Diagnosed with mets to sternum!

hugs to you Kate. That's a hell of a way to discuss treatment plan  a new dx like this can be scarey. There is a thread for younger sIV patients that you may find very helpful. A great group of intelligent and knowledgable women on these threads. I know the shock is overwhelming as I'm new to this sIV stuff however when your plan is in place you will start to feel more in control.  

If your cancer is hormone positive, there should be several non-chemo drugs available to you. 

I suggest a second opinion, maybe from a major cancer treatment hospital.

Keep us posted!

Kate, if radiation would be beneficial, yes, they can do it without harming your heart.  I had several inner mammary nodes lighting up with cancer during my initial PET scan last Oct.  Come last June, when I was ready to start my post-LX rads, my RO was very concerned that these nodes may not have been cleared by early chemo.  The nodes lie directly under the sternum and cannot be biopsied because of their location.  My RO who had spent his entire career practicing, teaching and researching rad therapies had recently left Shands and came up to Pensacola.  He devised a treatment using shallow beam electrons -- similar to boosts -- which could be calibrated to only reach just under the sternum to the nodes and not affect my esophagus or heart.  (I was also treated with typical whole-breast rads.)  A follow-up PET scan a month ago showed those nodes were clear.

I don't see why this can't be done to the sternum itself, which is even closer to the surface.  But I suppose it would depend if you would benefit from it to begin with.

Carol

Oh Kate, I am so sorry to hear this. I have no advice to offer - only can say that you are in my thoughts. Many, many hugs. 

Hi sorry to hear of your recurrence.I was Diagnosed with recurrence to the sternum as well, it will be 12 years this August since I had my Breast removed.Ihad aggressive   Chemo 8- rounds and 30 of Radiation.Found out in March 2- years ago it was back they told me first that 50% of my sternum was eaten( from cat scan) but after a pet scan it was less then that.Waited until August of the same year to get treatment again.It took so long because of all the appointments and cat scans ,pet scan ,biopsies etc. Radiologist said they couldn't radiate because of the heart and lungs will only do as last resort when I can no longer handle the pain,no surgery to big of an operation because  of the size and where it is at! I'am being treated with Letrozole (Femera) and an  Infusion drug called Aredia Used to to take calcium and bone Cancer which I get in Ambulatory care once a month! I return to the cancer clinic March 28.I have an indentation in my chest wall where the cancer is! Now I noticed the lump seems to be going up the top of where it was.They said they would keep an Eye on it! They told me their is no cure this time they are only going to try and extend my life! Hang in there and I hope you have a better diagnosis ( maybe your a great candidate for surgery!