Is anyone living with a similar diagnosis?

KOH

Hello, I'm writing on behalf of my 36yo sister. Looking for some stories
of others doing well in a similar situation. She was originally
diagnosed around 4 years ago with stage 3 hormone receptive breast
cancer - tumor in one breast and detected in some nodes. She underwent a
double mastectomy, 6mths of chemo and 3mths of radiation and has been
on tamoxifen since treatment. She has generally been in good health
until just before Christmas (Dec 2013) she suffered chest cold symptoms
and was diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion in the lung on the
side of the original breast cancer. These cancer cells are now triple
negative. She has had her bones and other major organs scanned and there
are no actual tumors apparent - just the cancer cells in the pleura.
She has been recommended to have surgery to close the pleural cavity and
chemo with a combo of 2 drugs (not sure which) as obviously the
hormone treatments are no longer an option. Everything I've read about
malignant pleural effusion has a poor prognosis. Is there anyone who has
been in this situation and is doing okay? I look forward to hearing
from you.
Thanks.

dlb823

mgc, I'm so sorry about your sister's recent diagnosis.  I can't help you with your questions, but I wanted to suggest that you might want to re-post what you've written above in the Stage IV forum.  Sometimes it's hard to find just the right place for certain questions, and it can't hurt to post it there as well, hoping others have had firsthand experience with malignant pleural effusion and can be of help and encouragement to you.        Deanna