<p>I am a breast cancer survivor. I had the full treatment, including chemo and radiation. My chemo was administered once every two weeks for four months.</p>
<p>Tonight my daughter brought home a friend who’s mother was just diagnosed with invasive…something breast cancer with clear margins. The daughter’s question to me was her mom’s treatment is to be 2 weeks of chemo delivered for 8 hours. The course is to last 6 months. Two weeks on, two weeks off.</p>
<p>I have heard that there are new techniques of chemo delivery that sometimes starts before the lymph nodes are examined. I told the girl that there are new treatments constantly (and that is a good thing.) </p>
<p>I know that I will be asked more questions because this poor child really has no one else to ask. (Her father is dead). Does anyone out there know about this type of treatment? I do know that her mom has had mammograms yearly so in theory it was caught early. Tonight I listened and was able to answer questions about my treatment. </p>
<p>Physician in another specialty here. Remember that it can matter which cell type is cancerous in any organ as well as all of the other factors and when the treatment is occurring. Oncologists have to constantly keep up with their literature as their field changes so fast (anyone reading response to this thread in later months may be misinformed about “current” practice). They also modify protocols often so any anecdotes may not be very useful. There can also be more than one successful protocol used for many reasons in different patients. It is wonderful for you to be helpful to her- you can explain things from a recipient/layman’s viewpoint as well as offer moral support. She may want reassurance that her mother is going to do well if she needs more treatments than you had. I’m sure you will be a good source in answering many questions she is afraid to ask her mother. Good luck with helping her navigate this new territory. Wish I thought someone could have more precise information that would make it all easier, but it may be best to not get her overthinking about little changes that could be made.</p>
<p>THANK YOU!!! Thank you for helping me to help her. I obviously know that my “job” is to listen and to hold her hand. I told my daughter (her friend) that the information that I can give her friend is from my experience and that she should go with her mother to talk with the doctor. (Privately I told my daughter that patient/doctor confidentiality may prohibit the nurse/practitioner from telling the daughter specifics despite the fact the she THINKS she is getting specifics.) But I told the child that survival rates are very good. (We live in Los Angeles where we have access to excellent cutting edge treatments.) Both girls focused on hair loss. Obviously my daughter saw me in a wig, but this concerned the friend. I told her that it’s just hair, it’s scary to lose it, but it grows back. </p>
<p>The thing that I couldn’t (and wouldn’t answer even if I knew the answer) was: Was her mother sicker than I was? I just kept telling her that survival rates are now excellent, that her mother was under a lot of stress (cut her some slack and listen) and probably they were both scared but they have each other.</p>
<p>(Can you tell that this was the first time that I have discussed cancer, like this, with anyone else’s child?) Thank you so much for helping me.</p>
<p>If you feel comfortable talking to the mom, it might help her and you could glean some more information. I spoke with someone who had undergone chemo and she really really helped in that she could give me advice and answer questions as only another patient could. I also saw her healthy and with hair so it was a reminder that this too shall pass.</p>
<p>I met the daughter for the first time last night. She works with my daughter. I’ve heard her name before but we’ve never met until last night. When she left I told her that I was always here to answer questions. But I added that perhaps she might be able to go into an appointment with her mother and the doctor to address her concerns. </p>
<p>And yes, I have a full head of hair…although curly…and I kept trying to reinforce that this is very survivable…</p>
<p>Don’t know a lot about cancer- however- one of D’s teachers has had extended treatment over a year so that she could keep teaching at the same time.
( she did take slightly lighter load- but not really)</p>
<p>She was fortunate that as a scientist she already had a relationship with the major cancer center in our area.
[Fred</a> Hutchinson Cancer Research Center](<a href=“http://www.fhcrc.org/]Fred”>http://www.fhcrc.org/)
You might be able to find some info to pass along on their web site.
How kind of you to try and help this family.</p>
<p>I too have had breast cancer (Stage 2, locally advanced and of an aggressive type). I had six months of chemo following a mastectomy. Yes, I did lose my hair but the wigs the hospital gave me (for free - a special program) were great – I never had a bad hair day when I was wearing them. And when my hair came back in it was nicely curly – but that did not last.</p>
<p>In any event, I feel only gratitude for the treatment I got, the support I had, and the wonderful outcome.</p>
<p>Chemo is easier these days as there are improved drugs to head off/handle the side effects. One in particular is Emend (google it) which is pricey and may not be covered under all insurance plans but was great for me.</p>
<p>I found the chemo experience to be somewhat fun! The group of patients being treated with me were great sports and really nice and shared food, newspapers, etc. We came to know each other. The nurses often served snacks and really pampered us. It was a very congenial situation.</p>
<p>The patient can waive their right to doctor-patient confidentiality for a particular person, actually… So, she could sign a HIPAA waiver so that the doctor can give information directly to the daughter. HIPAA waivers can be set to only be active for a certain period of time, so it’s not like the patient would be signing away her right to medical privacy forever-- maybe just for one day so that the doctor can sit down privately with the daughter and explain what’s going on. Perhaps the daughter should bring this up with her mother, saying something like, “Is it okay if I sit down with the doctor and ask them my questions in private? You may have to sign a paper so that I can talk with them about your medical treatment. I’m scared right now and I want to know what’s going on, and I don’t want to upset you any more than you already are.”</p>
<p>CHEMO The first reaction to that word by most people is usually fear and near terror. That was pretty much my own reaction to hearing I should do it almost 10 years ago. It’s the unknown, it’s the historic scary stories that we’ve all heard. But now that I know? Well, I wouldn’t pick it if I had a choice, but it’s not terrible or nasty. Sure, there are the extreme exceptions, but especially with breast cancer treatments, you aren’t likely to see the extreme.</p>
<p>(And - fun? I wouldn’t go quite that far either, but the oncology area was a very caring place and those nurses are some of the best. The drugs and what not make it VERY tolerable. Hair DOES grow back. That doesn’t mean I want a second invite - I’m hoping to dodge that bullet this time.)</p>
<p>I would suggest that the best thing that the OP can provide to this young woman is a place to decompress. A place where she can go and feel there are people who really do understand her situation since you and your daughter have been there. Maybe not identical treatments, but emotionally - you know better than most the highs and lows that come with this diagnosis. It sounds like the daughter, if she’s old enough, could really benefit by being included in the mother’s visits to doctors. Not knowing the details may be harder for her considering it’s just the two of them.</p>
<p>Every diagnosis comes with it’s individual nuances. Trying to compare or second guess why this or that is being done or not done or done this way instead of that is near impossible.</p>
<p>Good for you for being there. Hopefully you can provide that place of comfort for her as treatment moves forward. Kudos to your daughter and you for reaching out.</p>