OMG...my little sister just got diagnosed with breast cancer

[lotsocats]

OMG -- HER LYMPH NODES ARE CLEAN!!!!!!!

I am soooooo happy and relieved for her, her boys, and for the rest of the family!
----------------

Now for the interesting stuff I didn't get to post yesterday...
When she saw the geneticist about this, the geneticist determined that this was not a type of breast cancer that runs in the family. Thus, my risk and the risk of my neices and other sister are no higher than that of persons with no breast cancer in the family. (Whew!) Since my sister is a scientist, she ended up having a long conversation with the geneticist, and they are both convinced that there is an "epidemic" of breast cancer (just look at how many of us on the board have friends and family who have had breast cancer). Through further conversations, they both agree that it is likely caused by environmental toxins -- in our air, food, or water. My sister is an expert on air pollution and travels areound the globe consulting on air quality. Judging by her own research and what the geneticist is seeing, it looks like this epidemic is cause at least in part by how we treat our environment!!!!!!! This is just too scary!

 

[valanhb]

That is fantastic news about her lymph nodes!!!!

Interesting stuff about the idea that it's an epidemic... Mom's cancer was also an anomaly. They said that hers was a 1 in 10,000 cases type, and we got so tired of hearing from the "experts" "Wow, I've never seen that before!"

(Although my Dr. said that's actually good as far as my chances go, since it was so rare.) But that is an interesting idea, especially since Mom never lived or spend a large amount of time in "polluted" areas... (Obviously that theory doesn't necessarily explain every case of breast cancer, but it is something interesting to think about....)

 

[pat]

Yay, Yay, Yay! Wonderful news to hear!

 

[Anne]

Renea - I am seeing this thread for the first time. I'm so glad the lymph nodes test came back ok. A double masectomy is terrible to go through but the most important thing is that the cancer hasn't spread and that your sister will come through out of this and won't have to suffer chemo or radiations.

She is in my prayers.

 

[sammie5]

That is positive news. I found that with cancer, there is such a roller coaster, worry about bad news, elation about good news, upset over the setbacks. Its best to take one day at a time, and celebrate the good news when you have it.

I have heard talks from cancer specialists who have also said that "environmental" factors are way more important than previously suspected. Even people with very similar genetic makeup will have very different experiences, they are thinking that some people are genetically predisposed to cancer, but that environmental factors kind of encourage it to develop.

My mother had to believe that, she didn't want to think that she had passed on "bad genes" to her daughters and grand daughters. And she certainly had very few risk factors, including family history. So she finally realized that she just had very bad luck.

 

[rosiemac]

BRILLIANT NEWS!!!!!!

.

And more so that the gene isn't in you all!

Your sister will get through this, i know she will!