Breast Cancer: How serious is breast cancer

How serious is breast cancer?
My friend has breast cancer. She just found out today. I didn't know what to say to her because I don't know enough about it. I just want to know if this is something that she can beat and how long before she get very ill? She has a baby girl who just turn 1 yr old a few months ago. I wish I can say something to make my friend feel better... Thank you for your time.
Cancer - 4 Answers
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1 :
It all depends on the type of breast cancer as well as how far along she is. She probably won't get sick until she starts treatments. The treatments for cancer are really what make you sick if you aren't very far along with your cancer to begin with. Good luck to her. The numbers for surviving breast cancer are getting much better. Hope she caught it early enough.
2 :
i think each year about 500,000 people die of breast cancer. i think it has gone down since 2004, but i think its pretty serious
3 :
Breast cancer is one of the most treatable of cancers. If she already knows she has cancer, then her next step is an Oncologist. My gosh, how old is she? She has a baby so she can't be that old. Breast cancer usually strikes post menopausal women. Is she sure it's breast cancer? Has she been to the doctor or had a mammogram? She will be fine but she has to have it taken care of right away. I always believe that everything is possible and young ladies can get it too. My sister in law was 33 when she got hers. I wish her the best.
4 :
About half a year ago we completed our breast cancer treatment. If it was caught early enough it is treatable, the earlier the better gives the best chance to survive the disease. She will not be getting ill from the cancer unless it is in later stages. Often it feels like nothing possibly a lump in the breast. What is going on now is lots of testing and doctor's visits to various clinics to make sure they diagnose her tumor correctly. Then after the tests are in and her oncologist knows exactly what they are facing will she get the best treatment options for her stage of cancer. Sometimes she will be faced with hard decisions to make, both roads will lead to the same place but she will have to decide which is best. For example: We had the choice to do chemotherapy first or surgery first. It was decided to attempt to reduce the size of the tumor and then remove it surgically. At first either way seemed to work but we chose this option. With a baby she will need extra help especially if she will be doing chemotherapy. What you can say is that you will be there as she goes through it and whatever she needs she can ask you. It could be as simple as cooking her a meal or taking her to an appointment. What she needs to know is that she has support because believe me she will need every ounce of it.
5 :
Breast cancer is not a single disease, it is a group of diseases which each have several stages. How serious this is for your friend will depend on her exact diagnosis. It can vary from easily treatable to life threatening. Whatever her exact diagnosis, she will be dealing with a lot of physical and emotional stress. Offer to help, but don;t just say "let me know how I can help" offer specific things that she may need, like taking her to her appointments, babysitting to give her a break, doing shopping, laundry, housework etc, cooking meals. All of these things are useful and practical and lets her know what you are prepared to do. Just a vague offer to help doesn't let her know what you would be best suited for. If you can't get off work and she asks for a lift to her appointment and you say no, then she will be hesitant to ask you to pick up a few things at the supermarket although that might be something you can easily do. Hope that makes sense, and remember, sometimes she might need a shoulder to cry on, other times someone to make her laugh and still others someone to remind her that this disease is beatable

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Saturday, June 28, 2008

How serious is breast cancer