Wife has the dreaded "C"

[Schmoe]

Breast cancer. Well it is ductile carcinonoma (sp???). Slightly aggressive. We went to the surgeon yesterday and she said that it looks like she may not have to have a mastectomy, but not out of the picture. The problem is that the cancer is located outside the duct and not contained. It appears that since it's still small, about a inch in diameter, that we caught it early. However, they don't know. She's scheduled for surgery on 4/7. They will inject dye and some nuclear medicine to see if it has spread to the lymph nodes. Apparently, there is a central lymph node that all cancer material will, or does, pass through. When the nuclear stuff and dye interact, it tells them, somehow, that the cancer cells have spread that far or not. Right now, they will remove the growth and at least two lymph nodes. The central lymph node inside the breast and then one right under the arm pit. Depending on the results of the dye/nuclear injections, she may lose a lot more lymph nodes, up to 44 of them inside the breast area. I didn't know there were that many. Then after all that, she will have to go through 6 weeks of radiation treatments. No chemo at this time, but like I said, it just depends on how bad it is once they get in there. Also, a lot of cancer in this area is caused by hormones, or so the research goes at this point. Her hormone tests showed that she has 100% estrogen, which is what this particular cancer likes. So, she'll have to go through anti-hormone treatments as well.......
My life is fixing to be interesting. Any of ya'll been through this ordeal already? got any thing to add?

 

[BeanCounter]

I hope a lot of prayers come your way!
Keep positive. I sincerely hope everything works out for the best, so keep us updated.

My grandmother overcame breast cancer in her late 50's or 60's and survived it. Catching this relatively early you're already ahead of the game.

 

[Jimmy9190]

Yes, let's just say I am very familiar with cancer. Tell your wife to keep her spirits up, and you keep yours up as well and stay positive. 90% of the battle you and she are about to face is in your mental and emotional attitude. There are a lot more treatment options available nowadays for breast cancer and luckily there is a lot more success with treating and eliminating breast cancer now than ever before.

Best thing I can say is be strong and positive for her and do everything you can to make her life as easy and stress free as possible. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be with her, you don't have to be Superman, just let her know you are there for her.

She is lucky they found it this early. Check out www.cancer.org for treatment and staging info and see if there are any support groups there or at the hospital. It helps to have others to talk to who are having the same problems. Be sure she eats a good diet when she feels like it and at least has a good protein shake when she doesn't want to eat anything solid. See if her oncologists can refer you to a good nutritionist.

And above all else, pray. God won't give you or your wife anything more than you can handle. Prayer and faith will go a long way with helping her mentally and emotionally.

 

[wavinwayne]

Very sorry to hear that. You and your wife will be in my thoughts. May her treatment (and your support) help her to kick this thing.

 

[BeanCounter]

Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190

And above all else, pray. God won't give you or your wife anything more than you can handle. Prayer and faith will go a long way with helping her mentally and emotionally.


The best advice I could ever see someone getting!

 

[ddrumman2004]

Dang man! I'm sorry to hear this about your wife!

I lost my son's mom to cancer back in 01. She had melanoma and then developed breast cancer after our son was born. After removal of her right breast, things started looking up until just about 3 years later, in 2000, she was diagnosed with lung cancer in her right lung. It had metastasized into her right lung and then spread from there.
She even had a gamma knife treatment to remove cancerous tumors from her brain. But even then, there was no hope for her. She passed away peacefully on Sept. 1, 2001, two days after her mom and just a month and few day before my dad.
Had a rough time there for a while.

I don't mean to make you feel bad or anything but I felt I should tell you my experience with what happened to my wife. I could tell you more but that's just a part of my life I would just soon forget if I could. If it weren't for our son, now 11, I don't know what I would have done or where I would be.

I do remember my wife telling me just about a month before she died that God had a plan for her and it wasn't here on this earth.

I hope and pray that your wife, with your support, will "lick" this dreaded disease.

Good luck!

 

[levi]

Will be praying for your wife and family, Schmoe.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Sorry to hear... MY wife is a Nurse (been one for decades) and she says that they are doing wonderful things these days with Cancer. If caught early these days people have a EXCELLENT chance to live a full and LONG life.

Will keep your family in our prayers.

Take care, Bill

 

[sciphi]

My thoughts are with you and your wife. It can be beat.

 

[Scienceman]

Im very sorry. Yes, ive been through this....but with my grandmother. Not going to tell you the outcome though. My prayers are sent. Im very sorry but hopefully she will pull through.

 

[LS2JSTS]

Prayers be with you, your wife and family.

Hang in there man, beat this thing!

 

[Falcon_LS]

Sorry to hear about this.

Prayers sent.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'll add both of you to my daily meditations.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
I'll add both of you to my daily meditations.


Seconded.

 

[badnews]

Third
may he be with and guide you all

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Fourth...Prayers sent.

 

[greenaccord02]

I'll be thinking about yall.

You know all that pink stuff you see for sale everywhere? It turns out that because of the huge, disproportionate amount of money that gets thrown at that type of cancer it's survival rate is very high, especially if it has indeed been caught at an early stage. It's still a nasty disease, but it's the most well-funded and researched of it's kind.

My wife used to work as a research assistant for MD Anderson's psychology department on an ongoing project that tracks how patients deal with the disease from the point of diagnosis on, over the course of the rest of their lives. It's a proven fact that your support will help your wife immensely, just keep your head up and be there for her.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

In our prayers. Glad they caught it soon enough for a solid chance to turn it all around.

My cousin had a double mastectomy when she was 35, told she had 3-5 years to live. That was 1990. She's doing well today. Sure there are times side effects of meds take their toll, but 20+ years is good. C can be kicked!

 

[doitmyself]

Prayers to you. My dad survives both lung and colon cancer.

Develop a support team to help you out when you are feeling down and out. Occasional help from friends and/or family can help maintain your mental strength.

 

[Pablo]

Nothing to add. Just hang in there. You and her!

Our prayers will be with you.