Stopping treatment

david4321

My wife has been battling a stage 4 breast cancer recurerence for over 3 years.  She has bone mets all over her spine,arms,legs, hips,skull. She has no internal organ involvement.  She has taken all the hormone drugs, had radiation and zometa.  Than after 8 months of Taxotere it stopped working, 3 months of Abraxane and it stopped working, 3 months of Gemzar and it's not working.  She has decided to stop treatment.  She has really suffered with the side effects the last couple of months.  I stand behind her decision 100%.  What I would like to know is how pain-full the end will be.  She has very little bone pain at this time.  Her blood counts are way out of whack.  I'm  guessing because of the lesion's all over her bones?  She sleeps 16 to 18 hours a day.  I'm hoping she will just keep sleeping more and more and than pass in her sleep. Any one know of any loved ones with the similar situation?

Heidihill

I'm sorry your wife is suffering so much from side effects. But she may still recover as no vital organs are involved yet and she has only very little pain. I would suggest you post in the Stage IV Forum as there may be folks there who can share their experiences.

reesie

I second Heidi's response. I hope she is able to find a treatment that works without the debilitating SEs. If she's ready to stop treatment though that's understandable. I would think that with good pain control she can have a good quality of life for a long while since no organs are involved. Unless and unil the cancer progresses to organs my understanding is that it's not life threaatening. She can probably get a better idea from he onc.