AGGRESSIVE CANCER

Friend2one

Hello I just wanted to know if anybody experience this or has advice on this subject. I have a friend that was diagnose with stage 3 cancer and now that she has gotten her final results. They are saying it is very aggressive and will eventually get the best of her. They are not recommending any surgeries just some new experimental options. This is very scary for her to go through with no hope at all. I am asking as a friend is there anything else she can do? Thanks for taking the time to read.

Kicks

When you say she's Stage III - is that from the path. reports after a mastectomy or lumpectomy? Or is that a suspected Stage from the biopsies? What type - IDC, ILC, IBC? The type is as important (or more so) that just the Stage. All BC is not the same.

A little more actual information would make it easier for replies. "New experimental options"?

Surgery is not always the first line of TX (treatment) as it once was. It has been the standard to do Chemo pre surgery for quite a while with IBC. Neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) Chemo is being used more now with other types (IDC, ILC) also to get a better surgical outcome.

She needs to get more info from her Drs if what you posted is all she knows. Even those who are Stage IV (metastatic/spread to other organs/bones) have options for TX and many are here for a lot of years!

Me - I'm IBC Stage IIIc. Was DXd (diagnosed) almost 8 yrs ago and still 'here' NED (No Evidence of Disease) and living/loving life.

How old is your friend and are there other preexisting health issues? Age and other health issues (if any) can come into play with TX options.

nayda985

when you say aggressive...is her tumor estrogen dependent...and is her tumor large? And is she stage 3 or stage 4?

I was diagnosed stage 3 IDC estrogen dependent tumor and it was large and also aggressive.the tumor was in my left breast and my left underarm lymph nodes..my oncologist/surgeon team recommended 5 months chemo(ACT)....to shrink the tumor..then afterward we did a MRI to see if it did indeed shrink and it did...we then did the surgery to talk out what was left of the tumor and some lymph nodes..i decided to do a double masectomy...after surgery It was recommended for me to do 30 radiation treatments because of how agressive my cancer was which I completed the end of May...now B/C of my age 35...I am on Arimidex(hormone blocking pill) and Zoladex injection..I am NED now for 4 months now.

Be strong for her...she needs you right now and throughout this whole thing...I don't understand why her team wouldn't have a plan for her...at my cancer center they have a tumor board which has all the Dr.s talk about your case and come up with a plan...I hope you both can get more information...never give up hope!!!

YATCOMW

Sounds like she needs a second opinion......Stage 3 is treatable......she certainly should be getting surgery.

I don't know too many people that had Stage 3 as bad as i had it and I am 13 years post diagnosis.

I would get her to a good cancer center quickly.

Jacqueline

MChid

The same thing happened to me the Dr told me that they could only prolong my life for 10 years...went to a new Dr. told them I wanted to fight and did. 9 months they told me I was cancer free. While I do not know all the details when you want to fight you find someone that is willing fight with yo

MinusTwo

Is she HER2+ ? Those are called aggressive cancers, but with Herception in the mix & chemo before surgery, it's a game changer. Where is your friend? Stage 3 is definitely treatable. We need lots more information to comment.

nayda985

I agree with everyone..she needs a second opinion...stage 3 is treatable.

Artista928

Agree with all of above. I don't know anyone who hasn't had removal of the tumour at stage 0-III, lumpectomy or mastectomy. I can't imagine it being ok left as is. Definitely get her to a breast cancer specialist. Sounds like who she saw is clueless, unless you mean stage IV. That's the only stage that just the info you provided may make sense as many stage IV folks don't do surgery.

lkc

absolutely agree with all of the above. second opinion is needed