Triple Negative? Now brain Tumors

ScaredForMyMom

I'm writing about my Mom who is going to be 67 in July. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2010. She had a lumpectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. We were told it was small, stage 1, and not the hormone type. Some lymph nodes were removed and tested negative. Even though it was not easy for her to go thru the treatments, we were encourage that is was treatable and stage 1. 

After her treatments when she was just starting to feel better in the summer of 2012 she developed what she thought was a pimple on her face that wouldn't seem to go away. After many trips to the doc, it was determined she had a form of skin cancer. They removed it surgically and no other treatments. It returned very quickly and again they removed it surgically, but added radiation which lasted thru the holidays of  2012. She was good all of 2013, a good year.

Early this year she had some breathing/sinus issues that didn't seem to go away. Her regular doc did a chest ex ray and found a spot on her lung. The oncologist did a biopsy and determined  it was lung cancer. She was scheduled for surgery to remove her upper lobe within a week of the results on April 18th of this year. During the surgery he realized that it was not lung cancer but the breast cancer that had mestastisized. It was attached to two of her ribs. He removed part of her two ribs and only about 5% of her lung. 

During her follow-up with the onoclogist he said no further treatment is necessary, you are in remission. We removed all of the cancer. I questioned this and he replied that since the cancer was gone there was nothing to treat, further they wouldn't do chemo because they wouldn't know what to treat. I asked how long it had been since her last scan so I could in my mind try to figure out how long it had taken for the cancer to grow again. He replied she hasn't had a scan since 2011, that scans were not proven to prolong life. I was upset and confused but she felt he was a good doc and we should trust his judgement.

During her recovery she has had several issues, the latest has been confusion, lack of coordination, anxiety & panic attacks when trying to resume her work as an accountant. Her regular doc referred her to a psychologist who referred her to a physiatrist and a neurologist. The neurologist ordered a brain scan and MRI while waiting to see the physchiatrist but he was sure she suffered from panic/anxiety disorder. Her scans were today and it revealed a large tumor and 3 small Tumors in her brain. They sent her to the hospital immediately for steroids to reduce the brain swelling and will probably do surgery on the large tumor on Monday. The smaller is too deep and can't be removed so a follow up of radiation for those. 

During the admit to the hospital the admitting doc referred to her breast cancer as triple negative, this is the 1st time we have heard this term. As I read and try to research i find this Can be an aggressive form of cancer? All the while we were told stage 1 and treatable, treated. What I read about the brain Tumors is worse. Do you think she has gotten the best care and treatment for this type of cancer? Is there hope? She has followed up with her oncologist every 3-6 months but I guess he doesn't believe in scans or cancer marker blood work as it isn't proven to prolong life.  I asked him 2 months ago if he didn't do these tests how would she know if her cancer returns, he replied that she should know her body and any changes should be reported.

Is it possible this has just grown this rapidly? Or possibly something they missed for lack of testing?  But more importantly is this treatable? 

Your replies are greatly appreciated. 

RebzAmy

Hi ScaredForMyMum

So sorry you and your mom are going through this.  I have read that sometimes even tumours that seem treatable and the doctors say has a high chance of NOT coming back, still does.  Unfortunately there are no guarantees and some types of tumours are more aggressive than others.  Triple negative is different from other types as once you've done chemo, op and rads there is nothing else whereas people who's cancer is HER2+ can have Herceptin which is a mono clonal antibody and is very effective in some people in helping prevent the cancer from coming back, or it's Hormone positive for either oestrogen, progesterone or both and therefore you have a combination of drugs to stop the hormones flooding your body and hence stops the cancer growing.  Or you can be a combination of all three i.e. HER2+, oestrogen positive and progesterone positive and you get Herceptin and the hormone drugs.  All the different types of cancers can respond in different ways to treatment and nobody can say for sure who's will come back and who's won't.

It sounds as if your mum had a very aggressive tumour which either never completely went away or some cells escaped and made their way to those areas where tumours have been found.  

Hope your mum's treatment and operation go smoothly.  

Moderators

Dear ScaredForMyMom, We are so sorry that you and your mom are dealing with such a tough situation with her breast cancer. We hope that you will continue to find information and support here. You also may want to join Caregivers, one of the many forums in the BCO discussion boards. You may want to browse some of the topics as there are others who are supporting moms with breast cancer who you might connect with. The Mods

Jrs2771

I would definitely get a second opinion from another doctor.  

Usually scans are given to show if any new or suspicious spots have developed.  There is no way to tell if a tumor is growing in your body unless you actually feel a lump.  

My doctor checks my tumor markers but they are always normal...so sometimes you can't always go by tumor markers.   Depends I guess on the person/cancer that they have. 

I don't know how many chemos they have used on her but there may be one out there that they can use.  May also ask if she may qualify for any clinical trials being conducted.

If you have any questions,  feel free to message me.

Your mom will be in my prayers.