Chemo will be a part of life... what does that mean?

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Velociraptor
Velociraptor Member Posts: 45
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi Ladies

My mom is just starting the "D" of FEC-D and looks like her mets are responding to the chemo so far. Taxotere is pretty hard on her. Just wondering... I've read a few people here say that Stage IV TNBC means chemo will be a part of their life... what exactly does that mean? How often should she expect to be on chemo? My mother, like each of you, is a strong vital active woman, and being so fatigued is really hard on her. She's a woman who liked to get down and play actively with her 5 grandkids. It makes me so sad to see her this way but I'm so happy the chemo is working so far. I keep telling her, if someone told you that putting up with a few months of extreme discomfort could mean you'd see your first grandkids grow into teens, would you do that? But I guess I want an expectation of how much chemo is going to be a part of her life. I also keep telling her what my boss (a family doc) always tells me - that breast cancer is a chronic disease, not a death sentence any more, and that it has to be managed like any other chronic disease. My mom has actually been repeating that to others now, which I see as a good sign... but like I said, my question is - how much will chemo be a part of her life?

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  • Luah
    Luah Member Posts: 1,541
    edited September 2012

    Velo: It's a tough question, and I don't think any of us are in a position to answer with any conviction. So much depends on the individual and her response to chemo regimes. It could be that FEC-D beats back your mother's mets and she is stable for some time, gaining back her strength... or if the disease progresses, her onc may decide to move her to another chemo regime.... which could be easier (or harder) on her. I'm sure you know that, despite what your boss said, BC can and does still cause death in numbers none of us wish were so. I expect her onc's goal is to manage her disease so as to give her as much quality and quantity of time as possible.... and let's hope it's a heck of a lot, and she gets to enjoy those up and coming teenagers! It's good the taxotere is working... it's known to be particularly on TN...so a good sign. 

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  • bottkota
    bottkota Member Posts: 285
    edited September 2012

    I have been on chemo for almost 3 years since mine came back....and even tho I currently am NED ( no evidence of disease) and have been for a year now...I am still on chemo. Since chemo is our only option for triple neg...she will brown some from of chemo for life. She will get breaks here and there to give your body a rest. It sucks....I am tired and sick more than well...but I make the most of everyday and try to make it to my kids' activities....I try not to let chemo rule my life.



    Cathi

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited October 2012

    My aunt developed mets in the summer of 2011. They gave her 6X taxotere and when they scanned her after the chemo, the mets were gone, NED in other words. She finished the chemo in December of '11, and just had a clean scan again recently. She and we all know that the bugger will be back one day, but for now she is well and able to lead her life happily and normally. So, although the chemo wasn't fun, it has so far bought her 9 months of good life.

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  • Velociraptor
    Velociraptor Member Posts: 45
    edited October 2012

    Thanks Momine. I really hope this is the deal w/my mom. I keep telling her, that if someone told you that you have to go thru 6 mos of pain but then have more years to live as a result, what would you say? And she agrees its a good thing... she's not at the point (yet) where quality of life is really plumetting. But there will be a point one day. I just hope its not for a long time.

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