stage 4 - Inflammatory Breast Cancer (Niece)

mavourning

Hello, my name is Mavourning and I am extremely concerned for my niece (who is 54) and has been diagnosed with IBC in March of this year. She had chemo every two weeks and the plan was to radiate and then mastectomy. After the chemo, we were told that things didnt improve like they expected and now all the planned treatment is not going to be done. She had four tumors on her spine in April and now there are eight more. She is having one infusion a month of Errardis (Sp) and takes a pill called anastrozole one daily, I believe to try and keep her bones from fracturing. She has some emotional issues and has been encouraged to believe she will fully recover by her parents who, when the time is right, will discuss with her experimental drugs. She has lost weight and her appetite isnt great but says she feels fine with no pain. Im worried her spine may collapse. she doesnt drive and walks a lot. Please help me help her. I can use any suggestions. This has come upon her so quickly and its just devastating to her mother. Please any suggestion. I see her weekly. Thank you ladies in advance for any advice.

mavourning

Thank you for your response. Your'e kind to take the time. I think my sister may have initially misunderstood the treatment plan as my niece was Stage 4 at diagnosis a few months ago with mets to her spine. Maybe at Stage 4 and each case being individual of course, some patients dont have the rad and surgery because it wouldnt help their survival time? That is what im assuming. I guess its the helpless feeling that prompted me to post here. I would feel better if I was assured that some Stage 4 patients were not offered all three steps to hopefully recovery.

Blessings to you and your family.

mavourning

Thank you  Bon, I will talk with them tomorrow about second opinion.

ibcmets

Mavourning,

Sorry about your niece's diagnosis.  I was stage IV from the start ibc with spinal bone mets.  They waited till I was stable, about a year after chemo to do the surgery.  I did not have rads for the breasts and I'm ER+ so I did Femara as well as Zometa.  This worked well for 4 years.  I now have slight progression of my spinal mets so I'm switching Femara to Aromasin/Afinitor.  They are also doing rads on my new spinal met next week.

I hope your niece get's on a treatment that works well for her.  With ibc, they like to get you into chemo asap & she may not have time to get 2nd opinion until she's done with chemo.

Best wishes.

Terri