My Mum ’s Breat Cancer Has Evolved Into Iv Stage. What Treatment Should We Opt For Now If Any?

8 Responses for "My Mum ’s Breat Cancer Has Evolved Into Iv Stage. What Treatment Should We Opt For Now If Any?"

1. Baby Backpack Carriers June 20th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

   I think that is up to Mum.

2. Susan S June 20th, 2009 at 5:08 pm

   allways fight never give up…In stage IV breast cancer, the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. Affected areas may include the bones, brain, lungs, or liver. Because multiple areas may be involved, focused treatments like surgery or radiation alone are not sufficient. So far, treatment of stage IV breast cancer does not provide a cure for the disease. By shrinking the cancer, treatment can slow down the disease, make you feel better, and let you live longer. Although patients with stage IV breast cancer may live for years, it is usually life-threatening at some point. Many factors influence this.
   Here are some of the standard treatments:
   Chemotherapy , or treatment with cancer drugs, is often the main treatment. It can slow down the growth of the cancer. Chemotherapy is often used in combination with hormone therapy or immunotherapy.
   Hormone therapy can be key for women with hormone receptor-positive cancers. These are cancers that need hormones to grow. Tamoxifen has been used to block the effects of estrogen for decades. But newer drugs, like the aromatase inhibitors Arimidex and Femara, and the aromatase inactivator Aromasin, also show great promise. They reduce the amount of estrogen your body makes. By cutting off the supply of estrogen, you can choke the cancer and slow it down. Women who haven’t reached menopause may consider having their ovaries removed to stop them from making hormones that help cancer grow.
   Biological therapy is a new approach. In about 25% of women with breast cancer, an excess of a protein known as HER2 makes the cancer spread quickly. Herceptin is a new drug that’s been approved to treat women with metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. It stops this protein from making the cancer cells grow. It may also boost your immune system, giving it the strength to fight the cancer itself. It is most often used in combination with chemotherapy.
   Clinical trials are open to many women with stage IV cancer. A clinical trial may allow you access to cutting-edge treatments. Many new therapies — new drugs, new treatments, and new combinations — are in clinical trials now. Keep in mind that any successful treatment we have now started out in a clinical trial.
   Surgery and radiation are used in some cases. These treatments aren’t used to cure the cancer. But they may help treat pain and other symptoms in areas where the cancer has spread.
   Other drugs may also help treat some of the side effects of breast cancer treatment, such as nausea, fatigue, and infections.

3. Tub Transfer Bench June 20th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

   wateva it is good

4. Fluorescent Grow Light June 20th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

   http://www.cancer.org
   or a dr

5. dwill604 June 21st, 2009 at 3:13 am

   As someone who has experienced breast cancer last year, you have my prayers and deepest empathy. Her oncologist should have the answer. I can not tell you since I do not know her tumor markers, whether she is estrogen positive or negative but I think they may go with Taxotere for stage IV, unless she has had that already. I was stage 2, but I have read alot about stage IV. Can I suggest a book to give to your mom to make her feel better? It is called Dear Cancer and is written by Laura Parisi King. The author had stage IV and it is well written and I guarantee it will make your mom cope and feel better. The best of luck to you both.

6. josievan June 21st, 2009 at 7:56 am

   No matter what she decides to do as far as treatment, make sure she is comforable and not suffering. If the treatment is worse than the disease itself, maybe it is time to stop the treatment. Pain control should be the main concern at this point. If she is suffering, tell her physician and if he does not offer excellent pain control get a second opinion.
   Hope that doesn’t sound cold and insensitive.
   Prayers and peace to your mother and family.

7. happydaw June 21st, 2009 at 12:09 pm

   cyberknife radiation. there are only a handful of drs certified to use the new machine but it helped my mom

8. ? June 21st, 2009 at 1:48 pm

   There are still treatments available at this stage. Please log on to http://www.cancer.org for more info. My prayers are with you.