Fiancee has Metastatic Triple-Negative BC to liver.

Caleedonia
Caleedonia Member Posts: 3
edited July 2016 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Hi,

We recently found out my fiancee (31 years old) has metastatic triple negative breast cancer to the liver (it was diagnosed at this stage so came as a complete shock to us and we feel like our world is falling apart).

She is currently undergoing weekly paclitaxel, initial blood shows a drop and her general health has improved a lot but we are yet to receive a scan to find out if the chemo has worked on shrinking/ containing the tumors.

Is there anybody on here who is going through/ has went through similar than can give us any positive stories of liver mets TNBC / advice on how I can help her and myself to care for her. I want to be there for her every step of the way but I am finding it difficult to to stay positive and I do not want to bring her down.

Thanks.

Caleedonia.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2016

    Dear Caleedonia,

    Welcome to the community. We are sorry for your fiancee's diagnosis but glad that you reached out here. She is lucky to have your support. While you are waiting for some responses here from other members, you also may want to check out the Forum for Caregivers of those with metastatic disease. You may find some support for yourself and information that will help you both. The MOds

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Gohan1983
    Gohan1983 Member Posts: 62
    edited July 2016

    You should be hopeful, beacuse the most agressive subtypes (BL1/2 and M) of TNBC tend to metastasize first to lung and/or brain. But, less agrresive molecular subtypes of TNBC could spread more often to liver or bone (like IM or LAR)

    BL1/2 - basal 1 and basal 2 (most often correlate with high grade IDC-NST histology)

    M - mesenchymal (metaplastic carcinomas)

    MSL - mesenchymal steam-like (metaplastic carcinomas, adenoid-cystic carcinoma)

    IM - immunomodulatory (invasive medullary carcinoma)

    LAR - luminal AR (IDC -NST, Invasive Pleomorphic Lobular Carcinoma)

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Caleedonia
    Caleedonia Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2016

    Thank you Gohan,


    I will look into the implications of this. We were not told specifics like that in her biopsy. I would note that 1.5 years ago she had no signs of a tumour (had scans as she had breast pain) and since then she has developed a 25mm tumour in her breast, which has spread to her lymph nodes under arm and into multiple small tumours on her liver. So I think no matter what sub type it is, there is no disputing is is aggressive.

    And thank you too Mods. I will look at that section.

    Caleedonia.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mominator
    Mominator Member Posts: 1,575
    edited July 2016

    Caleedonia, I'm so sorry for your fiancée's diagnosis. You have found a great website here. Be sure to check out the TN threads, and the Stage IV threads, which will have lots of information and support.

    Between caring for my mother and my friend (and researching options for myself), I found these books very helpful: Dr Susan Love's Breast Book and Breast Cancer Husband Book: How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) Through Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond by Marc Silver.

    Your family and friends will say "Let me know if you need anything." Start thinking about what you need and don't be afraid ask. People can't read our minds!

    One of the other moms at school set up a Meal Train for my friend (she has six children). Maybe you need help with rides to treatment, grocery shopping, or mowing the lawn. Let them know.

    All my best wishes for you and your fiancée. Mominator.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Caleedonia
    Caleedonia Member Posts: 3
    edited July 2016

    Hi Mominator,

    Thank you for your response.

    That must have been hard for you caring for others whilst also dealing with your own diagnosis. You seem like a strong and determined person and should be very proud of yourself.

    I will make sure to check they other threads. And I will look into those books at some point (although at the moment I am finding it very hard to concentrate on reading; and I usually read every day!). But I am sure these books will be helpful when I can finally get around to devoting some time to reading again, at the moment my previous interests just feel a bit meaningless, hopefully given a bit time that may change.Just now my only focus is my fiancee and I feel like I am wasting time doing other things. When she is not around i don't have the concentration span to do the things i usually like, I end up just sitting doing nothing or drinking alcohol which is obviously not the answer but it helps in the short term... It's all still new to me and I have never lost anyone close to me before so even though she is still very much here alive and kicking I have no past experience of dealing with emotional trauma like this so it is a bit overwhelming.

    Yes we have had a million offers, and I'm quite often lost for words and when people offer help my mind just goes blank. I may rely on these offers more further down the line, at the moment she seems to be in good spirits and health, so I hope the chemotherapy is working its magic although we haven't had a scan to confirm, but on the surface she appears to be 100 x better than she was on diagnosis anyway.... We are trying to plan a wedding as well so I may utilise some of the help towards that.


    Thank you for taking the time out to respond to me.


    Best wishes,


    Caleedonia.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories