Browse Questions About Breast Cancer - Page 1

What is the survival rate for breast cancer?

Question - my mother had breast cancer in 2005 and they did a lumpectomy on her left breast & removed over 20 lymphnodes on that side. she did her mamogram every year since & she just found another lump this year. after much testing, mamogram which found a lump & a soft mass, they did an ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, bone scan...

5 Community Answers

Do oncologists check if you have metastasized breast cancer?

Question - I was diagnosed 1 year and 1 month ago with metastatic breast cancer. Went in for what I thought was a pulled muscle in my upper back and got the diagnosis that it already was in my bones, bone marrow, lungs and liver...I had no earlier symtoms, the oncologist didn't recommend any surgery, just started...

4 Community Answers

What tests will show if breast cancer spread?

Question - I would like to know the status of the body after three chemotherapy treatments are over for a breast cancer patient. What tests are required to know that the disease is not spreading further?

Where can I get mastectomy support?

Question - As an Oncologist, I have found that women with breast cancer that undergo treatment then have a mastectomy are left to bear the less then happy loss and embarrasment. Consult a counselor for emotional assistance and consider an implant. Many women can effect a solved loss as the result of surgical processes...

2 Community Answers

Can blood clots caused by breast cancer treatment be dissolved?

Question - The use of a female hormone blocking agent, like Tamoxifen, is a breast cancer treatment that has a very small risk of causing blood clotting, especially if used along with chemotherapy. In general, the benefits of its use far outweigh the risks of this rare complication...

1 Expert Answer

How can we keep Mom comfortable and relieve bone pain?

Question - You ask a lot of good questions. Let's take them one at a time.

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

What is my next treatement option for cancer cells still remaining in my left breast?

Question - I have cancer cells still in my left breast and Feb.09, will be 5 years that I have been on Tamoxifin. What will likely be my next step to clear the cells or stop the cancer ?

Will PET scan detect all cancers like lung, brain and bone cancer?

Question - My experience was that during treatment for cancer my oncologist ordered a PET scan to see if my breast cancer was a secondary cancer. The results showed thyroid cancer and the results on the test screen were amazing! The intravenous solution administered prior the PET scan adheres only to any cancerous...

1 Community Answer

How can I stop my aunt from refusing cancer treatment?

Question - Hi Lucinda,

1 Expert Answer, 32 Community Answers

I have been dx with mestastic breast cancer. I was firt dx...

Question - I have been diagnosed with mestastic breast cancer. I was first diagnosed in October of 2006. I underwent chemo to shrink the tumor then herceptin instead of opting for surgery. My question is if I have a family history of breast cancer that ended with two sisters dying after surgery and chemo/radiation...

My sister's breast cancer spread to her spine, is this still treatable?

Question - I had wanted to read what had been written, since I have breast cancer and it moved to my spine in 3 spots

1 Community Answer

Can breast cancer spread to the spine also spread to the brain?

Question - When breast cancer spreads to the spine, it's known as bone metastasis. And unfortunately yes, breast cancer that has spread to the bones may spread to other areas such as the brain as well. This happens when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor and travel through the circulatory system...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

I had chemo for breast cancer and now have neuropathy in my feet and legs. What can be done?

Question - The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for breast cancer can cause neuropathy, or nerve damage, as a side effect, but it is usually temporary. However, there are cases in which the neuropathy lasts for a long time after chemotherapy is completed, and some patients report permanent nerve damage, although this is rare...

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

My menstrual cycle lasted for 11 days. Is this normal for breast cancer patients who still have a cycle?

Question - If your oncologist is telling you your blood counts are normal, that’s a good sign, however, an oncologist is not a gynecologist. It’s common that your menstrual cycle would be influenced by different treatments including hormonal therapy or chemotherapy used with breast cancer.

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

My mother, who has breast cancer, asks me to visit her every time she thinks there's a crisis. What should I do?

Question - Your first task is to find out what's really going on and how serious it is. Your mother may just be trying to tell you that she's lonely.When your mother was first diagnosed and started treatment, she probably got lots of attention amidst a flurry of activity...

1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

How can I get my mother, who has breast cancer, to be more active so she won't lose muscle strength?

Question - You can't make your mother exercise and shouldn't feel responsible if she doesn't listen to you -- or her doctor. But you can refuse to let the subject drop, even if it makes her uncomfortable, and that's the easiest path to take.

1 Expert Answer, 8 Community Answers

How long do chemotherapy side effects last?

Question - First off, thank you for your well-written email. I can certainly hear your frustration.

1 Expert Answer, 68 Community Answers

What can I say to my aunt who just found out she has breast cancer?

Question - just be there for her i just got done with chemo for breast cancer i had my left breast removed and i can tell you ,you have to tell that your there for her and she needs to have alot of faith and keep telling her self she can bet this i i prayed alot and just kept telling myself i can bet the cancer...

2 Community Answers

Does skin cancer after breast cancer treatment mean the treatment wasn't effective?

Question - Skin cancer can form after breast cancer, but I am not sure that is technically what happened in your mom's case. It sounds like she possibly had some radiation dermatitis after the original treatment, which is unfortunately common, but then possibly the original breast cancer itself spread to the skin...

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

What are lymph nodes, and what does it mean that they're finding cancer there?

Question - Lymph nodes are areas in the body, where lymph fluid flows and there often the body fights disease. The fluid carries the disease but also brings white blood cells and antibodies and other disease fighters to the lymph node where the fight often takes place. The fact that your mother's cancer has moved to her lymph nodes is a bad sign...

1 Expert Answer

What can symptoms can we expect during my mother-in-law's hormone therapy for breast cancer?

Question - It is challenging to predict future symptoms in many cancers including breast cancer. The symptoms depend on where the cancer spreads to and how rapidly it grows in different places; shortness of breath if in the lungs, swelling in the abdomen and legs if in the liver etc.

1 Expert Answer

CALIFICATIONS IN BREAST WILL BE REMOVED PRECANCER , PREVENTVE RADIATION TREATMENTS NEEDED?

Question - Mom is 75 years old and has calcification in rt breast which will be removed. They may not get it all, may be pre-cancer. Dr would like to do preventative radiation treatment, are preventive radiation treatments needed for this?

Should I accept doctor's diagnosis that my breast cancer is incurable?

Question - I have Stage IV Breast cancer which infected my lymph nodes, low back, pelvis & some ribs. My doctor said it is incurable & changed his treatment plan from agressive to a milder version to help maintain quality of life. Does this sound like appropriate? Also, my cancer was ranked 3/3 on agression...

What are the side effects of Tamoxifin?

Question - Do most people have negative reactions from using Tamoxifin?

What's the best way to ask for a second opinion for breast cancer?

Question - Getting a second (or even a third) opinion is critical to identifying the right type of care, so don't let a prickly personality stand in your way.

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

Do men get breast cancer?

Question - yes

1 Community Answer

What is stage 4 breast cancer life expectancy?

Question - Although we have no crystal ball, it is quite clear that your mother's condition is quite grave. Even without brain mets, liver mets and widespread bone mets make a short life-span likely. Average life expectancy for someone in your mother's condition could be 1 to 2 months...

1 Expert Answer, 17 Community Answers

Can breast cancer start in another part of the body?

Question - The question is what is the primary site of any cancer. In order to be truly what we call "breast cancer" the origin or primary site of the cancer must be in the breast. Cancer that comes from another primary site and is found in the breast is not called breast cancer. It would be called ________ cancer that has metastasized to the breast...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

How can I tell if my mother is truly ill or if it's side effects of her breast cancer medications?

Question - My mother is on her second cycle of Taxol for breast cancer. She is, at the same time taking Femara. She was doing fine the first cycle but now she is sick to her stomach and has diarrhea. My question is, how do I know if she has the flu or if this is the side affects of the treatments.

I am 48 years old. After a routine mamogram last summer I...

Question - may have been a thickness in one breast that was not in the other

1 Community Answer

Does nipple discharge mean breast cancer?

Question - not always a sign of cancer but worth having checked out

1 Community Answer

my sister was a breast cancer survivor for 8 years she went...

Question - My sister was a breast cancer survivor for eight years. She went to her specialist every six months and had digital mammograms. September 26 of this year, she passed away so suddenly. How could this have happened? The cancer spread to her liver, spine and lungs, and after a week in the hospital, she passed away...

I had breast cancer in 1981, with surgery and chemo follow...

Question - I had breast cancer in 1981, with surgery and chemo follow up. I developed ovarian cancer in 2003 with surgery and chemo. During treatments, I had low white blood count. Now, after 5 1/2 years, I still have a low count (around 4). Does this mean my bone marrow is damaged? What will bring the counts up...

What can be done to treat mouth and vaginal sores from chemo?

Question - Mouth and vaginal sores are a common side effect of chemotherapy because the chemo agents affect the fast growing cells of the skin inside the mouth. Read more about how to prevent and treat mouth sores here.

1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

Is there help for someone under age 65, who has serious illness and little money?

Question - You've begun with the right place in applying for Medicaid, which can cover almost all of your mother's medical expenses. If she has no savings or income, she can qualify even if she owns her home.

1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

My mom has a "tinny mouth" from the chemotherapy. What can help?

Question - When presented with the same metallic taste in my mouth, it was recommended by a nurse, that I try a bite of chocolate. It certainly helped me... both physically and psychologically. The chocolate was like having a reward for enduring all the side effects.

2 Community Answers

Can your body change, longterm, after chemo?

Question - After taking chemotherapy for breast cancer, 5 years later I still don't feel like myself. My body has changed. Is this possible?

Was Abraxane not effective for me if my tumor marker is still high?

Question - Abraxane is a new form of paclitaxel made with human protein that has been found to be effective in fighting metastatic breast cancer. Your doctor has prescribed this chemotherapy to control the spread of the disease, and uses serum tumor markers to measure the levels of certain proteins and other substances in your blood...

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

Is there a cure for HER2 breast cancer?

Question - As a medically retired Physician Assistant with 20+ years experience I was able to come up with some recent information on HER2 Breast Cancer. I hope that you find this information helpful:

1 Community Answer

What are the signs of breast cancer?

Question - What are the signs of breast cancer?

Where can I find financial assistance for my copays and medications?

Question - It sounds like you might be eligible for Medicaid , at least until you go back to work and get your income back to where it was before the surgery. Medicaid provides comprehensive health care coverage, including prescription drugs for very low cost, for people who have low income and few assets...

1 Expert Answer

How can I help my mother deal with the lumps in her breasts?

Question - It may be that all you really can do is nothing. You could respectfully express your unhappiness and concern about your mom's decision, but it may not change her mind. It is indeed unfortunate that without an MRI, you don't know if her breast lumps are benign or malignant, and if they are malignant, how aggressive the cancer is, or not...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

My mom had an in-situ mass removed and we're reluctant for her to do radiation therapy. Thoughts?

Question - The most important point is to discuss these ideas with your mother to see what her priorities and goals of care are. For many people, the balance between quality of life with length of life is important to think about and discuss. As people age, their health and energy deteriorate slowly or quickly, depending on the person...

1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

Could this be a reocurrence of the cancer?

Question - Your most important action, if you are concerned that your mother's breast cancer has returned, is to make an appointment to see her oncologist and explain the symptoms. It would be unusual to have the cancer return this fast if your doctors felt that chemotherapy was not needed such a short time ago, but nevertheless it is possible...

1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

How can we prevent bruising due to low platelets?

Question - Unfortunately, there's really nothing you can do to prevent your mother from bruising easily. This is a normal side effect of having a low platelet count, which means blood doesn't clot as easily. Cancer patients with low platelets get severe bruises, and sometimes they don't even know how they got them...

1 Expert Answer

Can Medicaid deny me due to an error that wasn't mine?

Question - I was on Medicaid for breast cancer. My case was closed due to Social Services mixing my daughter's case up with mine. I reapplied with back hospital bills and was denied. Now I cannot get my reconstruction done. I was told this is part of the process with breast cancer and feel very self conscious and really want this completed...

Is there physical therapy to help after reconstruction?

Question - I had latissimus dorsi breast reconstruction due to breast cancer in August and now I have a lot of muscle pain in my back. Is there anything I can do, exercises?

Are these side effects of Tamoxifen?

Question - Yes, the symptoms you are describing could be side effects associated with Tamoxifen.

1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

Am I in denial just emotionally healthy regarding my diagnosis?

Question - I am afraid I don't know you well enough to give you a definitive answer to that question, but it sounds like it may very well be an emotionally healthy response. Fortunately, your prognosis is very good, so there is good reason for optimism...

1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

Is pain a symptom of breast cancer?

Question - My mom is a breast cancer survivor. Knowing this, I began getting ultrasounds and mammograms at age 31. My doctor found a lump and was concerned about it over 6 years ago. I monitored it until I lost insurance about 3 years ago. Lately I have been having a lot of pain in that breast and it is swollen...

Is a knee replacement possible with advanced cancer?

Question - It certainly might be possible to have knee replacement surgery with cancer but when there is widespread cancer in many bones including the involved femur, the risk goes way up. There is also increased risk of complications like blood clots after the surgery as she will need to lie in bed much more...

1 Expert Answer

What happens if I stop taking Tamoxifen?

Question - You have submitted two excellent questions.

1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

What can I do to improve the condition of my veins?

Question - One of the side effects of chemotherapy is that is can be very difficult on the peripheral veins (those small veins found in your hands and arms). It can cause scarring, making the veins difficult to find, even for experienced phlebotomists...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Will my doctor have to do needle aspirations on my mastectomy forever?

Question - Seroma is a build-up of clear bodily fluid that can appear in a place on your body where tissue has been removed by surgery.

1 Expert Answer

What are my breast cancer treatment options now?

Question - In reading your question, it appears that you are well informed with staging information and treatment details related to your cancer diagnosis.

1 Expert Answer

Why does breast cancer often recur at the 10 year mark?

Question - The breast cancer recurrence at the 10 year mark is no more critical than any other mark. The one thing to know about breast cancer is that it can occur for many years into the future, far beyond the 10 year mark. But, it is also fair to say that the recurrence rates continue to decrease over time, with...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

What are the risks for a cancer survivor of living near high transmission wires?

Question - I am looking to sell my home and buy a smaller one. I am a breast cancer survivor who was er, pr negative, and HER 2 positive. My question is I went to see a home that was very close to some high transmission wires. One of the wires is actually almost over the back fence. I did the research, but the jury is still out on the effects...

Will taking vitamins make my cancer worse?

Question - I see no reason not to take vitamins if you think that they might help. I do not believe that vitamins should take the place of help from an oncologist, but I also do not believe it hurts to take them. Doctors can get concerned if they feel people are not seeking the best treatment they can...

1 Expert Answer, 15 Community Answers

How do I find an oncologists specializing in my type of breast cancer?

Question - Breast cancer that spreads to the stomach does sound rare. My suggestion to find a doctor who specializes in a specific type of cancer would be to go to a larger university cancer center. The oncologists there are more likely to be doing research and be more used to seeing unusual things...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Should Mom have cancer surgery with her dementia?

Question - I would like to address your question about answering the question of whether a patient with dementia should undergo surgery for a suspected recurrent cancerous lymph node in the arm pit. Much of the answer to this, is as you suspected, related to her expected survival from the dementia and the extent of her dementia...

1 Expert Answer

What is the typical breast cancer life expectancy?

Question - Hi:

1 Expert Answer, 19 Community Answers

Is there help other than Medicaid for a legal foreign resident here for less than five years?

Question - My friend, a 45 year old mother of three from the Philippines was just denied Medicaid coverage for breast cancer, stage 3. Reason: Not in US for 5 years. She came in legally and has social security number. Where can she find help?

Is it true that there is no pain associated with breast cancer?

Question - The amount of pain with breast cancer depends on where the cancer is. Often if at an early stage only in the breast, there may be no pain or other symptoms. Regular mammograms are needed to find those early cancers before they grow bigger...

1 Expert Answer

What is the window of opportunity for breast cancer surgery?

Question - The window of opportunity for breast cancer surgery is different in different people depending on the stage of disease. The question for any surgery is will the benefits outweigh the burdens. To do a major surgery, the surgeon will generally want the tumor to be small enough that s/he can get it all...

1 Expert Answer

I had bilateral Mastectomies 10-30-08 due to DCIS and a...

Question - Mistake- the surgery was done in 2006. Was listed as extensive DCIS in one breast. Lost Mother to BC 17 months prior. Also Grandmother, Great-grandmother and Aunt along with 3 cousins with BC and 2 aunts with Ovarian Cancer. Tested BRCA neg. No one else tested in the family.

1 Community Answer

Is jaundice a common cancer complication?

Question - My mom had developed breast cancer and underwent chemo for six months (six sessions). After her last session she have developed jaundice. My question is will she be completely okay? How is jaundice treated? Is it a dangerous condition after chemo?

What is my prognosis with breast, thyoid and lung cancer?

Question - My history for the past year is that I was diagnosed with DCIS Oct. 2008, thyroid cancer in April 2009 and now with lung metastasis from the thyroid. What recommendations do you have for peer reviewed literature about thyroid cancer with metastasis? I will have radioactive iodine treatment soon...

What other tests diagnose breast cancer?

Question - I was diagnosed in September of 2007 with inflammatory breast cancer. I had chemo, surgery during which 20 lymph nodes were removed on the right side and then radiation. After, there was no sign of cancer anywhere. Not until May 2009, when I began Herceptin. I have some symptoms of IBC but nothing found in a digital mammogram or ultrasound...

Is there cancer with no symptoms?

Question - Insist the person receives a second opinion from a doctor. Seek support yourself to educate caring, loving others who are possibly duped. Skepticism is called for (not cynicism). Bring it to a head and call her bluff. It is likely to be a game and you need to break it up by refusing to dance the complementary steps...

1 Community Answer

I have many health issues; should I be seeing a cardiologist as well?

Question - Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood pressure becomes high in the lung arteries and right side of your heart, which causes damage to those organs over time. Common causes of secondary pulmonary hypertension: 1) Lung diseases, like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases) 2) Blood clots in...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

Are lung cancer and breast cancer related?

Question - My husband was diagnosed in May 2007 with lung cancer and had his upper right lobe surgically removed. He had no follow-up chemo or radiation. Then in November 2008 he was diagnosed with invasive ductal cancer of the left breast. He had a mastectomy of his left breast (outpatient surgery) in December 2008...

What should my followups after Breast cancer be like?

Question - My mother had breast cancer that reappeared after about 11 years, in her bones. They had never done bone scans until one time she had terrible back pain for a long time...they actually sent her to therapy for months, rolling her on big balls and stuff, not realizing she had breast cancer in the bones of her back and she then got fractures...

1 Community Answer

How long is my mother's life expectancy with stage four breast cancer?

Question - I will be praying for you and I hope everything works out for you Dear.We don't know when our time is coming. Just enjoy the days you spend together and create memories that you will have for as long as you live.Every day we live is a gift to each of us.

4 Community Answers

What is biological treatment planning for radiation therapy?

Question - This is a brand-new area of radiation therapy that's still being researched but that holds a great deal of promise for colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, and other cancers in which some parts of the tumor are growing much faster than others.

1 Expert Answer

Does chemotherapy shrink tumors while waiting for surgery?

Question - Yes. Chemotherapy drugs are systemic, and travel throughout the body "mopping up" stray cancer cells. So any other tumors that were present, in addition to the one that was originally found would hopefully shrink or go away altogether. Today chemotherapy is often given prior to cancer surgery for this reason...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

What could cause discoloration of skin?

Question - This is actually a common problem, and one that is easy to treat. This condition is called intertrigo, a skin infection from yeast. It occurs under the breasts (and other skin folds), since yeast love to live where it is moist and warm.

1 Expert Answer, 6 Community Answers

Will being a breast cancer survivor disqualify you from getting LTCI?

Question - Most long-term care insurance carriers will accept someone with a history of cancer treatment as long as it has been treated successfully and sufficient time has passed with no recurrence.

1 Expert Answer

What could breast lumps be?

Question - I am glad to hear that your friend has scheduled a visit to get theses lumps checked. Since you do not mention her age, or if the lumps are painful or not, it is difficult for me to tell what they are from your question. If they are painful or tender, an abcess or mastitis is more likely. They could be cysts, fibromas, or lipomas if they are not painful...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

What can I do to help my mother stop crying all the time?

Question - This is a very common problem. Some cancer patients tear up at every little thing, or they'll start crying and be unable to stop. They can't control it, which just makes them feel more frightened and frustrated by everything that's happening to them.

1 Expert Answer, 10 Community Answers

Is there any way to help my mother, who's losing her hair, decrease the itching on her scalp?

Question - The first thing I'd ask her is what she's using to wash her hair. Sometimes as people lose their hair, they start using soap or body shampoo on their scalp, and that's not a good idea because it's too drying. That, combined with chemo agents — which also make the skin especially dry and flaky — coulcould...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

How can I get the doctor to be more responsive when my mother has side effects from chemotherapy?

Question - I hear this question all the time from family members, because so often we don't have a personal relationship with our doctors anymore. As a caregiver, you are your parent's representative, and you may have to be very assertive about asking the doctor to help you provide good care.

1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

How do you overcome denial of death?

Question - I confirmed with a surgical oncologist about an infected central line, and you are right. This is a "pre-terminal" event and she will not recover from this without removal of the line. But commonly, cancer patients will see a short improvement in health that preceeds death; one chaplain I know says it...

1 Expert Answer, 11 Community Answers

Will I lose my SSI income if I'm a paid caregiver?

Question - As you know, you qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits only if you have very low income. So, if your income goes up -- because you're getting paid for taking care of your mother -- that could affect how much you receive in SSI benefits, and it might even disqualify you altogether for SSI if your total income is pushed above SSI limits...

1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

What are the side affects from having chemo abraxane/avactin when you take blood thinners warfin?

Question - The Abraxane/Avastin chemotherapy regimen is showing good results in combatting metastatic breast cancer. However, these drugs are quite new and data about side effects and treatment effectiveness are still coming in.

1 Expert Answer

My mother has been depressed since her cancer diagnosis; how can I persuade her to see a therapist?

Question - Here's something else to think about: perhaps someone in her circle of friends has a success story of seeking professional advice -- from clergy, doctor in the family, even support hotlines.

2 Expert Answers, 7 Community Answers

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