Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago, after she was given the "all clear" from the radiologist that examined her mammogram results. Not a thing showed on the mammogram that indicated any type of malignancy and we thought all was okay.
Until, that is, Mom's breast became more and more deformed looking.
Thinking the deformity in Mom's breast must be a blocked milk gland, we went on being grateful for the mammogram results. One day when I was helping Mom in the shower I asked her if her breast was giving her any pain. When she said "No, not at all" I knew something must be terribly wrong. From experience I knew that any type of swelling in that area normally causes some pain, at any level. Having no pain there didn't make sense and all the bells and whistles went off in my head. Time to go back to the doctor.
In our family doctor's office, all was quiet. Not the norm, in our doctor's office. Usually everyone is joyful, smiling and kidding around. When the doctor saw Mom's breast he got very quiet and concerned. His sense of humor that usually spills out no matter what, disappeared and I became very afraid at that point. I knew something was terribly wrong.
Our doctor sent us to the Cancer Care Associates group in Redondo Beach (California). The oncologist there, Dr. Chan, took one look at Mom's breast, told me to cancel all the tests our family doctor set up. Dr. Chan said there was no reason to continue with testing, it's very obvious Mom has breast cancer.
We really didn't have any options as far as treating Mom for cancer goes. Mom was 83 at the time of her diagnosis, has Parkinson's Disease, congestive heart failure and a slew of other medical problems. At her age, surgery was out of the question and the cancer was too large a mass to operate anyway. Radiation and chemo were too aggressive for Mom to handle as well. Either would possibly make her so sick so could loose her life. My heart sank at this news, I really didn't think cancer would be the end of Mom's life. I was shocked, sad, and scared.
Dr. Chan told us about a medication he wanted to try called Arimidex. It's a tiny white pill that Mom would take once a day. Dr. Chan said the medication had a fifty percent chance of working for her and if it did work, the pill would get rid of about half her cancer. It was better than nothing so of course we said "We'll take it!" (as if someone were offering us a deal on a used car or something).
Three weeks after the appointment with the oncologist, just 21 days after taking her first little white pill, Mom's cancer was shrinking at an incredible rate. She was highly responsive to the cancer pill and suffered virtually no side effects from it. She didn't even have any of the joint pain the doctor mentioned she would probably get.
Today Mom is doing well in spite of all that ails her. Parkinson's Disease has not gotten the better of her, blood pressure readings remain inside the norm for her age (120/70), her ankles are not swollen (which would indicate some fluid retention which would be detrimental to her heart condition) and her skin is in great condition. The cancer is going away so fast her breast has actually shrunk - the bad cells are being destroyed faster than her aging body can make good cells to replace them. Mom made me laugh when she asked me, "What's the doctor want? To wait till this falls off completely?" I laughed and explained about the bad cell vs. good cell theory I had and to let her body do its thing to heal and to give it time.
At her last check up with the oncologist, the doc said Mom's blood test proved the cancer went away and is not affecting her vital organs. All are functioning normally!
Thank God for Arimidex. Thank God for more time I get to have with Mom. What could have been the end became a growing experience and a new found trust in doctors, medications, and in finding out that God really does answer my prayers.
