After Surgery to Cervical Spine

ira99

Hello

Someone close was diagnosed recently with Breast Cancer Stage IV. Mets are to cervical spine. Bone was the only  metastatic location, but the hit on the cervical spine had some traumatic repercussions to say the least.

She had surgery which essentially fused the fifth cervical vertebra to the skull. A metal plate type thing needed to be placed after the C2 was found to be fractured so that the  skull is bolted to the C5. Since there were lesions in C3  C4 as well. So she's lost much of the range of motion in her neck as a result of this surgery, but the pain is nowhere as bad as it was when she first went to the ER.. Some of the range of motion can no doubt be regained with physical therapy. But much of the loss is permanent.

She said she'll go through with the chemo. Will know more about the type of cancer in terms of receptors etc. and recommended treatment plan after she meets with her oncologist soon.  So I gather we'll know more about the battle ahead when thats clarified. Hope its ok for me to post on the Stage IV Forum when that info is in.

The most immediate problem is her coping with the loss of motion in the neck.  She says she doesn't care to live much longer now that shes lost so much due to the surgery. She's expressed this both in a state of near hysteria, but I hear similar mood when shes more lucid. My telling her to wait a few months till she learns different ways of moving her body doesn't go very far.

I worry that the understandeable sadness about this catastrophic loss may make it so much harder for her to undergo the rigors of the chemotherapy ahead. We don't yet know the type of chemotherapy needed here, but whatever it is, one needs to be strong for it.

I need suggestions on how to help her with this.

Thanks:

-ira

LRM216

I just want you to know that my heart goes out to both of you - along with the wish that this depression caused by her condition and surgery, will greatly lessen.  Please DO post this over on the Stage IV board, as they are wonderful women over there with mountains of info, and if they don't have it - they know who does.  God bless to you both.

Linda 

ira99

Thanks LRM:

I cut and pasted the original post over at the Stage IV board.  I have lots of other questions for them. So I hope its ok

~Ira