Hello everyone, this is a bit hard for our family to share. Our mom doesn't like to put a lot out there to make herself seem like she is attention seeking or begging, but she is in need of help. Something no one can prepare for: cancer. Around the beginning of November, our mom mentioned she had a pea-sized lump in her right breast to my sister. She could notice the subtle change, but thought with her age, maybe it was just her body changing or her gaining weight.
We continued to check in every couple days and check the spot, which grew larger than a pea, to become more noticeable. It started to impact more and more of her daily life, from everyday tasks of cooking, cleaning and even sleeping. She started to feel a lump near her armpit but like most, thought it was just the new normal of life. We decided to get an appointment with my sister's doctor’s office to see what our next steps were. They were out about a month for appointments but my sister made the appointment and put my mom on the waitlist for cancellations.
During the time of waiting her condition changed, the mass grew and got harder and larger at an alarming rate, so fast that each week became more concerning. My sister being pregnant at the time, she often considered what she was going through as sympathy pains. Unfortunately this was not the case. The lump in her upper armpit also grew in size and became more painful with each passing day. My sister and I had also done some research, and with the knowledge we had, and her symptoms, we kind of knew what was coming but decided to try to be positive, and decided to pray it wasn't what we feared.
In December, after a couple of appointments to include an ultrasound and mammogram, the results concluded that there were more than just the two spots of concern. Altogether she has 3 different tumors/masses in her breast, and 3 lymph nodes that the cancer has spread to. At the conclusion of the exams, the Doctor completed another exam to review the results with us. He then confirmed to our mom, and sister that the images showed abnormal breast tissue, and lymph nodes, indicating they were to believe this was breast cancer.
They suspected Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). The doctor ordered a biopsy to come to the final conclusion of what my mom was dealing with. On christmas eve our mom had an appointment with an oncologist to discuss the findings. Dr. Warren, her oncologist confirmed that this was not IBC, but in fact a different form of breast cancer. After her biopsy at the end of December, we received the results of her cancer to be Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, breast cancer - stage 2. January 7th the oncology department called my mom and sister to inform them that it was confirmed to be Invasive Lobular Carcinoma stage 2, and that she was to come in for an appointment on January 9th to discuss treatment.
Treatment would consist of chemotherapy, but it was unsafe due to our mom's severe ischemia condition that has created completely different life changing obstacles. These include things like neuropathy from losing all blood flow to her right leg, multiple times, and after multiple surgeries, she now has good blood flow, but is left with lasting, daily pain. Due to the daily medication to help with ischemia, chemo would create a dangerous situation which could lead to potential loss of her leg.
With this in mind, the oncologist prescribed Anastrozole to help shrink the tumors and stop the progression further. If within three months this medication does not shrink the tumor, the doctor will prescribe another medication to continue to attempt to assist with shrinking the cancer. The hope is that these medications will work enough to perform a mastectomy. Fortunately, they were able to determine that only a single breast is in consideration, and we’re hopeful that the medications will work. Sometimes, good news comes with the bad, our mom had a recent scan that showed swelling and inflammation to her right side lymph nodes, which is going to require another biopsy. As of 3/20/26 the biopsy for the right side was confirmed this was not Metastatic Carcinoma.
We are trying our best to keep the atmosphere positive and light hearted. Mom loves being a mema and a mother, so we try to surround her with grandkids as much as we are able.