with doubts about my cancer future. I question will I survive this? Is this chapter of my life over or will my future PET scans find the cancer has spread to other areas of my body? It is very easy to go to a dark place. I have learned to rely on my family and friends to keep me positive.

Give mom plenty of love and support.
Report This| Share this:What's the biggest challenges of living with breast cancer?HI busy,<br /><br />For me I was just overwhelmed with information and decisions to make. I had my general surgeon, cosmetic surgeon and oncologist wanting to know what direction I wanted to take as far as treatment. While they are excellent doctors, they will educate you on your options and provide statistics but would not recommend my course of treatment. <br /><br />Now that I have finished my last chemo this month, am healing from my mastectomy and reconstruction, I finally have time to just sit back and process all that has taken place since the moment I found my lump. <br /><br />All this new found time on my hands has allowed me to research my type of cancer (triple neg) and while there are many stories of survival; there are also stories that don't end well. <br /><br />While I feel that I'm an optimistic person, I am flooded with doubts about my cancer future. I question will I survive this? Is this chapter of my life over or will my future PET scans find the cancer has spread to other areas of my body? It is very easy to go to a dark place. I have learned to rely on my family and friends to keep me positive.<br /><br />Give mom plenty of love and support.
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