Breast cancer and Breathing problems

[nyychic]

My mother has had a double mastectomy and found stage 3 breast cancer.  She has had all clean tests since the mastectomy and she is doing okay that way.  She refused chemo and radiation as well as Hormone pills etc.  No treatment other than mastectomy.  She has been having increasing problems with her asthma and breathing and I'm concerned, the doctor says that it's just because she is a smoker and her asthma is just going to get worse.  I am aware that she should quit but I can't make her quit.  I have offered all of the tools and she is trying.  What should I do?  I mean are they right to assume that it is just her asthma getting worse?  I am really worried here my mom is only 56 and her husband died 7 years ago (of BREAST CANCER) and I am really concerned I moved into her home to help her but I now worry that the breast cancer may be being caused by something in the home.  I don't even know if that is possible.  Bottom line is that I want to know if she should just trust the doctor to let her be and assume it's asthma.  I mean it was in like 2/3 of her lymph nodes.  Any help would be wonderful.  Thank you.

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
You are right. You need to take her to a pulmonologist who will do the lung function testing and tell you the status of her disease. Her medicines also need to be revised, but that can only be done by a pulmonologist on the basis of clinical evaluation, symptoms and the lung function tests. Ask him about any smoking cessation clinic he could refer your mother to. Also a chest xray would be advisable, the pulmonologist will get that done. You are doing the best you can on your part, so relax and continue doing the same. You need to stop yourself from getting so anxious and remember no 2 patients respond to the same disease in the same way - so you need to stop comparing. Recurrence of breast cancer is most common to the brain, bones and liver - so you can keep a watch out for signs which you feel would involve these organs. Goodluck.

[nyychic]

My mom is on theodor, albuterol neb solution every 4 hours, prednisone, singulair, she uses xoponex prn and I think that she is still taking advair.  I know that I'm missing some but she also takes an antibiotic constantly it used to be just amoxicillin now it's cephlexin.  She cannot have mammo since she had both breasts removed and she has not had a lung function do I take her to a pulmonologist for that?  I'm assuming so but not sure.  I have had a mammo they say that she doesn't have the hereditary kind but still say I should have one every two years.   My concern is that my step-father died of this same disease and he had been diagnosed two years before he died (about) and my mother has been diagnosed a year and a half ago she just reached 56 he died at 57 there are so many similarities it scares me.  I know that we shouldn't "compare" cancers like this but I can't help it.  I just got her a book that is supposed to make you quit by the time you finish the book.  She can't take the patch it makes her sleepless and sweats, shakes, vivid nightmares when she does sleep.  I don't know if it was the nausa that made her stop the pills she was taking to help her quit which I can't seem to remember the name of them right now.  I just worry about recurrance and I know that her odds are not great with that.  Are there certain things that I should watch for, symptoms of it being somewhere else etc.?  Thanks so much for your information I really appreciate it.

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
The chances are strongly in favour of her having breathing problems due to the smoking and that aggravating her asthma. Has she been to a chest specialist or had a lung function testing done? Is she on any inhaler medications? Ask her doctor about the role of inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids in her case. Also you could discuss with your doctor and enrol her in one of the smoking cessation groups. She needs to quit smoking before it damages her lungs further. Also regular follow ups with breast self exam and mammograms when your doctor tells you will help to rule out the cancer recurrence. You are doing a great job by helping your mother at this time, when she needs you the most. Dont worry nothing in the house could cause a breast cancer, except that you are at a higher risk of breast cancer because of your mother having it. Do schedule regular follow ups and carry on regular breast self exams. Goodluck.