Saturday, October 1, 2011

How do you deal with breast cancer

How do you deal with breast cancer?
My step mom has breast cancer and is having a hard time now that she had surgery and got both breast off
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
I understand her feelings exactly because my wife lost a breast to cancer too. I have seen her with tears in her eyes as she runs her finger along her scar tissue. But she is more than her breast and my wife is considering reconstruction. What really matters is how much confidence she has in her team of doctors and how much further she has to go towards her final treatment. Once she gets the drains removed and she may or may not need radiation or chemotherapy. Confidence comes in the fact that people that have this done live sometimes with no evidence of cancer in her body for a long time. You or anyone fighting cancer deals with it in living one day at a time, one step in front of the other in doing what needs to be done to get life back to as much as normal as possible. What will be critical in her return to health is to exercise and stretch those areas the arms and shoulders. My wife is in the "ACTIVE" program where a physical therapist teacher her how to stretch and get her endurance up using a treadmill. A doctor than looks at her daily records and measurements are taken to see how much flexibility she has in movements of her arms and shoulders. That is one thing that will now be constant in your step mom's life. Exercising to maintain movement to stay flexible. Her doctor says that my wife has great motion because of her program. He said he had seen patients that have lost 75% of their ability of movement because they do not stretch. She will recover and gain confidence but it is a slow process. I told my wife that reconstruction is her individual decision. There is pain involved and right now she had been through enough. I would recommend web sites that actually have members that she could correspond with to talk about her cancer and double mastectomy. What has helped me is to read as much books about breast cancer and cancer in general to become informed and equipped to be able to address issues that may arise in our life's because of cancer. Knowledge is power and freedom, arm yourselves because the enemy is scary and thrives on fear. Slay the beast with the power of humor, friends, and using the weapons of exercise and nutrition. Peace to you and your step mom, she has a good partner in you and that value is priceless.
2 :
That's tough. I only lost one breast and it was quite a battle with trying to work and keep my health insurance and undergo two surgeries, 4 months of chemo and 3 months of radiation. But you take it one day at a time - literally. Don't worry about tomorrow. Get thru today. Exercise - yoga. Go swimming. I have not had reconstructive surgery and Macy's makes great padded bathing suits for breast cancer survivors. Make sure she puts make-up on and goes out to dinner or theater at least bi-weekly. Let her know you are there. I am 5 years out and doing well. Take care and good luck.
3 :
Tracey, in what ways is she having a hard time? Physically? Emotionally?

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