A place to share your struggles and concerns about supporting and caring for a person you love diagnosed with breast cancer with others who understand.
Posted on:
Jan 25, 2021 02:57PM
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Jan 25, 2021
landybear
wrote:
I am caregiver and partner of my life partner diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, unilateral, grade 2, stage to be determined at surgery time in March 2021. She went through and survived an ovarian cancer, total hysterectomy and bilateral tubes and ovaries cut out, back in 2015, with chemo following surgery, and here we are again, an unrelated cancer. Looking for tips on best practices. We now await FISH for HER-2 receptors to determine course of treatment.... had core biopsy so far, but looking at surgery, radiation, possible chemo depending on HER-2 status (now showing as equivocal). Positive estrogen/progesterone. Suggestions? Landybear
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Bakerstreet…
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Jan 25, 2021 03:35PM
- edited
Jan 25, 2021 03:37PM
by
Bakerstreet
Welcome landybear! It might feel like a very uncertain period with all the tests and protocols. I was in your place 18 months ago.
My suggestions regarding the treatment process:
Make sure you get a second opinion if you are unsure about anything. In our case, it made a huge difference in the type of surgery.
The biopsy report might be a little different after the surgery path report. It might not be as well, but be prepared at least you, yourself.
One day at a time; it is a process and it ends eventually. It might be very challenging to be a caretaker sometimes because you keep your feelings to yourself but find yourself your own support system and share some of the daily tasks with her support circle as well.
It helped my partner to walk in between chemo sessions. She had less side effects and also doctors told her not to be too bold about not taking certain medicines, like acid reflux prevention med etc. She didn't listen but we learned the tough way that meds are prescribed to prevent certain side effects so listen to the medical team.
The nutrition part is tough because treatments change taste buds but try to switch to a healthier diet bit by bit. Also, they should eat whatever they can handle during treatment.(it might be a burger)
Last thing, once again: be ready to be the recipient of a lot of changing emotions. My therapist helped me a lot on this. These boards helped us a lot with every type of worry and question. She doesn't want to read about her illness online but I was the bridge to tell her all the great stories I read here.
MelissaDall…
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Jan 25, 2021 03:52PM
MelissaDallas
wrote:
landybear, has she had genetic testing? Since ovarian and breast cancer are both linked to BRCA mutations, as well as other cancer gene syndromes, I would want thatdone before I made surgery or even treatment decisions.
LCIS, extensive sclerosing adenosis, TAH/BSO & partial omentectomy for mucinous borderline ovarian tumor.
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Jan 25, 2021 06:08PM
Moderators
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Welcome, Landybear. We're so glad you've joined us and reached out for support and advice - you are in the right place. We're here for you and your partner as you begin down this road together.
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landybear
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Jan 25, 2021 06:20PM
landybear
wrote:
yes, BRCA and a host of other genetic testing done at ovarian cancer time... HER-2 also, but they are testing for the HER-2 now again by FISH, and genetic counsel is set for next week to find out more....
AliceBastab…
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Jan 26, 2021 12:21AM
AliceBastable
wrote:
landybear
Welcome. When you say "caregiver," does that mean your partner requires full or part-time care before this diagnosis? Because that could make quite a difference in how her medical team would approach surgery and post-surgical treatments.
Endometrial cancer 2010, basal cell multiples, breast cancer 2018, kidney cancer 2018. Boring.
Dx
5/2018, ILC/IDC, Left, 2cm, Stage IA, Grade 2, 1/1 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2-
Surgery
7/11/2018 Lumpectomy: Left; Lymph node removal: Sentinel
Surgery
8/8/2018
Radiation Therapy
10/29/2018 Whole-breast: Breast, Lymph nodes