Hi Everyone, I have Ra and not feeling well but thats not why I am writing. I just found out my daughter 36 has breast cancer. I needed someone to talk to and I thought you people are great and maybe have some advice for me being a mother. My daughter lives far away NC has a 3 year old child and dealing with this kinda of news. We here as her family are just about going crazy sense she told us. No body likes to hear of that cancer word. I have been very sick with my Ra. And the day we were told about our daufgter threw me right into a flare and I can't seem to get out of pain. I had to stop my enbrel because it gave me so many infections. all I am on is 10 mg of predisone. The doctor took alot of bllood today. I am trying to get out of this pain because my daughter is having surgery september 10. I hope to fly there. I need the strengh. I am so sad. Is there anybody on here that had breast cancer and what it was like and the treatment for it did you get sick. Any infromation for me would help. Bless you all joanOh Joan- I am so sorry for all your troubles and worries. I don't have any experience with breast cancer answers but I will definately put you and your daughter in my daily prayers.I'm so sorry for your news. I can tell you that the three women I've known who've had breast cancer all responded greatly to treatment and are fine today. There are so many advances in medicine these days. That's why the RA doesn't even get me down most days. I know there are great things ahead. Please stay strong. Prayers are coming her way. This is a very hard thing for a mom to go through and my heart goes out to you. I know 2 women who had breast cancer and came through it great. And one of them had a very advanced case (stage 3 or 4, I think). You and your daughter are in my prayers. When my brother was dxd with cancer I made a grueling trip to see him which I thought would about kill me physically. I asked everyone I know to pray that I would be able to do it - and I did! I will be praying the same for you.
Thank you all for your prayers. JoanMy daughter-in-law had breast cancer at age 34. She had a masectomy and breast reconstruction. She elected to do both at the same time and she is really glad that she did. She looks beautiful and is doing great. Her chance of reoccurence is less than the general public. She did not need additional treatment and her recovery was very very fast. She says that she wished she hadn't worried so much about the masectomy/reconstruction because she really looks remarkable.
Good luck to you and your daughter. Try to remain positive. They are doing wonderful things these days. My heart goes out to both of you. God Bless.
Joan, my heart aches for you as a mother. That has to be the most frightening thing you can hear.
I want you to take a step back and breathe, and know that while this is a very scary thing, getting the diagnosis of breast cancer is not as devastating as it once was. There are so many new treatments, and it is successfully treated and cured more often than not. Rely on faith to get you through, and it will. You will do this as a family, as an invincible team, and you can get through it, and she will get on with the rest of her life - a long life.
I highly recommend using the internet to connect with others who have breast cancer - you can gain strength and encouragement from them. There are many websites where you can educate yourself, but talking to someone who has been through it will be much more helpful, in my opinion. Also, Johns Hopkins has a wonderful website, where you can ask anything, and they will truthfully answer your questions.
My prayers are with you and your daughter, and my beliefs that everything will work out.
Karen
Hillhoney2008-08-25 18:07:37Angel, I'm so sorry that your daughter is experiencing this. My best friend had a class 3 tumor and just finished with chemo and radiation. She's expected to do just fine. We spent a week with them in Canada and she looks great and has her wicked sense of humor back. She's 52 and has chose not to have a reconstruction but said she would if she were younger. Treatments and medications have changed drastically in the last 10 years, even in the last 5 years and the cure rate is extremely high.
I agree with Hillhoney, use the internet and connect with other moms. They will be a great source of comfort and information. Take care and keep us posted. Lindy
Thank you all again for the words of comfort. Also hillhoney. i looked up your site you sent me and I am reading alot on it. God Bless you JoanMy Dear Joan, I am so sorry about the diagnosis your daughter received. I know, when it's our children, the worry and pain can be devastating. But the others who wrote were so right about the miraculous work and treatments that are available today. And faith and prayers can truly work miracles. Hillhoney (Karen) had some great advice for you. I think it will help you to be educated as much as you can about what she will be facing.
Two examples I would like to share with you and I'll try to keep them short. First, my Mother had breast cancer 26 years ago. It was very advanced when she finally had it checked and the docs really didn't think there was much hope for her. She had a mastectomy and chemo and was on Tamoxifen for years. She lived 14 years after that and died at the age of 76 from a totally different disease. No cancer at all. Also her Mother, my Grandma, and 3 of my maternal aunts had breast cancer. They all lived long after their diagnosis and died of other things. I have had a few scares, but so far, I have managed to stay cancer free. Still very careful, though, with a 5 member family history.
Second, has to do with my own daughter. Five years ago, at the age of 37, she suffered a ruptured brain aneurism. The majority of people with these die before they can reach a hospital. My dear daughter survived, after having 3 major "bleeds" in her brain. They did brain surgery, after explaining to us that she was in grave condition. They told us that even if she survived, by some miracle, she would likely have some severe "deficits", as they called it. It means brain damage. The put coils in the vein that ruptured, which stopped the bleeding and the rupture closed around them. Today, she is very healthy, no brain damage, and back to work as a hospital medical coder. She went to UCSD for 2 years to get certified for this position.She is our miracle.
I'm sorry to go on so much, but I wanted to share some examples of what can happen with a little faith. I am not a very religious person, but I am spiritual and have strong faith. People were praying for my daughter all over the world, because some friends at work asked others on the internet, to pray for her. The same as we will all be praying for your daughter.
Take good care of yourself, Sweetie. Stress can surely cause or aggravate your RA flares. I hope you can go to be with her. I know she needs her Mom, and that you need to be with her as she faces this battle. My thoughts, prayers and spirit will be with you both, as will many others.
Please keep us posted. We really care!
Gentle hugs and much love,
Nini
Hi Joan,
I know about 5 women that had breast cancer and each and every one of them are doing fine. My best friend had a double mastectomy and reconstruction, went through chemo (her's had spread to her lymph nodes) and she has been cancer free for 9 years now. They have improved the treatments. Another friend of mine just had a lumpectomy with no treatments and she is doing great. I know that this is very hard news to hear, but please breathe in and out. I will be praying for you, your daughter and your family...Hiking_gal
Hi Angel -
Just wanted to say have faith and we'll be praying for you daughter.
Pip
SEnding prayers and positive thoughts your way!My cousin had a double mastectomy and later reconstruction and is doing well, 18 months ago. THere is alot of support, online and by phone, you can use.
Prayers for you.
Jan
My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
I don't have any personal experiences to share, but just wanted to know that my thoughts are with you. Take care of yourself as well. La
TheLa2008-08-26 16:36:398 years ago when my husband had a cardiac arrest at work, I was told my husband probably wouldn't survive the night... and if he did, he would have severe brain damage and would have to be put in a nursing home.
He walked out of the hospital 8 days later. We've had a few little scares, but it's been almost 10 years since that happened and he's in better shape now than he was before the heart attack!
I know it's not a breast cancer story, but it's still in the chest, and it's still a miracle.
Big hugs to you Angel, and I keep you and your daughter in my thoughts and prayers.
I too know several women, some of them young one of whom is my sister, who are well and living full happy lives after being dx'ed with BC. It is no longer the life sentence it used to be for so many, and there are some amazing support groups about.
Stay positive and keep coming back here to talk when you need to.
Lyn xxx
Prayers for your daughter!
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