my friend has breast cancer,they ook out a mass as big as a softball this week.They want to remove the whole breast next week.She's 43 and scared any suggestions?

SHAVED

Hi,
If a complete removal of the breast is suggested by the surgeon it is better to remove it. They will do the treatment in order to stop spreading the infection to other tissues in her body. If the mass was so big then your friend would have got the BC earlier which she did not notice. It is good for her that it was diagnosed and the mass has been removed. One of my sisters was having it and even though it was very small they suggested to remove the infected breast and it has been removed. Now she is quite healthy. You should convince your friend to go for the complete removal of her breast.

fredg

Hi,
Your friend really, really needs to talk with a Support Group, which includes those who have been through this. The hospital will have phone numbers, dates of meetings, etc. Please tell her to call the hospital, get some phone numbers, and talk with others who have gone through this. Talking with those who have experienced the same thing will help her Tremendously !!!
I do wish you and her the best.

fimurphy

Hello ynotus
Read about your friend and think yes she should go ahead with breast removal, but she also needs to speak to support groups. Best Wishes to you both, I wish you well.

J_9

Hello Ynotus:

I am a breast cancer survivor myself. When I was given the diagnosis my thoughts were that this breast was defective and take it off and return it to its "maker" give me a new one. I also opted to have the other breast removed (bilateral mastectomy) for preventive purposes. I was 32 at the time and that was 10 years ago. My other reason for mastectomy was that I did not want ONE cancer cell left in my body, and I did not want radiation, whose effects can be worse than chemo. I took a six month round of chemo, did not lose my hair and never got sick. AS a matter of fact I have not even had a cold since then.

I am a senior member of a support group and when I talk to women I tell them to remember that they (possibly) are women, wives, and mothers. As a woman my reconstruction looks better than the natural breast I had, as a wife my husband needs me so I did not want to risk him losing me to one lonley cancer cell left in the body, and as a mother I have to be there to raise my daughter.

It was a very easy decision for me, particularly because my husband was a butt man, not a boob man. But now he likes the new boobs better than the old butt.

kp2171

i know this post is old but it resurfaced today so ill add a comment in case someone pulls this up again...

the original post didnt state the stage of the cancer, but being as big as the tumor was, it was at least stage three. masectomy is not an abnormal course here.

here is a link that might be useful in understanding stages. sadly, our family came upon it after an aunt and a good friends were both diagnosed w breast cancer.

Imaginis - Staging and Survival Rates of Breast Cancer

auto06

Hello,

Breast cancer has many stages that mainly range from I to IV for spreading over other parts or organ(s) of the body. If someone has a invasive cancer than it is good out all the breast becasue if it is left, then there may be a chance of getting it back on the same side. People breast cancer have a good rate of recovery and prognosis, if treated correctly.

You may find this web site(s) helpful:

http://www.breastcancer.org/dia_pict_staging.html

http://www.restawhile.org/a-breast.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000913.htm



Thanks I hope it helps.


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This is answer is just an opnion, and NOT a advice from any professional person, such as doctor or any medical staff. Please visit your Physician if you need immediate help, professional advice or treatment.

fed up

Hello J 9. My daughters mother-in-law has just had a breast removed due to cancer. She recently saw the oncologist and was advised to have chemo followed up with radiation. Not having much information on these subjects could you please tell me why her oncologist told her that she would loose all of her hair and yet you didn't? Different strenghts of chemo?