Breast Cancer Metastisis to lungs...

[Dabber]

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could help point me in the right direction to gather information about breast cancer metastisis to the lungs and what kind of treatments are available.

In 1991, my mother-in-law was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma.  Her breast (along with several lymph nodes that tested positive)  were removed followed by chemo and radiation.  Almost 11 years later, during one of her annual checkups, her doctors discovered some "suspicious cells" in her other breast. She had that breast removed but they did not feel that chemo or radiation was necessary as all the margins were "clean."  In 2003 they noticed a couple small "spots" on her lungs and decided to watch them via CT scans every 3-6 months.  Apparently there was little or no change up until last month when the spots increased in size slightly.  Her doctor feels certain that this is a recurrance of breast cancer or I believe he called it "breast cancer metastisis to the lungs."  She had a biopsy done last week and we are currently waiting for the results before her doctor decides on a chemo regimen. I realize that I may be getting ahead of myself given the fact that we don't have confirmation yet, however, her oncologist said he was 98% certain that it was breast cancer metastisis.

I'm hoping that someone might be able to give me some advice on where to begin my research so that I can have my list of questions ready for her oncologist at her appointment scheduled for this coming Thursday.

[realitybob]

Well, my wife's C-T scan indicated that there is metastisis to the lungs.  Good thing the "adjuvant chemotherapy" she underwent last year "prevented" (her oncologists words, not mine) that from happening!!!  In my wife's case chemotherapy FAILED her 100%.  I'm quite sure they'll want to "treat" her with more.  Here is my question;  If it was useless the first time, what makes me think it will do anything for her this time?

[realitybob]

Hello Dabber;
I'm truly sorry to hear about your mother-in-law.  This is what I have discovered (Wife had breast cancer, mastectomy & chemotherapy one year ago, now has possible metastisis in lung.  C-T scan is scheduled for tomorrow.) when it comes to dealing with medical info about cancer and the various treatments.  You will ONLY be able to learn what the medical industry WANTS you to know.  You will enter into a "twilight zone" world with lots and lots of frustrations.  The bottom line is this; no matter what you have learned your mother-in-law will be put into the hands of persons that have LIMITED ability to do anything.  The term "treatment" is used to guide the individual to a predetermined end.  Any "treatment" may or may not buy any time.  My personal opinion of chemo and or radiation is this.  In order to determine if they have any benefit upon a particular person, that person would need to be exactly cloned.  One clone would receive "treatment" the other would not.  Since that is an unlikely scenario, the best that any "treatment" can offer is "hope", whatever that may be worth.  Statistics when it comes to cancer should be viewed carefully.  Any statistic is put out to either make something LOOK good or something bad.  This is how I view "treatment" statistics;  ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS threatment will be 100% effective or 100% ineffective.  Anything less than 100% effective is meaningless in the long run.  When I first entered into this "twilight zone" I was given this advise; "Have your wife put her affairs in order".  Advise that I want to pass along to your mother-in-law.

[Dabber]

Thank you so much for your response.  I suppose we'll wait for the results, I'll gather all the specific details and then begin my research.

Again, many thanks for taking the time to post a reply.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear dabber:  It is difficult to speculate on the course of treatment because it can be a complex process.  If the biopsy turns out to be positive for breast cancer cells, the treatment will depend upon how many spots there are, whether they are estrogen or progesterone receptor positive, whether her cancer is HER2 positive, what treatment she had before, and her general health.  If these are, indeed, multiple metastases, the cancer is generally not thought to be curable but certainly is treatable.