Need Advice for my Mom

tooyoung50 · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: Need Advice for my Mom

This might seem like a vague post, but I am new to cancer and want to help out my Mom. Her best friend has fought breast cancer over the past 8 years. It seemed to be under control, until a recent trip to the Doctor's. They told my Mom's best friend that her breast cancer was back and that it spread to her liver and through out her lower extremities. My Mom's friend is 50 years old and a tough cookie. She will not go into specifics, and the problem is that I do not want my Mom to be caught off guard. What should my Mom expect with a type of cancer like this. I know that every situation is different, but I wanted to get an idea, so I can know where my Mother's friend stands. She will not be going through regular chemo. She told my Mom that she would just be taking pills and staying at home. She said that the pills will make her weak and sick. Any advice??

brainman · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Need Advice for my Mom

Hi tooyoung50, I am very sorry about your mother's friend. Metastatic breast cancer should be treated aggressively. Without treatment, she could die quickly. As you said, your post is too vague to say anymore about her prognosis. One question, what kind of pills is she taking? Not all chemotherapy is given through an IV... some are, in fact, pills. Maybe she IS getting therapy. I ask this question because you said that the pills will make her weak and sick. If the pills are not a form of chemotherapy, then the untreated liver mets will be the cause for her condition. Her liver may eventually stop working at least partially so toxins will build up in her blood.

I do hope she will see a specialist. That decision is hers to make and I am not so sure that I would not make the same decision if I was in her place. But I would see a specialist to make sure that my decision was based on good medical advice.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

tooyoung50 · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: Thanks Jim

Jim thank you for your quick reply. The only thing she told my Mom about the pills, is that she is happy that she will not have to loose her hair again. She has also been talking in the sense that she is happy with her life and has accomplished everything that she has wanted to do. I just feel awful. She has four kids, and she and my Mother call each other Lucy and Ethel.......it just came back so sudden!

brainman · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: Need Advice for my Mom

It is VERY good that she AND her family are happy with this decision. I would worry more about it if she were making any decisions under the influence of depression. She is a fighter. I do not know if I could continuously fight cancer for 8 years. It takes a special person with a lot of support from family and friends to live that long post diagnosis... especially if they are in a continual battle. I am a long term survivor. I was diagnosed almost 15 years ago with a primary brain cancer. But of those 15 years only about 3 years did I have to do any major fighting in order to live. "Ethel" has a good friend in your mother for her friend's daughter or son to take such an interest.

I am moving this topic to the breast cancer forum where it will get noticed more.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

tooyoung50 · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks Jim, hopefully as more information comes about, I will be able to fill you in.

Muttsmom · Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: Need Advice for my Mom

Hi,

Most of the ladies I know with liver mets are taking Taxol, which is by I.V. and chemo. With bone mets they give meds to strengthen the bones and usually radiation.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

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