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What Must Be Done About Quick Changes In Both Breasts Indicating Breast Cancer?
Question: Hello, a family member refuses to see a doctor or seek treatment for what she thinks may be breast cancer. She is 82 years old and has had quick changes in both breasts over the last 3 months. I can give more info or even a photo for your medical opinion. Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Seek medical assistance at the ealiest
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It could be a case of advanced breast cancer and you need to seek medical assistance at the earliest. Unfortunately this is not the sort of treatment that can be offered online sitting at a distance. So, you need to convince them to go to the doctor and get further evaluation and treatment.
Do not hesitate to write back.
Regards
Seek medical assistance at the ealiest
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
It could be a case of advanced breast cancer and you need to seek medical assistance at the earliest. Unfortunately this is not the sort of treatment that can be offered online sitting at a distance. So, you need to convince them to go to the doctor and get further evaluation and treatment.
Do not hesitate to write back.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
She does not want any treatment, and I am here to support her and care for her. I'm trying to find out what we are dealing with anyway I can since she won't see a doctor. I don't understand how this happened so quickly. Thank you for your opinion.
Brief Answer:
It is hard to predict how much time she would get.
Detailed Answer:
I understand. The fungating mass indicates that it is possibly in an advanced stage and so even with treatment the outcome is not good. All that treatment can do is to prolong life to some extent but at the cost of standard of living. You can accept her wishes and accept that the situation is likely to gradually worsen. Even without surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, some sort of supportive measures are likely to be eventually required and I would insist you to convince her for the same, in advance. It is hard to predict how long she has but let us keep our fingers crossed.
Regards
It is hard to predict how much time she would get.
Detailed Answer:
I understand. The fungating mass indicates that it is possibly in an advanced stage and so even with treatment the outcome is not good. All that treatment can do is to prolong life to some extent but at the cost of standard of living. You can accept her wishes and accept that the situation is likely to gradually worsen. Even without surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, some sort of supportive measures are likely to be eventually required and I would insist you to convince her for the same, in advance. It is hard to predict how long she has but let us keep our fingers crossed.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
You say the mass indicates it's advanced, however, she stated the rash under her left breasted only started to grow and worsen over the last 3 months. So, it's definitely breast cancer and not some sort of infection? She also has a lump on her stomach and one on her groin. Does breast cancer spread like that? Thanks so much for answering these questions since she won't see a doctor. I'm sure at some point we will need a biopsy so a doctor can prescribe home care.
Brief Answer:
An evaluation would have proved valuable.
Detailed Answer:
Broadly speaking, there are two possibilities. One is a fungal infection and the second is cancer. The fact that it has spread in the last 3 months indicates an aggressive nature. Irrespective of whether she opts for treatment, I would have suggested to visit a doctor and to get a proper evaluation done. After that you can respect her choice of opting for no treatment. But evaluation would give you a concrete understanding of what we are dealing with. Let us assume that it is a fungal infection. In such a case, the suffering would be pointless.
Regards
An evaluation would have proved valuable.
Detailed Answer:
Broadly speaking, there are two possibilities. One is a fungal infection and the second is cancer. The fact that it has spread in the last 3 months indicates an aggressive nature. Irrespective of whether she opts for treatment, I would have suggested to visit a doctor and to get a proper evaluation done. After that you can respect her choice of opting for no treatment. But evaluation would give you a concrete understanding of what we are dealing with. Let us assume that it is a fungal infection. In such a case, the suffering would be pointless.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Would a fungal infection cause the umps and hardness in the breasts, and the nipples to flatten, or the other lumps in the armpits? Thanks for all the advice. This is very difficult.
Brief Answer:
Chance of malignancy is more likely in that scenario
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional details,
Cancer seems to be the most likely cause. If we want to consider other options, fungal infection is the option to consider (less likely, but possible). Yes, for appropriate diagnosis, a biopsy would be required in any case.
Regards
Chance of malignancy is more likely in that scenario
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the additional details,
Cancer seems to be the most likely cause. If we want to consider other options, fungal infection is the option to consider (less likely, but possible). Yes, for appropriate diagnosis, a biopsy would be required in any case.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Could this possibly be a skin cancer or other form of cancer other than breast? Is there a breast specialist that can view the photo? Thank you!
Brief Answer:
Could also be skin cancer. Close and distant spread likely.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, it could also be a skin cancer.
The way medical specialists are divided, this would be a case to be handled by a general surgeon, and if further specialization is sought, by an onco-surgeon. There is no specific specialty for the breast. Any doctor who evaluates the case would suggest you to go for a biopsy. This is not something on which visual diagnosis can be done. So, I doubt whether getting the image evaluated by any other doctor would actually help.
Still, in case you want to get a second opinion from a different specialist, you can post another query with a label mentioning which sort of specialist you are looking for.
Regards
Could also be skin cancer. Close and distant spread likely.
Detailed Answer:
Yes, it could also be a skin cancer.
The way medical specialists are divided, this would be a case to be handled by a general surgeon, and if further specialization is sought, by an onco-surgeon. There is no specific specialty for the breast. Any doctor who evaluates the case would suggest you to go for a biopsy. This is not something on which visual diagnosis can be done. So, I doubt whether getting the image evaluated by any other doctor would actually help.
Still, in case you want to get a second opinion from a different specialist, you can post another query with a label mentioning which sort of specialist you are looking for.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Do not hesitate to contact me back again in case you have any further queries in the future.
Regards
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Do not hesitate to contact me back again in case you have any further queries in the future.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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