My mother-in-law went in for a needle biopsy yesterday and found out today she has breast cancer. The lump is 1.6 cm and she is probably going to go for the full double mastectomy. She has been on estrogen for the past ten years and we think that may have contributed to it. All in all, she is OK. Maybe the full realization has not set in yet. Her insurance will pay for reconstructive surgery. Her doctor said they may remove her breasts and put new ones in during the same operation. She's joking about getting stripper boobs, but you can see worry behind her eyes.
It was just two years ago that she lost her sister to lung cancer, so everyone is really worried.
Our family would appreciate any prayers and good wishes.
Thanks,
Jack
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Wow, didn't you just have cancer last year? Good luck to your mom.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
I didn't. Just her sister dying two years ago. There does seem to be a lot of cancer on both sides of the family. Bad news for us.
Thank you.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Oh, I thought there was a discussion about your employment and health benefits. Nevermind, and I admire your mother's pluck to see the humor in her difficult situation.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
I remember now. I did have some scary moles removed. I'm surprised I didn't think of it, I rub that scar almost daily. It itches all the time.
BTW, I still hate Health Savings Accounts. It's not as bad as I thought, but I still don't feel like I really have insurance.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Good luck to your MIL and the whole family.
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
I'm so sorry about your mother-in-law. I'm glad things are moving quickly and it sounds like she has good insurance. I really hope everything will go well!
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
Oh dear, I just noticed this. brojack17 I mentioned in my post that I checked out - Cancer Survival Guide -- Peter Teeley and Philip Bashe.
It's extremely well written!
((((((you and your family))))))
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Your family will be in my prayers.
Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :
You and your family are in my thoughts. My mom had a single mastectomy and then 10 years later had to have the second removed. She reacts to anesthesia so opted out of reconstruction but she is doing fine now. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I know my mom did better with the chemo the second time around because the drugs had improved. That was six years ago.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
Thanks everyone. She goes in for a second consultation with another doctor Wednesday. My brother-in-law works at a local hospital and all of the doctors he has spoken with cringed when he told them the name of her first doctor. She was able to get in with a better on. The diagnosis is still the sam but hopefully she can get better treatment than others have with the first doctor.
She continues to use humor to cope. Yesterday, we were eating chicken and my sister-in-law said, "I didn't want a breast, does anyone want a breast." My MIL said, "I do!"
I've never known her to be a funny person but she is really coming up with some hum-dingers lately.
Posted by brojack17 (Member # 9189) on :
There were some concerns because her x-ray came back and showed her Lymph Nodes were larger than normal. They took a MRI and a PET scan. Both came back ok. She only has to have her breast removed. I think she is going to opt for both to be removed. She said it would be hard for them to match her 51 year old breast with a new one.
She really has had a good outlook on this.
Posted by Amka (Member # 690) on :
I missed this earlier with the diagnosis. Good luck to her, and glad she is so upbeat on it.