My wife has breast cancer

Very sorry to hear about your wife, but at the same time very happy to hear she is a fighter and is doing well. My thoughts are with you and your family.

My mom had breast cancer forty years ago...doctor were surprised she even survived - my mom is a hell of a fighter. Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

Very glad to hear things are going well, hard going, but still well. Good to get an update on your situation Bigben.

Glad too see you back Bigben. your wife sounds like a real trooper. My wife has done the 60km walk for a cure for the last 5 years and her team has raised alot awareness for the cause through many successful fundraisers. It's very inspirational to see all the survivors walking for the cause each year. My thoughts are with you guys .

Great to hear she's doing better! All the best to you and your wife.

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Originally Posted by bigben

We are at an extremely low point in our lives. My wife was just diagnosed with breast cancer in November and has now undergone a double mastectomy with reconstruction. We had been led to believe by the first surgeon / specialist, that it was likely only a very small tumor, 1.5 cm and that no lymph node involvement was likely. He recommend a lumpectomy and that he would test the sentinal nodes at that time. My wife wanted a mastectomy, double in fact, as this tumor is exactly where over 2 years ago the mamogram had found a suspicious lump. At that time a stereotopic biopsy was ordered, and after a long wait to get in, they refused to do the biopsy on the basis it was too close to the nipple, and that using ultrasound, they could rule out cancer. Well, it was cancer, and now it has spread.

To get the mastectomy, we had to go see another specialist. She biopsied the axillary lymph nodes and found the spread and agreed to perform the double mastectomy.

We just got back from the meeting with the Doctor today to go over the pathalogy report. The tumor was 3.8 cm in size with satellite nodules 0.2 to 0.4 cm in surrounding tissue and dermis of the nipple.

The biggest shocker was the lymph nodes. 6 of 17 tested positive. This puts her in a dangerous category of probably stage 3 with a significantly increased mortality. The AJCC stage is pT2 pN2 and pMx. Its the lymph nodes and number of them that really makes this bad.

We had just started to feel a bit better after the surgery, and knowing that the tumor was ER, PR positive, which makes treatment with tamoxifen and or an aromatase inhibitor effective. My wife is 45 and not menopausal, so the ER PR positive was less likely, but will present some challenges.

If I could pass any lesson on here, it is that you should not accept any advice to not biopsy a suspicious lump or mamogram mark. My wife cried, begged and pleaded for the biopsy, but they wouldn't do it and rule out the risk. A subsequent and recent mammogram even showed the suspicious spot had shrunk. Her Doctor didn't find the lump, I did. Early detection is key they say, but their methodology of relying on mammograms and playing the odds puts the individual at significant risk. Had we caught this 2-3 years ago, my wife's odds of beating it would be near 100%. Now, I am afraid its down around the 50/50 mark.

To make things worse, right around the time my wife was diagnosed, her mother passed away. We were glad we didn't tell her mom because we would have blamed her death on the news.

My wife is a fighter, and I know she will do everything she can to survive. What will kill me is to see her pain and suffering. That's the part I really can't take.

BB

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OMG bro im SO sorry for this happening:(

I will pray for her to be healthy and for you to stay strong. If i could take it away i would bro.

Glad to hear your wife is pulling through this! I know a few women who have had breast cancer and have survived. She can do this too!! Stay strong!

Posting an update. Two years and a month out from her surgery and she is doing well. Finished her chemo about a year and a half ago, and she is now enjoying a full head of hair that is almost shoulder length. She is on tamoxifen for a couple of years, then possibly an aromatase inhibitor. Still deciding. Hopefully medicine improves the drug regimines to prevent recurrance. No breakthroughs in treatment really. Aromatase inhibitor for 3-5 years doesn't sound particularly appealing, or healthy, but it has a slight edge over tamoxifen for preventing recurance. Thanks to all for their encouragement. Be diligent about your health, mammograms alone are not very reliable. Much better to catch the disease early.

Happy for both of you , congrats to her for being so strong...

You two are one of the strong one's! Very good news about her doing better bb.

Awesome news. Thanks for the update! :)

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Originally Posted by bigben

Posting an update. Two years and a month out from her surgery and she is doing well. Finished her chemo about a year and a half ago, and she is now enjoying a full head of hair that is almost shoulder length. She is on tamoxifen for a couple of years, then possibly an aromatase inhibitor. Still deciding. Hopefully medicine improves the drug regimines to prevent recurrance. No breakthroughs in treatment really. Aromatase inhibitor for 3-5 years doesn't sound particularly appealing, or healthy, but it has a slight edge over tamoxifen for preventing recurance. Thanks to all for their encouragement. Be diligent about your health, mammograms alone are not very reliable. Much better to catch the disease early.

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Thanks for the update Bigben, I hope the has continued good health my friend!