Sister diagnosed....

[Terri B]

Yep, Wednesday...

She went for her 6 month mammo, then follow up biopsy (she's had them before) and BOOM.

My poor Mom. We are her only two children. And the first in the family with B/C. I guess all our daughters (total 3) will have to be carefully screened.

I don't know her details yet. if she's Her2 or es/pr+ or -. will find that out on the 17th. Good thing is that she was diligent with her checkups, and this is microscopic.

[Gerri]

Wow Terri, I am so sorry to hear that your sister has bc too. Good thing she is so faithful with her mammos; it sounds like it was caught very early.

You said that you were the first in the family to have bc. With both you and your sister now dx'd, it just may qualify you to be tested for the BRCA1 & BRCA2 genes. It is a simple blood test - the "hardest" part is filing out the massive paperwork detailing family history. I was tested (came out negative) because I have a lot of cancer (bc and other) in my immediate family. My insurance paid for the test. However, even though I tested negative, my daughter knows she has to be vigilent throughout her life and be checked often.

My heart goes out to you and your family. If your sister is anything like you she will do just fine. She is lucky to have you to help her along the way.

Take good care,

[Leslie's sister]

Terri:

I'm very sorry to hear about your sister. I often think about this very thing. No breast cancer in the family and then out of nowhere it shows up in multiple members. Keep us posted regarding her info. I will pray that things go well for her in the coming weeks. Having you to assure her that all is doable will comfort her.

Lisa

[Mary Jo]

Hi Teri...Wow, what a blow and yes, thank God she is diligent with her check ups etc. Another "thank God" ...... is that she has you to help her through these beginning days.

Sending love and hugs...

Mary Jo

[Colleens_Husband]

Teri:

I am sorry to hear about your sister. Two sisters with BC is just too much, although Colleen's sister, Kim, also had BC four years earlier. Kim has absolutely been a godsend. She has been so supportive and she really helps us manage expectations. There is no other BC in their family and both were negative for BCRA. Sometimes it really is a matter of astronomically bad luck.

Teri, please know that your sister and her family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Lee

[dhealey]

So sorry about your sister, I will be saying some extra prayers for her. With your knowlege and experience you will be a great resource and support for her. God Bless.

[CindyE]

Terri,
So very sorry to hear this news. I hope and pray all goes well for her. Give her all our love and tell her that we will be here for her.

Cindy

[Terri B]

She has it worse than me, ya'll....

Her hubby has diabetes, cirrosis (sp) and hepatitis. He is currently on a regimen of medicine that is worse than my chemo. He has to take interferon injections once a week, and some ribo-something pills (7 per day). They have made him so weak, and sick. I feel so bad for him/her. She was getting along fine taking care of him, now this.

I will keep smiling and let her know that life goes on. NO MATTER WHAT.
She will NEVER see me struggle. She doesn't need that kind of stress.

Thanks for all your support. You guys are angels in my outfield.

[Jackie07]

Sorry to hear that. Is she older than you?

[Mary Anne in TX]

Terri, I'm sorry for your news. That really is the pits! But she can't be your sister and not be a super fighter/positive thinker! Please let us know her results! ma

[juanita]

sorry bout your sister. i'll add her to my prayers.

[Becky]

I am very sorry about your sister's diagnosis. You are very much like me - 2 months into chemo, my mother was diagnosed. Hers was also caught very early (9mm and strongly ER and PR positive. No Her2). By the time biospy and surgery were done, I was almost done with chemo. She only needed radiation so we went to consultation together and had the same radiation onc. My mom finished rads about 3 weeks earlier than me because I had to wait about 3 weeks between chemo and rads.

We are very special to our surgeon and rad onc. But, I do feel for you. It is hard because it is hard to help out as much as you might want to.

Maybe all you'll have is a rads partner like I did.

Love to you and your sister.

[Joan M]

Terri,

I'm sorry to hear of your sister's diagnosis. I know how you feel about your mom. My sister passed away from MS in 2000 and then I was diagnosed with early-stage bc in 2003. My mom now has Alzheimer's Disease. She still knows me, but I've never told her about my cancer advancing and my lung surgery last year.

You and your family are in my prayers. With all your knowlege you'll be a great help to your sister.

Joan

[Yorkiegirl]

Terri I am so sorry to hear this new's about your sister. She will be in my prayer's.

[madubois63]

I am so sorry to read your post, but glad you will be there to help her. You've learned so much and have a lot to share. Remember the tape recorder or note book. Make sure she gets copies of any reports and just try to make her laugh as much as possible. Don't let her get swallowed up by the pity party - let her have a few days but then pull her out of it!!! As for your mom, I do feel so sorry for her. My mom is loosing her patients with me and the steroids/mood changes (eight years of this crap). Take her for a massage or a meditation/yoga class. Find a family or caretaker support group for her. There are free support groups all over the place. Good luck and God bless....

[Terri B]

you guys are seriously the best.

Thanks for all the great advise.

Yes, this is my older sister by about 22 months. we have always been very close. Matter of fact, we live together in a 6 bedroom house. Makes it easy to take care of one another.

[Sheila]

Terri
I know your strength and determination will rub off on your sister...you are so strong....I am so sorry that your Mom has to see 2 daughters fight this....it was hard on my Mom when I was diagnosed as she is also a BC Survivor...keep strong and remember to take care of yourself first.....then you can have the strength to help her. Your shining example will help her more than you know....sending a big hug to you both!

[Believe51]

Holding you and sis close to heart as she absorbs all this. Just wondering how you both are doing?? Did you get any information on the news you were waiting for on the 17th?? Please let us know>>Believe51

[Terri B]

Thanks for asking Believe, and all the prayers from everyone!

She went to the surgeon yesterday (same one that i had) and she basically has the same choice that i did. "You have cancer, (very very early) you can have a lumpectomy with rads and see how the path reports come back and possibly face more surgery, or:

You can have a double mastectomy, and chances are VERY good that no rads or chemo will be required!" She could have her perky new ta ta's before me! >:(

She will probably have an MRI just to help her make her decision. That's what i did. She seems fine and is leaning on me, so that's fine!

[Believe51]

Oh thanks for the quick reply and the smile that came along by reading it. It is comforting to see you two leaning on one another and with you in her court....well, she cannot go wrong. Here is to the knowledge that has empowered you both and most certainly saved your lives.

And Terri, will you adopt me, I do not have a sister and you are the best>>Believe51

[Terri B]

Believe, I have VERY big shoulders. I would be HAPPY to be your sister too!

[SoCalGal]

Wow Terri - shocking news. BUT I can feel your strength and determination - something I can well relate to and it will serve both you and your sister well. And actually your mom too. Life is truly not for sissy's.

Hang tough!
Flori

[Sherryg683]

I am so sorry to hear this. I was diagnosed a month after my brother was diagnosed with melanoma and it was indeed shocking. We sometimes had the same chemo day and would sit next to each other. I really got to know my brother during those last years, he was always very reserved and never really opened up. It was sad that it took something like that to pull us closer. Sadly, he did not make it. It was very hard on my mother, it made her crazier than what she already was. It brought out a side to her, that everyone would rather not have seen. I pray that this will bring you and your sister even closer, which it will, I promise. It sounds like both of you are going to be fine through all of this, so what you will take from it is a deeper understanding of one another and love. She will have you to lean on. I know you are very worried about your daughters as I am with my little girl. I just plan to make it very clear to her that she is to start being checked early. If you know there's a possiblity of it, then you can at least be vigilent about doing something about it. I had no history of breast cancer in my family and still ended up with stage IV, and I had my mammograms done yearly..so who would have guessed. I am hoping they will one day have BC under control so my daughter won't have to worry as much. I will pray for your family, it's going to be rough on your mother too..sherryg683

[Jackie07]

I called my oldest sister in Taiwan 4:30 am this morning, I was crying over some grudges with my 2nd sister who had spent two months last summer taking care of me during my chemo treatment. 10 minutes after we had hung up the phone, my oldest brother called from China because my oldest sister had called him. He tried to cheer me up by inviting me and my hubbie to visit him mid September after his apartment is renovated...

Siblings are our bloodline... And when one is inflicted with cancer, everyone suffers... But that is also when our love is manifested.

Thank you for manifest your love for your sister here...

[harrie]

Terri, I am sorry to hear of the news about your sister. Have you considered being genetically tested for BRCA 1 and 2? My mother and her sister both had bc. They were never tested for the gene, but I was tested and came out BRCA2 positive.
Maryanne

[Terri B]

Yes, harrie, we have both been given the literature about the BRCA testing. We just have to see now if our insurance will pay.

Thank you guys so much for the prayers and well wishes. Life is too short anyway, and when you throw in diseases that we must fight it's even shorter. Support and love are all that matter.

[Terri B]

My sister will be having her surgery on Friday. She elected for a lumpectomy and subsequent rads. She is ES+/PR-/Her2-

This is the best prayer network that I am aware of. Throw some of your thoughts her way and I'm sure that she will do great.

Hugs and kisses to you all!

[Believe51]

...Saturday morning my mind went to thinking of you and sis. I had to laugh because I remembered that you were going to adopt me! It is pleasant to see that sis has come so long in the time she had to absorb all of this information.

Of course I shall be holding her in special thoughts and prayers for Friday. Her journey has begun and I feel so relieved that you are by her side. With you in her court she cannot go wrong. Please send her my deepest love and tell her that cyberhugs are coming too.

Please try to take it easy as you gently guide her through her journey, I am sure that the added stress is hard on you and I worry. We are here if you need us, always. Love to you and her>>Believe51

[juanita]

I'll definitely say a prayer for your sister. In a week and a half will be 4 years since my lumpectomy and I remember how I felt. Take care!

[Jean]

Teri,
I am sorry to hear the news of your sister.
She is lucky that she has you for support.
I feel deeply for your mother...will keep all of you in my prayers.

Jean

[rinaina]

Sorry to hear about your sister's diagnosis but sure glad she was diligent about her yearly follow ups. I hope she has the best case scenario and is stage 1 with no node involvement. Keep us informed and the best of luck to her. You are both in my prayers.

[CindyE]

Sending prayers and warm wishes for a successful surgery. It must be so wonderful for your sister to have you as a support person for her. Take care and keep us posted.

[Sheila]

Teri
Bumping this up...lots of prayers for your sister on Friday, and you to be her guiding way through this...she is so lucky to have you and your deetermination and courage....prayers and hugs to you both.

[Becky]

I hope all went well for your sister. She has an unusual pathology. I would have her send her slides to a large cancer center for a second opinion. (Just thinking out loud here as I think everyone should have a second opinion on everything anyway). Being only ER+ and not PR too without Her2+ is unusual - that's all).

Love to you both

[Terri B]

Yeah, i have asked her to get a copy of her pathology report as I want to read it. She's shy and afraid to ask for anything.

I will make sure we get a copy. After all, we have the same surgeon!

Thanks to you all!