IV Hormone Responsive Breast Cancer of the Spine (Mother)

Anonymous

IV Hormone Responsive Breast Cancer of the Spine (Mother)

Lovemymom69

13.5 years ago my mother was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of her left breast. She had a mastectomy of her left breast and she has kept all of her lymph nodes. She took Femaera/Letrozole as her treatment for around 10+ years. She went to her regular close check ups and then they went to every 6 months then to every year. Her right breast has always been checked via a mammogram however never been checked on her left side which confuses us. Her sister had Invasive Ductal Carcinoma in both breasts losing some lymph nodes and had a double mastectomy and is checked regularly with neither breasts present. We were told that there's nothing to check when there is no breast unless a problem is felt. My mother in law had immflamation breast Cancer she has a mammogram on her existing breast and ultrasound on her side she lost her Breast. My mom's seen 2 doctors who doesn't check the side she lost her Breast so this is concerning.

Anyways about a year ago my mom began having some pains she was at the ER twice within a few days. They gave her meds for kidney/bladder infection and moved on. The pain never quite went away and she seen her family doctor who said it's a bladder infection but decided to send her for a Pap smear. Those tests come back fine. So December 2015 her pain began to increase and she began to have trouble getting up out of chairs and bed and the pain is mainly in the lower back. Again she's back to the ER twice to the same one then to another ER and then back to the main branch hospital of first ER within a month or so 4 visits xrays and cat scans and one says she has diverticulosis 2 says bladder infection another says sciatica. When at the last hospital dad was demanding an MRI they said they couldn't do that without xrays and cat scans he kept saying it's already been done multiple times I want an MRI they finally agreed to it and found a mass on the sacrum (lower spine) gave her pain meds referred her on.

So they contacted her Breast Cancer doctor and he referred her to a colleague who specializes in Breast Cancers that's metastasized in women of my mom's age (69). She sent my mom for tests and during that she went into diabetic shock that landed her in the hospital for 6 nights. While there she had a cat scan, bone scan, and biopsy.

Yesterday April 4th 2016 she found out her breast Cancer has metastasized to the bones and the radiologist feels it's only in the one area the lower spine sacrum area and she is the first to give us positive hope that this will be very treatable and she should have many good years. Is this false hope?

So they are recommending 10 radiation treatments and back on Femera/Letrozole. . Of coarse I'm prescribing prayer.

Any thoughts or advice to help my mom?

We bought her a lift chair because pulling herself up with my dad's body isn't good for either of them. Her first ride in that chair paid for it because she wasn't in pain getting up on her own and she said she can adjust it in a certain position that relieves the pain when nothing else does.

Thanks in advance for prayers and advice.

She did 10 radiation treatments to the sacrum area and has improved greatly. Her first round of ibrance was really rough. Her 2nd round was great until the last day which landed her in the hospital for 8 nights and because of that they have now found 2 spots in the brain and she had gamma knife surgery for them and did well but isn't sure if she will do it again which scares me terrible with this disease.

AmyQ

Hi,

I am sorry to hear that your mother is having to deal with BC again. I must say that her back symptoms were very similar to mine and after 2 1/2 years on Femera, it stopped working and I suffered a recurrence to my left hip and spine in the low and thoracic areas. I had 10 radiation treatments which destroyed nearly all the new spots. I am left with low activity in a couple small areas that hopefully Ibrance and Faslodex are taking care of.

I love that you are prescribing prayer - I might steal your statement for my own purposes! I know that is the one prescription guaranteed to work.

Anyway, I hope the rads are tolerated well by her and they do the job at hand. There are many hundreds of women on these boards alone who are living wonderful lives with bone metastasis. I hope your mother does too.

Best Wishes,

Amy

50sgirl

Hi Lovemymom, Breast cancer that has spread to the bone is treatable. There are many of us on these boards who have bc that has spread to our bones. There is a Bone Mets Thread that you are welcome to post to. You will find many people there to answer any questions you have. Lots of people with bone mets live for many, many years and their lives are pretty normal. From your description, it sounds like your mom has mets to only one area. If that is the case, her outlook is even more positive than most. Her disease would be considered oligometastatic. Treatment for oligometastatic bc is showing great success.

Sending hugs and prayers for you and your mom. Let us know how she is doing, and don't forget to take care of yourself, too

Lynne

Lovemymom69

Amy,

thank you so much for your encouraging words and sharing your life. I wish you all the best in your treatment moving forward. I'm thankful we don't have to be doctors to prescribe prayers which is the best medicine and laughter is 2nd. My mom's having a hard time with this as any of us would I'm having a hard time for her but trying to keep it together all that I can to help the best I can. She was against treatment at the start and now she's trying. You have to try you have to fight. Just sickens me she was misdiagnosed for a year. Alot of medical bills for nothing. May you continue to improve and heal and fight as well as pray. Thanks for your kind words. Prayers.

KH

Lynne,

From what they are saying they see its in the sacrum it looks large to me. They are watching a small spot in the sternum and hip but they don't seem to think it's cancer but all bone related as far as we are told. They changed her radiation schedule from 10 to 6 we aren't sure why no explanation. Is this because it's not as bad as they thought or is it 6 stronger sessions I don't know. The information seemed lacking unless your there drilling them and my mom is just not been in her right thinking with all this. No one was allowed back there during her scans when this change happened we found out later after they left the office. I wish I knew more info of the kind etc. Your words gives me hope and it will her as well when I read these messages. Thanks for the prayers for us. We are trying to take care the best we can and be strong. Bless you and continued wellness wishes your way prayers

KH

AmyQ

Thank you KH - I'll say a prayer for both of you tonight.

Amy

GoldenGirls

My mom's situation has been very similar to your mom's. In regards to change from 10 to 6, it might be that they've decided to give her a stronger dose of radiation in fewer sessions in hopes of relieving her pain faster. That was my mom's case in the beginning too. They opted to go stronger and faster because her pain was debilitating. She couldn't dress herself or even stand up without help by the time they figured out her cancer had metastasized. Within a few days of starting radiation she was almost back to her old self.

Hoping that your mom's pain resolves quickly.

Lovemymom69

Thanks Golden Girls (which by the way my mom's favorite show I do believe) that's what the doctor had talked about she could do more aggressive strobger treatments in 5 doses but she highly recommended 10 more gentle doses but it was up to mom and we all said the 10 doses and the doctor said that's great she said that's what I really feel is best and then all of a sudden 24 hours later they changed someone other than her doctor and the doctor went along with it which baffles us. Mom's pain is bad but she is only having troubles standing up herself from some chairs and laying in bed she is able to do other things pretty well most of the time. I don't know I wish they had explained when they knew 4 of us agreed with mom on 10 rather than 5 treatments including the doctor then the next day change it to 6 that would be nice to have been informed of the reasoning behind it to at least ease our minds some of why it's hard enough to deal with without questioning something like this. We aren't completely convinced of stronger and faster methods and either was the doctor in my mom's case. She said if my mom was older and more feeble she would go the shorter route. Ugh Cancer sucks! Thanks for sharing your mom's life with me. Best well wishes and prayers!

Lovemymom69

Thank you Amy prayers for you as well!