metastic breast cancer..please answer!!!!

[jalo]

my mom had a lump removed in 2001 went through all her treatments and was cancer free..then 15mos later she had fluid in her lung and they drained it..they found that she has cancer on the lining of her lung.they also said it wasnt a new cancer and was always there "just hiding". well anyway right now shes getting herceptin and exeoda for her cancer treatments. shes been having alot of trouble with her breast its sore and swollen. and shes always in alot of pain..she does take pain killers, like oxycontin and another one, but she still has alot of pain. is there something else they can do for her? also since she does have mets to the lung, she still has trouble breathing and can hardly go out shopping.. gets out of breath very easily. she does carry oxygen with her but it still doesnt help when she exerts herself..is there something that can be done for that also? shes is 54..please help thank you

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear jalo, The goals of treatment of metastatic breast cancer are to control the disease and symptoms of the disease.  In order to know how best to help, a thorough assessment of her disease and symptoms needs to be made.  For instance, is her shortness of breath because of fluid build-up around the lung? or is it because of other reasons? The answers to that question help to decide what course to take. (If it is fluid building up again, they may want to drain the fluid again)  The soreness of the breast - is this because of the cancer? if so, have we given the chemotherapy enough of a chance to have an effect? and in the meantime we may need to readjust the pain medication.  So there are many things that can be done - it is just a matter of checking out the whole situation and what would be most helpful, and what should be focused on first.

[surgeon]

Unfortunately, in this circumstance, the main goal of treatment -- other than the cancer drugs she's getting -- will be to control symptoms as they occur. It can't be cured: that's the sad fact. But hopefully as things come up they can be dealt with in a way that can make her comfortable. Depending on how aggressive she and her doctors want to be, there are other drug combinations that can be tried. The hope would be for some slowing of the tumor growth. The balance is more severe side effects versus the small likelihood of helping for a time.

[jalo]

its only been 2 mos since shes been getting chemo. thank you so much for your time..you have been helpful!!