I was greatly shocked when my best friend’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was like the whole world had shifted. I never really appreciated how strong women can be until I saw her fight this scary disease; I wanted to educate the importance of uniting and being there for the female’s fighting breast cancer physically and not just emotionally. In the course of this assignment, I had a rather bitter exposure not only to cancer as a disease but equally to the struggle and strength that is often encountered in battling the illness.

Image link

Understanding Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cells of the breast. There are two types namely ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma depending on the area the cancer affects in the breast cells. As discussed there are several types and states of breast cancer, which can be non-invasive such as Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) and invasive cancers like Invasive Duct Carcinoma or Invasive LOCO.

There are several variants of breast cancer that can be associated with specific genetically inherited disease products which include BRCA1 & BRCA2, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, hormonal changes, and exposure to risky environment conditions. Although well-known contributors to the development of cancer like age and genetic predisposition are not in our hands, the following external risk factors like alcohol consumption and healthy diet can help reduce the risk. 

The Treatment Journey

It is important to realize that the treatment program designed for my friend’s mother was based on the type and stage of breast cancer that she presented. Generally, treatment options include:

• Surgery

Advanced-stage melanoma, and local lymph node metastasis are the two conditions likely to be treated with this first-line therapy. My friend’s mother decided to have a lumpectomy, which only entails the tumor and a little bit of the surrounding tissues are to be taken out. Occasionally, surgery which involves the removal of one or both breasts called mastectomy is involved. 

• Radiation Therapy

This means that the cancer cells are killed by directing high-frequency waves at them. After surgery, my friend’s mother also underwent radiation therapy for the eradication of a few remaining cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy

This treatment employs drugs that target cancer cells and wipe them off. It became apparent that she required more chemo treatments due to the nature of her cancer and the fact that surgery and radiation were not capable of removing all of the aggressive cells that require this treatment to destroy them.

• Hormone Therapy

As stated earlier, her (friend’s mother) cancer was hormone receptor-positive and did receive hormone therapy to prevent the cancer cells from acquiring the hormones they required to grow.

• Targeted Therapy

This treatment targets particular features of cancer cells, like a protein that behaves as a catalyst to the rapid development of cancer cells. It provided her with specific drugs that enhanced the immune system of her body in combating the cancer.

Practical Support

Breast cancer is a difficult disease to go through, especially when considering treatment by chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. Here are some practical ways we supported my friend’s mother through her journey:

• Emotional Support 

Just being there with her, without necessarily giving her advice, listening to her and giving her hope and encouragement meant a lot. My friend and I also relished many afternoons in discussions that had us cracking jokes as well as moments that had us in tears.

• Transportation and Errands

Chemotherapy and radiation test the patience of even the toughest of patients. She attended several appointments, for which I sometimes used my car, as well in grocery shopping and in managing chores and errands. This made a big load lighter and provided her with a much-needed program to help get her life back on track.

• Meal Prep

Because she would at times lack energy, it became essential that preparing healthy meals was done. Neighbors, friends, and relatives share the responsibility of preparing foods and bringing them over to her, so she could continue to be on the right diet without having to go through the rigorous process of cooking.

• Medical Advocacy 

Attending doctor’s appointments and treatments with her made her feel more supported. To maintain a schedule of her appointments and questions that would be pertinent to ask, it was helpful to take notes during these appointments.

• Creating a Comfortable Environment

Simple things like arranging her living environment to make it comfortable coupled with warm clothes and soft blankets as well as a relaxation corner with her favorite books and music improves the mood a lot.

Steps to normalize emotional stability during breast cancer

Image link

Educate Yourself

• Learn about breast cancer: Learn what breast cancer is, the kinds of breast cancer, breast cancer’s phases, the methods to treat the disease, and common consequences.
• Know what to expect: The side effects of cancer treatment imply severe changes in the physical and emotional states of the patient.

Communicate Openly

• Be an active listener: Allow them to voice those and let them know that they will be heard without being laughed at or made to feel foolish.
• Offer emotional support: Comfort them in ways that will make them know it is normal to be scared, angry and even sad.

Be Present

• Spend quality time together: It is always nice to have someone around because it reduces worries. Even a movie or walk can go a long way, as people say that even little things count.
• Accompany them to appointments: Suggest that you attend the medical appointments with them to help them through as a form of companionship.

Provide Practical Help

• Assist with daily tasks: These will involve helping with chores, cooking and errands to ensure their unpleasantries are minimized as much as possible.
• Organize their schedule: Organize appointment dates, medicine, and medical plans to help you keep track of things.

Offer Emotional Support

• Be positive but realistic: Help them maintain hope instead of denying the important feelings they are experiencing.
• Create a support network: One should also try and talk to other relatives, friends or any group of people that can offer her emotional support.

Respect Their Wishes

• Follow their lead: They may wish to discuss their situation, or they may not show any desire to do so at all. Respect their preferences.
• Maintain normalcy: Others may welcome going back to everyday living experiences and interactions that do not have a cancer focus.

Encourage Self-Care

• Promote healthy habits: Counsel them to increase their intake of nutrients, exercise and ensure they have adequate sleep.
• Support their hobbies: Encourage them to participate in those activities that make them happy and help them, if possible, to do things that give them pleasure and leisure.

Seek Professional Help

• Counseling services: If necessary recommend to seek help from a certified counselor or therapist for the both of you or your loved one.
• Support groups: Some of the support groups for women with breast cancer and their families are online or local.

Take Care of Yourself

• Manage your stress: Make sure you are also familiar with the fact that sometimes you also need to have free time to refresh.
• Seek support: Share your ordeal with friends, take the assistance of family members and could also possibly speak to a counselor.

Stay Informed and Adapt

• Stay updated: It is important to be informed about new treatments and medical advice learned from professional health care providers.
• Be flexible: Know that the person may need much support now and may not need any at other times or may be in a happy mood at times and sad at other times.

Celebrate Milestones

• Acknowledge progress: It is important for patients to have their morale boosted so give them reasons to celebrate such as the end of the treatment phases, or new opportunities when they are discharged, or little improvements in their conditions.
• Plan for the future: Discuss with them what they enjoy doing and assure them of something to look forward to when they are out of treatment.

The Importance of Awareness and Early Detection

Another thing that I discovered from my friend’s experience is the significance of consciousness or careful consideration as well as identification simply because the signs of cancer might be obscure in the first phases. It is wise to perform breast self-examinations and regularly attend mammograms to detect cancer when the disease is most detectable. Ideally, my friend’s mother’s cancer discovery through a regular mammogram greatly affected her treatment outcome.

Standing Together

For every loss and suffering because of breast cancer, people in our community realized the power of unity. This is not just about holding someone’s hand, it is about being there from day one, being kept in the loop during those days the patient is being treated for chemotherapy, and ensuring the patient has an atmosphere that makes them feel loved and appreciated despite this dreaded disease.

It is worse than a headache because breast cancer requires a long time and a right combination of doctors and advanced treatments –  thing, breast cancer is not an enemy that cannot be faced if a woman has proper medical support and the support of her loved ones. Despite the near catastrophic outcome, my friend’s family/friends’ strength and unity demonstrated that even a simple event, like a ride in a car, can become a powerful evidence of a human spirit and a community’s ability to survive the most dreadful circumstances.