To prevent further paralysis, we started steroid treatment, which reduces inflammation in the spinal cord and improves symptoms. Additionally, we urgently administered radiation therapy to address spinal lesions that cause cord compression.
The biopsy revealed invasive ductal carcinoma, which was estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive but HER2-negative (this immunoprofile indicates cancer that typically grows slowly in comparison to other aggressive subtypes of breast cancer!)
Tima Miroshnichenko | Pexels
It was difficult to tell this young lady that she had stage four breast cancer.
First and foremost, the word “cancer” is extremely frightening, and the majority of patients associate stage four cancer with death. We must counsel patients that, while stage four cancer is incurable, it can always be managed. Even if we can stop the progression of the cancer with medications, that would be a huge success for us in terms of stage four cancer.
Given her poor performance status (limited mobility and hence poor quality of life), we initiated weekly chemotherapy with lower doses. When she learned about her condition, tears welled in her eyes.
She was concerned about her young children, as there was no one else to care for them. Her only concern was what would happen to her children if she died. It broke my heart to experience the emotions of a young mother and her selfless, unconditional love.
It made me think of my mother, her selfless love, and the extreme care with which she raised all of us. It saddens me to think about how selfish children are when the well-being of mothers no longer remains at the top of the list of their priorities.
They forget the times when she taught them to walk, chew the first morsel of food, and speak the first word, and she adored their every move as if every action of her child was miraculous. As if her child were the world’s most unique child.
It makes me ashamed to think about all the cases where women with adult and well-educated children came to us with advanced breast lumps. Many of these women had children who were doctors.
It is shameful that this generation is so unconcerned about the well-being and care of their elderly parents. Their hectic schedules prevent them from sitting down with their parents and listening to their concerns. Mothers do their best not to bother their children, but they are ultimately the ones who suffer the most.
