Mama found a lump

My mother found a lump in her left breast, a long time ago. She said it was the size of a peanut then. Mama didn't consult a doctor, but she did confide in her sister. They agreed it was probably just a clogged milk gland, nothing to worry about.

The lump continued to grow at a very slow rate until more recently, when it began growing more rapidly. Soon the lump was the size of a tangerine and her left breast was larger than the right. Still, it wasn't noticeable to others, only to Mama, since she is quite stooped over from osteoporosis and besides, she dresses in loose clothing. Now, though, with the left breast significantly larger than the right, Mama had trouble getting her clothes to fit "right". She decided to tell Peggy, my brother's wife. Remember Mama lives with Louis and Peggy.

On July 14, Mama saw a doctor about the lump. She told the doctor that if it was cancer, she didn't want surgery or other treatment. "I'm 83, and if I can live with this another couple years..." But the doctor said she wouldn't live that long. The lump was very close to the surface of the skin, and he said next it would either move into muscle, or "explode" through the skin. The doctor assured Mama that if the lump came through the skin, it would be "a mess" and would "stink." That was exactly the right thing to say: Mama never wants to "inconvenience" anyone.

Mama's surgery was this Wednesday, July 26, less than 2 weeks from first seeing a doctor. The surgery went well. The doctor did have to do a mastectomy, but not a radical. He said the cancer was slow going, and that he was able to get it all. Only the left breast was removed; they wouldn't take the right one as well. Considering how "well endowed" Mama was, I think it would be especially strange to have only one breast. But I suppose that's not important; what is important is that the surgery was successful. Mama left the hospital on Friday, and is doing very well. She is able to move her left arm and take care of herself. My sister Frances drove up this afternoon and will spend the next two days with Mama.