It has now come to the point where if you are diagnosed with cancer, there are some that are better than others. My mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer after just over 15 years of remission. This time the lumps were on the other side.
Bad news: Yes, they are malignant.
Good news: One is low grade non-invasive, and the other is invasive but non-aggressive.
Either way she has cancer. The doctor said that this was not a life-threatening deal. But the fact of the matter is, she still has cancer.
The advantage these days is that cancer, although bad, does not have to be life threatening. There are enough advances in the research of cancer that they can now identify the good and the bad, and can take proper steps to treat it. My mother's doctor said that a full mastectomy should do the trick, no chemo or radiation needed. This is also good news in that my mom's immune system is already weak, I am not sure if she could take the treatments and continue her life as she knows it.
The first time she went throught this-she was still working, and relatively social, and the only thing needed was a lumpectomy. She could not go through the radiation due to abnormalities in her liver. But she kept up with her follow up's religiously and she remained cancer free for just over 15 years. It was easier the first go round, Mom was healthier and occupied, I was single and could concentrate fully on taking care of her.
This go round, mom is retired, has gone through a triple bypass and is in constant pain from rheumatoid arthritis. She just doesn't bounce back like she used. I am married with a wonderful 2-year old son, so my time has to be divided between my mom and my family.
The news is relatively the same, the treatment a little more drastic, but with the same outcome. But this time it seems a lot harder to cope than before. I find myself crying more, and sometimes getting through the day can be difficult. Luckily I have not craved any cigarettes which means although I get weepy, I am handling the pressure ok. I was mad at God for a while, asking why this had to happen again. My mother has been through numerous health and personal issues, and when she became a Lola, I thought that this was her time to be able to enjoy life. But no, God decided that she needed another test. Mom was angry too. We went to church together, and it was tough to get through-for both of us. We just sat and stared at a painting of Jesus above the altar, waiting for something to hit us so we would finally understand why this was happening. But nothing came. At that point I was no longer mad but indifferent. I almost did not go to communion for fear of feeling like a hypocrite, but something turned on inside of me, and I realized that no matter how angry I was, I could never say that God didn't exist. I could be mad and let him know that I was mad, but then I could turn around and ask for strength and support and know that I will be heard.
I believe that my son will be the saving grace for both of us. Don't get me wrong, my husband has been nothing but supportive through all this, and I am happy that I don't have to go through this alone like before, but Hayden is the ray of sunshine when my world is dim. His energy is boundless and his love is unconditional. I am blessed to have such a loving son, with a wonderfully even temper and great personality. Not to mention so cute you just want to eat him up! He is the apple of my mom's eye-she looks forward to the days she spends with Hayden, and misses him when he is not there. He will be the one to get us through this, and he won't even know it. All he has to do is be himself.
Bad news: Yes, they are malignant.
Good news: One is low grade non-invasive, and the other is invasive but non-aggressive.
Either way she has cancer. The doctor said that this was not a life-threatening deal. But the fact of the matter is, she still has cancer.
The advantage these days is that cancer, although bad, does not have to be life threatening. There are enough advances in the research of cancer that they can now identify the good and the bad, and can take proper steps to treat it. My mother's doctor said that a full mastectomy should do the trick, no chemo or radiation needed. This is also good news in that my mom's immune system is already weak, I am not sure if she could take the treatments and continue her life as she knows it.
The first time she went throught this-she was still working, and relatively social, and the only thing needed was a lumpectomy. She could not go through the radiation due to abnormalities in her liver. But she kept up with her follow up's religiously and she remained cancer free for just over 15 years. It was easier the first go round, Mom was healthier and occupied, I was single and could concentrate fully on taking care of her.
This go round, mom is retired, has gone through a triple bypass and is in constant pain from rheumatoid arthritis. She just doesn't bounce back like she used. I am married with a wonderful 2-year old son, so my time has to be divided between my mom and my family.
The news is relatively the same, the treatment a little more drastic, but with the same outcome. But this time it seems a lot harder to cope than before. I find myself crying more, and sometimes getting through the day can be difficult. Luckily I have not craved any cigarettes which means although I get weepy, I am handling the pressure ok. I was mad at God for a while, asking why this had to happen again. My mother has been through numerous health and personal issues, and when she became a Lola, I thought that this was her time to be able to enjoy life. But no, God decided that she needed another test. Mom was angry too. We went to church together, and it was tough to get through-for both of us. We just sat and stared at a painting of Jesus above the altar, waiting for something to hit us so we would finally understand why this was happening. But nothing came. At that point I was no longer mad but indifferent. I almost did not go to communion for fear of feeling like a hypocrite, but something turned on inside of me, and I realized that no matter how angry I was, I could never say that God didn't exist. I could be mad and let him know that I was mad, but then I could turn around and ask for strength and support and know that I will be heard.
I believe that my son will be the saving grace for both of us. Don't get me wrong, my husband has been nothing but supportive through all this, and I am happy that I don't have to go through this alone like before, but Hayden is the ray of sunshine when my world is dim. His energy is boundless and his love is unconditional. I am blessed to have such a loving son, with a wonderfully even temper and great personality. Not to mention so cute you just want to eat him up! He is the apple of my mom's eye-she looks forward to the days she spends with Hayden, and misses him when he is not there. He will be the one to get us through this, and he won't even know it. All he has to do is be himself.
