MS and cancer treatment

Hi, all.  Everyone here has been so helpful and wise in answering my many questions as I brave my way through limboland.  But now I have a question for my mom.  

My mom has had RRMS for about 20 years, though now I think she is in a secondary progressive stage...she has been bedridden for a couple of years, unable to fully recover after a hospitalization for pneumonia.  

Anyhow, she was recently also diagnosed with breast cancer (when it rains, it pours!), and she had a mastectomy.  However, they did find some malignancy in her lymph nodes.  My dad is worried about making a decision of how/whether to pursue treatment.  He's worried about getting the advice from the oncologist and neurologist on the same page; whether anything with the MS will make it riskier for her to go through the treatments, etc.

Does anyone have any insight/information on this?  

Thank you!
Laurel

[truelove47]

Hi,
I also had breast cancer. I was one of the lucky ones.It was stage 1 ductal

carcinoma in situ  I had to have two lumpectomies. and 30 radiation treatments.
Mine was estrogen sensative and they could not figure out if I should take the
estogen blocker drugs with avonex. The surgeon, neuro,or  onocologist could not tell me what to do, so I opted not to take them  I am sure you are speaking of radiation and chemo??My prayers are with you and your mom+dad. I wish I could give you more answers  First, you have to see what they say in order to make a decision

It depends on what type of cancer and othere meds she is taking  Linda

[samandsprout]

Hi, Linda, thank you for your response.  

She is taking Copaxone, and yes, I guess I am speaking of radiation and chemo.  You are right, we don't know what they are going to recommend yet...she has an appointment in a couple weeks, and we'll know more.  

I am just wondering generally if there is any information out there on whether chemo/radiation is riskier for MS patients, or what other concerns there might be.  It's not too encouraging that none of your doctors were clear on your situation with the estrogen blocker, I'm sorry to hear about that.  That's the kind of thing I think my dad is worried about...that no one will have consistent information.

Thanks, again,
Laurel

[Lulu54]

Hi Laurel,
Wow, you and your mom continue to have a time of it.  I went looking to see if I could find anything on the use of chemo drugs on MS patients, and everything I turn up has to do with using cancer drugs to treat MS.  

i did find this inspiring story from Australia that may be of interest- a woman with breast cancer and MS.  
http://www.breastlink.com/resources/survivor-debbie_w.aspx

I hope one the doctors tell you  more you will be able to share it here.  There seems to be next to no information on the topes.  As you know, just because we have MS doesn't mean we are immune to all the other diseases out there.

be well,
Laura

[samandsprout]

My mom had her oncologist appointment, so I wanted to come back and report here what he said.  

So, while she had the full mastectomy,  2 of the 14 lymph nodes they removed had malignancy.  All of the cancer was removed.  However, he recommends chemotherapy, as it would reduce likelihood of cancer reoccurance by about 40%.

The medicine he is recommending is  CMF made up of Cytoxan, Methotrexate and 5.FU.   This choice was based primarily on not complicating her MS as these medicines were reported to be less harsh on blood cells and immune system than the newer medicines.  So, thankfully it sounds like this doc knows what to do for an MS patient.  

As an fyi, her current medications are Copaxone, Estradiol, Amantadine, Diovan, Seroquel, Baclofen, Multivitamin, Sertraline, and Aricept.

Thanks, again,
Laurel

[hbananas]

My MS neuro has done studies using methotrexate to treat RRMS.  I think it was successful enough they're pursuing more tests of it.  Good luck to your mom.