My mum has been diagnosed with possible breast cancer. I say 'possible as she's not clear at all what has been said.
She's 74, had a biopsy on a lump that she says she's had 'for ages' and she 'only mentioned it to the Dr as, well, they asked'. She went to the appointment on 11th April giving her the results alone (I live over 200 miles away & she didn't want to bother me) where she was told she needs a SLNB & the lump removing. Since then she's also received appointments for an MRI, BA swallow and/or nuclear medical (she's not clear on which) plus a seemingly unrelated ENT appointment was carried out in the cancer ENT department.
She's completely confused and overwhelmed as to what everything means and what they're looking for as no-one appears to have told her or, if they have, she hasn't processed the information.
She has an ECG & phone pre-op arranged for Mon & Tues, is this the place to get the answers she needs? Any advice on who she can talk to would be greatly appreciated.
Hi TerrierL
It is perhaps true to say someone does not have cancer until it is diagnosed but it is also true that the route to diagnosis can be quite hard. I know in Oxford they copy letters to the GP to the patient.
From what you say about the lump having been there for ages does perhaps sound encouraging but also encouraging that they are being quite thorough in the follow up.
<<hugs>>
Steve
