Feb
Guys i need some serious help with this. My mother has a breast tumor, they did some studies on her and luckily it has not spread. They are gonna remove it in two weeks and they'll have to remove one of her breast. This is killing me because I'm in new york and my mother is in the Dominican Republic and i can't do anything. I can't travel because of college, i got a scholarship and if i go i might lose the scholarship but i would love to be there supporting my mother. The thing is, i want to know what are the risks of this surgery and what are her chances. I'm really not ready to lose my mother. Please help me with this.
Answer:
My wife just had a mastectomy and it was over before she knew it. It lasted about 40 minutes and she had some time to recover in a room just after the surgery was done.
Then she went to her room after an hour and a half and she was awake. She stated she never felt as good as she did right then and there. I believe it was because she was afraid of getting her breast removed.
My wife was on one percocet every four hours for the rest of the day and and the next. Then she went on regular Advil.
Overall it wasn’t bad at all. I found out how to empty her drain from her side because she also had 14 lymph nodes removed. That was the hardest part of the experience.
The drain had to be emptied about every two hours at first, then the next day about every 3 hours. The drain lasted for a week then the surgeon took it out.
Her surgeon specialzed in breast surgery only, there was a very low chance of anything going wrong because he was very experienced and had done thousands of mastectomies. The scar that’s left is fantastic physicians say it is one of the finest they have seen.
She’s considering reconstruction in about a year or so after radiation.
The biggest part of the surgery was the fear involved in having it done. The experience of her surgeon made the fear of anything going wrong with it almost zero, it is just how painful it would be and the drain, and just missing her breast.
If you can’t be there make sure there is somebody from the family that is. Then she’ll feel supported and realize that it was no massive deal except getting it done, and once it is done she’ll feel great.
It took about a week and a half before my wife did not use any advil for her pain but then she was taking one pill every six hours, then each eight hours.
It will go fine for her, and she will be happy to have it done with. Then the drain will be a breeze and after a while she will not feel the pain of the surgery. She will miss her breast, but that is natural.
I let her know that I never loved her more in my 26 years of marriage to her, and she was never more beautiful to me.
Believe me your mother will be fine, it is a very common surgery.
Answer:
Good news is that it hasn't spread. My mother got breast cancer and had her breast removed, and she survived from it. She’ll be fine in the surgery, don't worry about that.
Answer:
Hi there, Michael, first things first i am so sorry about your Mother and having breast cancer, my foster mother also had breast cancer, and i and the family went through the same thoughts and worries you did.
First things first the good news is that it has not spread, the physicians first rule of thumb after diagnosis is to assess the stage by which the tumor has affected the body, in your moms case it is still local so surgery [a mastectomy i believe] is still a viable option to eliminate it. The healing process is long and arduous, as the breast containing the tumor and any other connection in terms of lymph nodes, ducts are removed. Other processes like reconstruction and pain alleviating therapies will become available as your moms incision heals.
The dangers for every woman is different as there other so many factors to take into account, surgery plus a combination of therapies [chemo/radiation] for the elimination of anything that remains, but once again its good news as they may have caught it early, so the chances or survival/curability are high.
the biggest risk of course is that it has the ability to spread [metastasize] but it doesnt always happen and its always good to focus on the the merits. The bridge is what you cross when you come to it.
Do all thats in your power to support your mom and ensure you too are receiving support by reaching out like you are now.
Answer:
Michael, it sounds like they caught it early and that’s great. Breast cancer, if it actually IS cancer and not a benign tumor, is about 100% curable when caught early. I think I know a little of what you are going through and it is really tough. If you are a praying person, do some heavy duty prayers. I was diagnosed with cancer over five years ago and prayer has helped me through some pretty rough periods. The main point is, cancer is treatable when caught early like your mom's and you stated “tumor” so it might not even be cancer. It might turn out to be benign. Best of luck to you and your mother.
Answer:
Wow! It is great that it has not spread!
The surgery for a mastectomy is painful - it includes a big [ 8 to 10 inch incision and one or more drains [ the drains were the worst for me ].
1] Be sure she has several button front shirts, so she doesn't have to pull shirts over her head - at least til drains come out [ she could borrow/steal some from your dad or brothers ]
2] Encourage her to take pain meds as soon as needed, not wait until it is REALLY bad - won't work as well.
3] she should take stool softeners every day while on prescription pain meds.[ so she doesn't get constipated ].
4] make sure someone will provide healthy meals for at least ten days
5] tell her to walk a little each day- even just to mailbox
6] did this in Nov 04 - tips worked for me