Topic of the day: Has your life, or the life of a loved one, been affected by dealing with breast cancer?

[Cricket_1176]

Yes, my life has been affected by breast cancer, although it was not direct.  My Mother in Law lost her battle with breast cancer when she was only 38 years old.  My husband was only 5.  He doesn't remember much about her fight, and sadly he doesn't remember his Mother very much either.  I have talked to his Aunt, who we just recently came in contact with and she said that she is positive that it could have been prevented.  It makes me SO sad to know that if Ginger had the proper information she could have lived a long happy life. 

My Granny also had breast cancer.  I don't remember much about it, but I know she had  a  mastectomy.  She was in remission for 16 years before it developed into metastatic (advanced) breast cancer and she lost the battle. 

Here is some information on metastatic cancer:

When breast cancer comes back, it may return in the same place. This is called a "recurrence," because it is not a new cancer. But a recurrence can also appear in a place not directly related to the first breast cancer. This is called a "metastasis", and if cancer is detected in several areas, these are called "metastases". Find out more about treatments for metastatic (advanced) breast cancer. When breast cancer comes back, it tends to show up in specific areas of the body:

• the breast or the area where the breast used to be
• the chest wall
• the lymph nodes
• the bones
• the lungs or around the lungs
• the liver
• the brain

Cancers from other parts of the body rarely spread to the breast or the chest wall. If you have a tumor in your lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones, or brain, it probably is a re-growth or recurrence of the original breast cancer rather than a new and different cancer. In other words, if you had breast cancer and you now have cancer in your bones, liver, or other places, it is probably not bone or liver cancer, but breast cancer that has spread to the bones or the liver. This is important because breast cancer—even when it has spread—is usually more treatable than a cancer that starts in the bones or liver.

Breast cancer that returns in other parts of the body is invasive cancer. However, cancer that comes back in the breast after surgery and/or radiation therapy can be either non-invasive or invasive.

If you have developed a cancer in the opposite breast from the one that was originally treated, it is probably not a recurrence. Most cancers that develop on the other side represent a new cancer rather than a recurrence.

Breast cancer can return in three general locations. It can be:

• Local: in the breast where it started, or in the skin and underlying tissues where the breast used to be.
• Regional: in the lymph nodes next to the breast.
• Metastatic: in another part of the body, such as the lung, liver, bone, or brain, or in lymph nodes far from the breast.

The following pages will give you more information on the three types of breast cancer recurrence. If you have not had a recurrence, but are just reading this section to keep informed, your mind may play tricks on you. You might develop some suspicious symptoms that seem like recurrence. This is a very natural reaction. If those symptoms don't go away within a day or so, make an appointment with your doctor to be sure.

If you've been diagnosed with metastatic cancer, skip ahead to read about Living with Metastatic Disease.

I believe that one day a cure will be found for breast cancer and that if we all work together that day will come sooner rather than later. 

It doesn't take much, first...do self breast exams, second...get routine mammograms, third...remind at least 3 of your friends to do their SBE's and mammograms.

So, please...take a moment right now and pick a day of the month and write SBE to remind you to do yours!!

 

[mamaofwildboys]

Oct. 1, 2008 at 2:19 PM

My mom passed away 5 years ago from breast cancer.  By the time it was found, she had lung and bone cancer as well.  I had my first mammogram when I was 35, due to my increased risk.  Trust me ladies, it isn't as bad as some say.

[MissInnocent]

Oct. 10, 2008 at 1:32 AM

That is very interesting info.  I didn't know that. 
I'm sorry things were as they were, for your grandmother and MIL Ginger.  I think you're right, the cure can be found, ... and hopefully, we see that for our girls.

I have watched my MIL survive this, even after the loss of her husband of 49 years.  I have watched my SIL Victoria go through it and continue to fight it.  I have talked to her about it, and we all have shared some of her feelings of fear, and all of her feelings of hope.  I just know her positive and fighting attitude is going to beat this!  I truly believe that. 

Now, my neighbor is currently newly diagnosed, at the age of about 50ish?  and currently doing chemo. I talked to her the day before her mastectomy and have watched her since, from a distance, looking well, and walking, and fighting it and doing what she has to do.  I think she will be ok too. 

 

[vycki9hse]

Apr. 8, 2009 at 2:23 AM

Thank You so much for getting out this information. My Mom passed away 15 years ago this month at the age of 42 yrs old. Seems my life now revolves around PINK! anything for the cure Mamas!