How to deal with mom’s recurrence of breast cancer?
Question by : How to deal with mom’s recurrence of breast cancer?
My mom has breast cancer again for the second time. I, myself had it when I was only 26 years old in 2007. I had a rare form of breast cancer called triple negative. Triple Negative breast cancer is a very agressive breast cancer that is very difficult treat. I’m more worried about my mom being diagnosed with it for a second time. It’s in the breast again, but I’m afraid that if comes back again, it will be in one of her major organs like her lungs, bones, liver, or brain. I can’t stop crying. I wake up crying. I don’t know what to do. How can I deal with this?
Breast cancer support groups are way too depressing. I have tried joining them when I was first diagnosed with the disease, and all it did was terrify me and make even more depressed. Most of the women in the group had recurrences. And the very few that didn’t, didn’t feel that they still would live a full life. How do I deal with this?
Best answer:
Answer by Adrian
Spend time with her. Treasure every moment with her. My mom had cancer. It had shrunk and was in remission. Then her kidneys shut down. Since she had cancer she was not deemed a transplant recipient. The doctors recommended Hospice and my dad signed the papers. It was hard watching her die. She had been in hospitals so much that she never realized she was dieing. That was the only good part.
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Breast Cancer Survivors Underestimate Risk of Recurrence
A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted for the Canadian Breast Cancer Network reveals that women with breast cancer are not well informed about their risk of recurrence and any appropriate treatment options available and therefore, may not be taking the steps necessary to remain cancer-free.
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Categories: Videos Tags: recurrence, breast, risk, cancer, survivors, underestimate
Does most women with stage 2a breast cancer always have a recurrence?
Question by .: Does most women with stage 2a breast cancer always have a recurrence?
I know that it is rare for stage 1 breast cancer to come back later and metastasize, but is it for stage 2a breast cancer? Stage 2a means no lymph nodes involved.
Best answer:
Answer by sickofbeingsick
I’m sorry, but your statement is very incorrect. This is from the National Cancer Institute:
Stages of Breast Cancer
Key Points for This Section
After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The following stages are used for breast cancer:
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
Stage I
Stage IIA
Stage IIB
Stage IIIA
Stage IIIB
Stage IIIC
Stage IV
After breast cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the breast or to other parts of the body.
The process used to find out whether the cancer has spread within the breast or to other parts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from the staging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to know the stage in order to plan treatment.
There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body.
The three ways that cancer spreads in the body are:
Through tissue. Cancer invades the surrounding normal tissue.
Through the lymph system. Cancer invades the lymph system and travels through the lymph vessels to other places in the body.
Through the blood. Cancer invades the veins and capillaries and travels through the blood to other places in the body.
When cancer cells break away from the primary (original) tumor and travel through the lymph or blood to other places in the body, another (secondary) tumor may form. This process is called metastasis. The secondary (metastatic) tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the bones, the cancer cells in the bones are actually breast cancer cells. The disease is metastatic breast cancer, not bone cancer.
The following stages are used for breast cancer:
Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ)
There are 2 types of breast carcinoma in situ:
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a noninvasive condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of a breast duct. The abnormal cells have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast. In some cases, DCIS may become invasive cancer and spread to other tissues, although it is not known at this time how to predict which lesions will become invasive.
Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a condition in which abnormal cells are found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer; however, having lobular carcinoma in situ in one breast increases the risk of developing breast cancer in either breast.
Enlarge
Pea, peanut, walnut, and lime show tumor sizes.
Stage I
In stage I, cancer has formed. The tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has not spread outside the breast.
Stage IIA
In stage IIA:
no tumor is found in the breast, but cancer is found in the axillary lymph nodes (the lymph nodes under the arm); or
the tumor is 2 centimeters or smaller and has spread to the axillary lymph nodes; or
the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters but not larger than 5 centimeters and has not spread to the axillary lymph nodes.
So, there is also no concrete evidence that it is “RARE” for stage I breast cancer to “come back” and “metastasize.” When cancer “comes back,” it is called a recurrence. When it has “metastasized,” that means it has spread to another organ. These are two different situations.
There are women who had been dx’d with stage 0 or stage I breast cancer, and leapt to stage IV in the blink of an eye.
You just can’t assume that stage I means a person is in the clear.
Cancer doesn’t play favorites. It may never come back for a woman who was diagnosed originally as a stage IIIb. This is why it is crucial for women to be extreme advocates for themselves and be in tune with their bodies.
By the way, I was diagnosed as a stage IIa/IIb, and I fully intend on NOT having it come back.
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Do Vegetables and Fruits prevent Breast Cancer Recurrence?
I made this video because I think the media headlines did a disservice to the public by oversimplifying the complex considerations behind a study looking at fruits and vegetables. The study called the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Randomized Trial was published in JAMA last week: Influence of a diet very high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in fat on prognosis following treatment for breast cancer: the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) randomized trial. JAMA. 2007 Jul 18;298(3):289-98. There was, however, an editorial that went along with the study, that tries to address some key questions about the study (such as, did the women who were on the intervention actually follow through on the intervention — the answer which seems to be unclear). Please see: Fat, fruits, vegetables, and breast cancer survivorship. JAMA. 2007 Jul 18;298(3):335-6. In the upcoming weeks, there should be more editorials published in specialty nutrition journals addressing the different methodological considerations about the study, as well as address the broader picture of the effects of eating healthy extra fruits and vegetables. I will try to keep this video description updated. In the meantime, please know that eating extra fruits and vegetables will almost certainly bring good benefits to your health.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
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Categories: Videos Tags: fruits, breast, prevent, cancer, recurrence, vegetables
Breast Cancer Recurrence: Risk, Therapy and Surveillance
The risk of recurrence for women after early stage breast cancer treatment. Plus, the protective benefits of endocrine and HER-2 therapies; what tests and imaging should be done for surveillance; and how to manage the anxiety of possible recurrence. From Antonio Wolff, MD, medical oncologist at the Johns Hopkins Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, MD.
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Categories: Videos Tags: recurrence, breast, risk, cancer, surveillance, therapy
What is the correctly cancer recurrence rate after 5 years?
Question by T E: What is the correctly cancer recurrence rate after 5 years?
I had a stage 3 colorectal (symoid) cancer 6 years ago, and things went well other than a few blockages. It is possible that there are still cancer cells within my body, although the machines cannot detect these cells (too small) and I do not have cancer symtoms.
So, what is the chance that the cancer will come back at my symoid site or spreaded to my liver or lung?
Best answer:
Answer by MadforMAC
I think you need to be thinking about the fact that nothing is showing now and you have no symptoms–be thankful!
Live your life well and think positively. Studies have found people who think positively about their health, usually are healthy.
My mom had collarectal cancer and that was long ago when the medical technology was not what it is today. She survived, still alive and very healthy at 80 years old!
Do all the right things to keep your body healthy; eat only organic, non-fat, high fiber foods. Learn how to put into your body only the purest things; water for one out the tap is not healthy. Exercise, get sunlight year round, take vitamins (vitamin D is known to help with rectal cancers, but take it with calcium).
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2011-02/08 SURVIVAL RECURRENCE RATES NO WORSE BREAST CANCER UNDERGO LESS RADICAL SURGERY
Breast cancer surgery which involves removing a large number of lymph nodes is associated with a risk of complications. In the early 19-90s surgeons began performing a less invasive procedure, by removing a few lymph nodes closest to the tumor but only if those nodes were cancer free. A new study finds that breast cancer patients who had fewer lymph nodes removed did not have worse outcomes compared with patients having the more radical procedure. Catherine Dolf explains in this week’s JAMA Report.
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Categories: Videos Tags: recurrence, surgery, survival, 201102/08, cancer, breast, less, rates, radical, worse
Three Important Steps to Help You Prepare For Recurrence of Mesothelioma Cancer
Three Important Steps to Help You Prepare For Recurrence of Mesothelioma Cancer
Article by Bello Kamorudeen
Even if therapy has succeeded in reducing the symptoms of your mesothelioma cancer, you need to be prepared for a very likely chance that it might reoccur. This is very hard to think about, especially right after successful cancer treatment. But not being aware of this possibility could be dangerous to your long-term health. These are some things you can do and things you should know that will help you deal with the uncertainty of cancer recurrence:
1- Keep your health insurance
You probably already know that having cancer is very expensive. Your first cancer experience probably cost a lot of money. You may have had to change your work schedule or job status because of the side effects of a certain treatment. Your partner may have had to take time off from work to help you. These changes affect your finances.
Though money may be tight, keep your health insurance if at all possible after you have finished your first cancer treatment. You will need regular follow-up care for many years. Unless you are over 65 and can get Medicare, it can be hard to get medical insurance, especially if your cancer comes back. Insurance is expensive, but cancer treatment is even more costly. There are some options for uninsured people who need cancer treatment, but they are not easy or inexpensive. There are no “free” government programs to pay for cancer care.
For some people, going back to work after having had cancer is very hard to do, but they feel they cannot look for a different job because they are afraid to lose their health insurance. Although the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is supposed to help you to get insurance coverage when you change jobs, some people worry about the risk of having different coverage in their new job. Although employers are not legally allowed to discriminate against hiring people who have had cancer, cancer survivors are often afraid to look for a new job. They are also afraid to discuss their cancer with a new employer.
-Keep your follow-up visits with your doctor
While there is no guarantee that seeing your doctor regularly will keep the cancer from coming back, it will allow you to find any recurrence as early as possible. The earlier cancer is found, the better it responds to treatment. It is also reassuring to know that your doctor is closely watching you to be sure that no cancer is found. Continue to talk with your health care team. Let them know how you are feeling and discuss any concerns you might have. One of the greatest benefits you will get from your follow-up visits with your doctor will be peace of mind.
-Get the tests your doctor suggests
There are tests that you will need to have done as part of your follow-up after cancer treatment. These will help your doctor be sure that you stay in remission (without evidence of disease). The tests will vary depending on the type of cancer you had.One of the most commonly used tests to determine the progression of mesothelioma is the mesomark assay test in which the level of a particular chemical in the body is measured periodically.
As you can see, each follow-up schedule is different based on the specific cancer. Talk to your health care team about what your follow-up care is going to be, what is expected of you, and what you can expect of them during this time.
It is tempting to avoid following all the steps and tests required in follow-up. By the time you have completed treatment for cancer, you may be tired of being a cancer patient and just want to forget about this part of your life and move on. It is understandable to want to avoid tests and doctors that make you face the possibility that your cancer has returned. This is a natural impulse, but not a wise choice.
About the Author
Bello kamorudeen.
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Categories: Articles Tags: prepare, recurrence, cancer , help, mesothelioma, important, three, steps
3 Important Steps to Help You Deal With Recurrence of Mesothelioma Cancer
3 Important Steps to Help You Deal With Recurrence of Mesothelioma Cancer
Article by Bello Kamorudeen
Cancer recurrence is defined as the return of cancer after treatment and after a period of time during which the cancer cannot be detected. (The length of time is not clearly defined.) The same cancer may come back in the same place where it first started or in another place in the body.
It is important to eat right, exercise, and see your doctor for follow-up visits, but please understand that you cannot prevent a cancer from recurring. Do not blame yourself for missing a doctor visit, not eating right, or postponing a CT scan for a family vacation. Yes, there are times when it is crucial to keep follow-up appointments, especially if you are having symptoms that you have not had before, because these could be signs that your cancer is back. But even if you do everything just right, you cannot totally prevent recurrence if it is to occur in your case.These three steps might be of some help though in delaying recurrence of mesothelioma.
1- Diet modification
After completing cancer treatment, many people decide to eat better and exercise in the hope that these changes will improve their quality of life and their chance for survival. Though current research does not show that nutrition can influence cancer recurrence, it still is wise to eat well and do what you can to be as healthy as possible.
The American Cancer Society recommends that cancer survivors follow the same nutrition guidelines as those recommended for cancer prevention. The same factors that increase cancer risk might also be important in promoting cancer recurrence after treatment.
2- Use of Vitamins and supplements
Sometimes people think taking certain vitamins, herbs, or other dietary supplements will give them an extra edge in preventing recurrence. Available research does not support this belief. In fact, some research has shown that supplements containing high levels of single nutrients (greater than the Dietary Reference Intakes and the tolerable upper intake limits) may have unexpected harmful effects on cancer survivors.
There are supplements that improve your level of certain vitamins which may, over time, lower your risk of developing a cancer. But this evidence is weak at best. Even if it might help, it could take many years of use to alter the chance that cancer will progress or show up again. Talk with your doctor before starting any vitamin or other dietary supplement.
3- Physical activity
There have been a few studies of the effect of physical activity on survival of people with cancer. Researchers have not yet been able to find out whether physical activity can prevent recurrence of cancer or slow the progression of disease. But studies have shown that regular physical activity can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood, boost self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of fatigue, nausea, pain, and diarrhea. These benefits can be gained through moderate physical activity on most, if not all days of the week.
Moderate activities are those that make you breathe as hard as you would during a brisk walk. Activities like walking, biking, and swimming are considered moderate, and so are activities like yard work and brisk house cleaning. Ideally, you should take part in at least 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. Cancer survivors can find many ways to work physical activity into their daily lives. Parking further away and using stairs instead of elevators are easy ways to be more active throughout the day.
A little bit of physical movement is far better than none. It helps more if you start easier and slowly build up to greater amounts of physical activity. In choosing a level of activity, it is important to keep in mind your physical abilities and your recent levels of activity. It is also important to talk to your doctor before changing your level of physical activity.
Final note
Presently medical science does not have a real weapon to totally and completely cure mesothelioma,there is no known cure, both doctors and patients are hoping that someday a permanent solution will be discovered. At this time there is nothing you can do to be sure the cancer will not come back. Even with our current understanding of how cancer develops and grows, cancer is still a mystery in many ways.
About the Author
Bello kamorudeen. http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com
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Categories: Articles Tags: important, cancer , deal, mesothelioma, help, steps, recurrence
