Just diagnosed with Stage 4 mets in Liver and Bone

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gigisjourney
gigisjourney Member Posts: 2
edited April 2015 in Just Diagnosed

My Mother-in-law was given the results of her PET scan today and she has mets in her liver and spine I am just learning about breast cancer and do not have her labs and left most of my information at her house so that I could come home and get on the computer to join this web site. I am not using all of the medical terminology at this point but I will add those tomorrow, I just wanted to vent tonight and also see what I could find out. OK this is how it started. Gigi had ductal breast cancer in 2011 and she had the the radiation beads implanted at that time but no chemo and no mastectomy. In 2012 she was diagnosed with a completely different type the doctor said it wasn't a re-occurrence of the first type as this was Lobular. She had a Left mastectomy, Chemo and radiation and tomoxifen that she continued on until 2 weeks ago. The entire process was horrible for her if there was a side effect, she had it, from thrush to c-diff, her skin peeling off in sheets to name a few. Since October of 2014 she has been feeling bad and has been to the doctor for several different things. In December she was diagnosed with a broken rib and since that time she has gone downhill. She told me that she knew the cancer had returned, Her doctor said he didn't think so and would not order a scan but did blood work and everything was OK. She was seeing the Oncologist every 3 months and he also said dhe was OK. 2 weeks ago she had to have an Ultrasound because she had been nauseated and having pain and the doctor thought that it was her Gall Bladder. The ultrasound tech saw the mass on her liver and sent her to the oncologist that day. That was the 15th of March. She had a Pet scan on the 26th and today we got the results and she has liver mets and spinal mets at the 6th thoracic vertebrae and they are waiting for the lab tests for the genotyping (I think that is what it is called) and the tests to tell exactly what kind it is. Since the 15th her Oncologist has left the practice for some reason and when we got to her appointment today there was a new Doctor there. She seems really a lot better than the other one she had but it's just a little unsetteling to have a new doctor at this point. Can anyone tell me what I can expect or any advice? She has 5 sons and one daughter who is not here at this time and she has asked me to be her caregiver, which I am honored to do but I need help knowing what to read, who to call what to do. Does anyone have any advise on where I should start.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2015

    Hi I am so sorry for Gigi, I had idc and ILC the same time same breast. Maybe having a new doctor is a good thing. I am sorry I don't know what to expect but I would demand that regular scans be done while she is doing treatment hopefully the mets can be dealt with. I would want a doctor that is very meticulous.

  • Upstreaming
    Upstreaming Member Posts: 27
    edited April 2015

    I'm sorry to hear this! But so glad you are ready to take this on.

    This site has lots of good, reliable information. Also, check out MBCN.org, where you can find this brochure, for you and Gigi: http://mbcn.org/images/uploads/LBBCGuideMBCNewlyDiagnosed12.pdf

    She may want to consider a second opinion at a NCI cancer center. In Missouri, that would be Siteman in St. Louis or University of Kansas in Kansas City. Often a local oncologist can work in concert with an out of town expert.

    Also, you can introduce yourself on the Caregivers of those with a Stage IV diagnosis forum and ask questions on the Stage IV website - there is a special thread for those who are not diagnosed and have questions.

    I have been helping a dear friend through her Stage IV journey with bone and liver mets for several years now, so feel free to message me with questions.

    And best wishes for you and Gigi - and your whole family.

    Lynne


     

  • new2bc
    new2bc Member Posts: 559
    edited April 2015

    Gigi must be very lucky to have a daughter in law like you in her life. Did the new doctor explain a new treatment plan for Gigi such as chemo? You can get a second opinion and see another oncologist to compare treatment plans. How old is Gigi and do you think she can handle chemo? Please update us with any new news. Take care of yourself and Gigi.

  • DC197
    DC197 Member Posts: 371
    edited April 2015

    Hi Gigisjourney,

    It's wonderful that you're supporting your mother-in-law in her journey.  As Upstreaming mentioned, there is a topic to help caregivers of stage IV.  I'm sure some of your questions will be answered there along with support for you and your mil.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/144

    ~~Diane

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