You have my deepest sympathies. As much as my mom and I butt heads I dread the day when I will lose her. There is nothing in the world like your Mama. Best of the best good vibes are yours, for her and for you as well.
Mamagardner--Knowledge is your greatest weapon. You need to know what type of breast cancer. Many people don't realize there are many different types. Find a Oncologist who will be aggressive. Mine HER2+. I didn't need to have a double masectomy BUT I had a 85%chance that it would come back if I didn't. I could have had a lumpectomy and radiation in addition to chemo BUT radiation would make me have to wait longer for reconstruction in addition to affecting the elasticity of the remaining skin. I decided on a double because 1) I was past child baring age and all that was gone 2) my chance of it reoccuring, 3) boobs don't make a the woman. Cancer doesn't mean death any more. She will need to make a few changes in her life. Make a few hard decisions.
Knowledge is power!
Also know ya'll have to remember to laugh. If I didn't laugh, I would have cried a river and probably wouldn't be where I am now. I have a Service Dog that wears colored bandanas to coordiante with the outfit I wear to work. I used to tease that Spook insisted on wearing a bandana that was cuter than the one I was wearing. People would fuss about having a bad hair day. I would snatch off my bandana and claim I was having a bad No hair day. I started collecting pink ribbon pins. You won't believe all the different designs on eBay, lol. Friend of mine had been going through this right before I was diagnosed, we would tease back and forth. She teased that when they tattooed her new nipple she was going to have the doctor make it look like the pink ribbon. I found her a tote bag that had Blue Footed Boobys on it that stated "Save the Boobys!" and a T-shirt that stated in a constuction looking sign "Please Pardon Our Reconstruction" Another friend made her a "boob" cake the day before surgery.
FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!
Ewe--I swear the government is trying to kill us. If I had to wait until their new recommendation, I would be dead. I had a student 16 diagnosed 2 years ago!! SIXTEEN!!!! I can't even imagine what that was like
Thanks everyone for the beautiful heartfelt prayers and replies. I have already informed my sisters that there is to be no negativity around my mother. If they are having personal problems we can talk to each other when mom is not around. We need to be positive and help her when she wants help, and leave her alone if she wants to be alone. She is a very independent woman and does not want to feel helpless, so we have to be careful not to baby her too much. We just have to keep it positive and make this as easy for her as possible, and be there for her.
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That is the best thing you can do, if you guys are negative it will affect her so badly. That it is why I never told any of my friends about my own issues until I had the biopsy and treatments under my belt.