My sister has lost all hope

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Kerryk
Kerryk Member Posts: 1
edited June 2014 in Caring for Someone with Breast cancer

I am posting here because my sister has stage 4 breast cancer with mets to the liver and bones.She has developed ascites and had to have 1.6 liters of fluid drained.Her doctor started her on Adriamycin the other day.He did tell her that her condtion is very serious ,She was first diagnosed in 2005 with DCIS and had a masectomy.Tamoxifen did not agree with her so she didnt take it.Three years later she was diagnosed with mets to the bone.She continued to work and function fine.A few months ago.her bilirubin levels started to climb and she was diagnosed with mets to the liver.A recent scan also showed tiny brain lesions however her doctor said they were very small and he was not too concerned about that right now.He did not say she was going to pass right away but that they were no longer looking at years for her life expectancy.She knows she is very sick but she has always rallyied before and done ok.I am a nurse and know how serious liver damage can be but I still feel she shouldnt give up.She is so down and thinks she will die really soon.I was up all night reading your posts and found a lot of hope here.You all have a lot of courage and your posts have reallly touched me and  made me cry.Thank you for sharing your stories that gave me hope that I can share with her today.I will keep all of you in my prayers.I dont want to give any false hope but I want her to know she isnt alone and am trying to help her hang in there.Thank you so much

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  • TKSit
    TKSit Member Posts: 184
    edited August 2012

    First let me say how sorry I am that your sister has had a recurrence with mets. It is a serious situation and it is hard to keep hope alive. Tell her there are many chemo drugs that can get her liver to no evidence of disease and that people can live a long time now with bones mets. She is just going to have to get thru this chemo the best she can and it sounds like she has a wonderful support in you. I am always reading about new drugs, treatments, statistics, clinical trials and alternative meds that are really showing so much hope for cancer. There is a fine line between hope and denial, I said that to my onco the day he told me I was stage IV, but I have gone with hope since that day and I am at no evidence of disease! One thought, I have read some positive feedback on Abraxane (chemo) for liver mets. I had it myself 1xweek for 12 weeks and have had clear scans since. I did not have liver involvment, but onco said he had seen Abraxane get rid of liver mets. I know she is bombarded with all ths bad news, but I would like you to tell her a quote that I just read tonight. "When the world says to give up, Hope whispers "try one more time". You are both in my prayers tonight.

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  • Travelingpants2
    Travelingpants2 Member Posts: 545
    edited August 2012

    KerryK, besides the ascities, thats what we are going through to with my sister...she is 32..im older. We tend to just live one day at a time, and let each day do its own thing. Other wise, we would have a difficult time breathing let alone functioning...

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  • Summer_Girl
    Summer_Girl Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2012

    Survivor, what a dear sister you are; I KNOW having you for support means more than your sister could ever express.  I was recently diagnosed with PLCIS and DCIS; my sister flew in from Australia and supported me post surgery for two weeks.  She is the best sister (twin) in the world and it warms my heart and provides comfort just to know she is there for me. 

    The best thing you've done (ever) is just being there for her.

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