Breast cancer met to adrenal gland

Hello- my mother 79 year old mother had surgery for a primary lung cancer on Feb.25th.  Margins clean and no further follow up recommended.  At the end of March,  she found a 2cm lump in her right breast. Surgery scheduled on April 30th and by then, the lump was 7cm so she had a double mastectomy. Prior to surgery, we told surgeon our concern about a lump in her right armpit and a lump at the top part of her right thigh and asked him to explore them during surgery.  He did not remove them during surgery and stated he `thought' they were cysts.  Since he did not take a sample and is not a pathologist, we went to our oncologist who agreed they need to be removed (she is scheduled again for surgery this week).  We did not want to put her through chemo and radiation if the mets had started.  He ordered a PET scan.  He stated both lumps are `hot'.  If they prove to be malignant, she will not have chemo and we will talk about other tx options and possible pallative care.   However, there was also concern about the right adrenal gland and the onc doc said that no matter what the outcome of the pathology of the two lumps, she will need a needle biopsy with a CAT scan.

SOOO- questions is- what is the likely that the breast cancer OR lung cancer metted to the adrenal gland?  If so, based on the information I have written, what are different tx /pallative options for someone my mother's age?  Thank you for yoru time.  Kate

[japdip]

I suppose the mets to the adrenal gland could be either but I would lean more towards the lung issue. As far as treatment options for your Mother, I think her Oncologist would have the best answers. He/She is the only one who knows each and every detail of her case and for me to even speculate would be foolish. Palliative care would be merely a comfort measure for her if that's her choice.   Kindest regards .....