Breast cancer results

Hi my motherinlaw has finished chemo in August and they are not giving anymore she is receiving pallative care and the district nurses are going to see her once a month waiting on Marie Curie nurses getting back to us. As you know breast cancer has spread to liver,lungs and spine ct scan after chemo showed slight improvement to liver still got many liver lesions better improvement to lungs still nodes there no change on spine she is getting monthly zometa for bones can you tell me how long does life expectancy normally be with this kind of illness. The consultant said she was not expecting it the ct scan to show any change really as they know its not going away. x regards Ellie. x


This discussion is related to breast cancer results.

[yahti]

I am an oncology nurse since 94 and the best one to give some idea is her oncologist. Why I say some idea is that I have seen the best estimates of life expectancy be years after or days to weeks after an estimate was given. I think the person with the cancer has the best idea but not always willing to share with the ones that they love. Just give her all the love and support that you can for as long as you can, do not waste time with worry over how much time you have left. Remember to take care of you because that is what people with cancer want for their family.

[katarina777]

I cannot believe that your mother in law  only has a nurse visit her once a month. While a hospice patient? That's terrible!
I don't know enough about her illness  to comment about them stopping chemo.
But without treatment with a chemotherapy that works I do not believe your mother in law will live for a very long time.

I think she needs a lot more care than a once monthly nurse visiting.

KAT

[ellie1605]

The problem is she is forgetful and the consultant was concerned and arranged a brain scan it was clear and she is now waiting to attend a memory clinic to see if it is dementia. She thinks she is all clear and is not taking in the fact that she is terminal the consultant said at the start if she did not take the chemo she would be very sick in a couple of months now that she has stopped taking chemo  we are unsure as to how she will be will it be the same very unwell in a couple of months. We are quite happy that she is not taking in the fact that she is terminal but it makes it harder as she is forgetting. She will say she has no pain and she took all the pain killers within 9 days she had 2 weeks worth. Doc has arranged her pills in a daily box and she is now been put on MST 20mg a day witch will be upped as and when. We also have a morphine tablet that we keep incase she is in bad pain we can give her that. We are all learning about this illness as we go along and sometimes we cant ask questions when she is there as she doesnt understand. The district nurse came 3 weeks ago and is anxious to get Marie Curie nurses to come and see her. District nurse will visit once a month but always at the end of the phone if needed. Still waiting on word from Marie Curie she was referred in July so district nurse will sort this out next week. xx

[ellie1605]

Just an update to let you know that she has alzehmeirs. She is going to see marie curie on 17th nov 2010. Will keep you updated.