Recurrence - Malignant Pleural Effusion Triple Negative

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KOH
KOH Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hello, I'm writing on behalf of my 36yo sister. Looking for some stories of others doing well in a similar situation. She was originally diagnosed around 4 years ago with stage 3 hormone receptive breast cancer - tumor in one breast and detected in some nodes. She underwent a double mastectomy, 6mths of chemo and 3mths of radiation and has been on tamoxifen since treatment. She has generally been in good health until just before Christmas (Dec 2013) she suffered chest cold symptoms and was diagnosed with malignant pleural effusion in the lung on the side of the original breast cancer. These cancer cells are now triple negative. She has had her bones and other major organs scanned and there are no actual tumors apparent - just the cancer cells in the pleura. She has been recommended to have surgery to close the pleural cavity and chemo with a combo of 2 drugs (not sure which) as obviously the hormone treatments are no longer an option. Everything I've read about malignant pleural effusion has a poor prognosis. Is there anyone who has been in this situation and is doing okay? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.

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  • LovieLovie
    LovieLovie Member Posts: 68
    edited January 2014

    What a loving sister you are mgc!  I have a similar story minus the surgery and that  mine was triple negative initially.  My pleural effusion (between the chest wall & lung) was shrunk with chemo only. I was given Gemzar & Carboplatin initially with not a great response so I was put on Irrenotecan & a low dose of Cisplatin with a great response. Everyones body reacts differently but the Dr. should have plenty of options for her.  Sorry that she has to go through this again...sounds like she has great support.       

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