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RM
New User
Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:11 pm Post subject: breast cancer care |
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My wife's mother may (probably) has breast cancer. She lives in Dryden NY which is outside of Ithaca in Upstate NY. Are there any good diagnostic breast cancer centers or hospitals in the area? I want to make myself smart on the topic and also get her the best care possible. Any suggestions? She is about 61 or 62, and has had the lump in her breast for at least 2 years. She doesn't go to get regular checkups, and missed her 6 month checkup because section 8 wouldn't pay the bill for it. Now there appears to be spreading to under the arm. We are assuming it metastisized into lymph nodes. How bad is this? Anything we can do? We live in RI, but are not averse to travelling..
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Looking for info for mother in law |
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Muttsmom
Top User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject: Re: breast cancer care |
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Hi,
First thing is get to a surgeon and have your mom's lump removed and biopsied. If it is cancer, she will have a choice of lumpectomy or mastectomy. I was 43 when dx and I opted for a mastectomy, I wanted to make sure there were no lingering cancer cells in my breast. When they do the lumpectomy/mastectomy, they will check her lymph nodes to see if it has spread there. If they have gone to her nodes, it's not a death sentence nor does it mean that she won't respond well to treatment. I had a 5.5 cm tumor, which is large (mammogram missed it and I had mine every year) and 9 positive lymph nodes out of 16 that were cancerous. It's been over 3 years and I'm still NED (No evidence of disease) and there are MANY women that have positive nodes that do great. They will, or should do a bone scan to make sure it hasn't gone to her bones, probably a CT Scan of the chest to make sure it's not a local matastises (sp) to her chest wall etc. They will run a complete metabolic profile for her labs and this way they can tell if it has spread anywhere else in her body. Since the lump has been there for 2 years, she needs to get it done now. I have several friends in NY, but not that familiar with different areas, but I will ask them if they know of any cancer centers that they would recommend. Right now the most important thing is get her to a surgeon and get that lump REMOVED and biopsied. The only good lump is one in a jar.
Please feel free to e-mail me anytime and I'll let you know what my friends say in NY. I know I'll talk to one later today and I'll call the other one. They also know of other ladies in the general area who could hopefully also help, but again, you need to find out if it's cancer and get it out of her body.
I know you're scared, it's a scary disease, but again me and so many I know are doing great even with node involvement, one had all positive nodes and she is 7 years out, so try to relax until you know what's going on, but I wouldn't put it off since it's been there 2 years. If it's cancer, it's continuing to grow.
Hugs and prayers
Nancy
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Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04 |
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Muttsmom
Top User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: breast cancer care |
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RM,
E-mail me and I'll give you the info I've gotten so far about cancer centers in your MIL's area. Not sure if we can post specific centers and oncologist on the forum, so if you'll e-mail me, I'll give you the info I have from one BC survivor so far who lives in NY.
Nancy
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Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04 |
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Muttsmom
Top User
Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 629
Location: Northern AL
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: breast cancer care |
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Hi RM,
I'm covered up with ladies wanting to help your MIL with referrals. I'll be waiting for your e-mail. All these ladies are BC survivors and have either used the cancer centers they are referring or know people who have.
Nancy
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04 |
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FiddleDeDe
Regular
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 41
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: breast cancer care |
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RM,
Also talking to a medical oncologist before surgery is a good idea. Sometimes chemo can be done first to shrink tumors and lymph nodes before the surgery. If you can get a surgeon and oncologist to agree on a treatment plan, then it's a good sign.
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Age 37
dx 1/31/05
IDC 8cm
nodes+, #?
Grade 3
ER/PR-/Her-2-
miscarriage 13 wks
chemo 2/22/05 TAC, every 3 wks
masectomy planned after chemo |
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