I'm a regular, but namechanged because I have family members that post on here and Mum hasn't told the rest of the family yet.
She had a mammogram that revealed some spots, and a subsequent biopsy has shown up some precancerous cells. She's booked in for a lumpectomy next week (surely that can't be the operation's real name) and has been told to convalesce for 3 weeks. She will then have 3 weeks of radiation therapy in January, although apparently no drugs will be necessary.
So I have a couple of questions/concerns, I'd be grateful if anyone with experience of this could help me out.
1). Although the doctors have suggested 3 weeks off work after the op, she is planning on only taking one. I think this is utterly nuts, and that she will be in pain and very tired still. She seems to be treating it all as a rather minor procedure, although she has refused to come and stay with us for that week, as she says she will need fulltime looking after, and I have the DCs to contend with. I think she is rushing things going back to work after only a week.
2). What does radiation therapy actually comprise?
3). She is planning - I can hardly believe this - on going for her RT in the afternoons and working in the morning. DH says his father found his RT absolutely exhausting, but my mum contends that my FIL's cancer was more advanced (true, but I am almost positive the effects of the therapy will be similar).
Am I right in thinking that she should really be taking those 3 weeks off? and will she need collecting from the hospital afterwards? Ideally I'd prefer her to have the RT at a BUPA hospital near me, so she can stay with us and I can drive her around.
If anyone has experience of this procedure, I'd be interested in hearing how you felt (physically and mentally) afterwards, so I know how best to help my mum).
Thanks in advance.