what if she can't handle chemo?

empresscat
empresscat Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
What happens if she's not strong enough to handle the chemo?

My mom, who is 54, has mets in both lungs, and in the ribs. (Her original cancer was almost 10 years ago.) She's HER2 positive.

She has been in the hospital 6 weeks now (went in with pneumonia, and that's when they found the nodules in the lings,) has been on and off and is now back on a venitlator. Her blood oxygen saturation level drops when she's not on the vent. She's started to have atrial fibrilation, and very low blood pressure. They wanted to give her a trach but can't operate while she's having the heart problems.

They started treatment (Herceptin, Taxotere, Paraplatin) after they took out the tube and got her off the life support - but that's when she started having the heart problems, and ended back up on the machines.

I can find information on prognosis for women who are getting chemo... but no information on what to expect if she isn't. She may not be strong enough for the chemo. It may have been a trigger for her increase of fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath, heart arrythmia. At any rate, while she has these problems, they can't continue her chemo. She missed her second dose of Herceptin, because that was the day she was re-intubated...

I don't know whether to even hope that she will be able to come home.
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Comments

  • csp
    csp Member Posts: 2,765
    edited May 2006
    empresscat ,
    {{{Hugs}}} Sorry Mom and you are going through such a very hard time. Prayers going up for you and your Mother, she sounds like a fighter.

    Hugs,
    Carrie
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  • Terese
    Terese Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2006
    empresscat,
    I'm so sorry you and your mom have to go through this. I know how hard it is to watch someone you love suffer.

    My mom was recently diagnosed with mets too - in the spine, lungs, pleura, and apparently abdomen (I will find out more about this new discovery next week). Her initial BC was 9 years ago - she had a radical mastectomy.

    Try to go day by day. I know this is easier said than done! It's very difficult when you don't know what to expect.

    It is possible that your mom's fluid build up is cancer related - and not due to the chemo. As I said, take it day by day. It sounds as though your mom is in very compitent hands. My mom's oncologist, GI, and Pulmonary all think that her pleural effusion, ascites, and peripheral edema is a result of the metasteses.

    Don't give up hope - my prayers and thoughts are with you.
    Please update soon!

    Terese
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2006
    Hi empress,

    You are going through such a difficult time now.

    Know I am sending positive thoughts and love to both you and your mother.

    Gentle Hugssssssss
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  • cowgirl
    cowgirl Member Posts: 777
    edited May 2006
    Empress I am praying for you and your mom, it seems surreal that needs chemo but it is too sick to get it!

    Hugs to you both!
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