jbcgal
03-30-2004, 01:02 PM
My grandma has just been diagnosed with cancer. It is in her bones on her spine. She survived breast cancer 15 years ago and they say this cancer stems from it, that it is a very slow growing kind. She also has many non-cancerous spots that they want to keep an eye on. I don't live near her and she isn't the type to ask many questions of her dr. She doesn't have to do chemo or radiation, but takes medication and has monthly injections. Her dr did tell my mom that this would not cure her cancer, only slow it down. I thought that since they weren't doing chemo/radiation, it probably meant that her cancer wasn't that bad. Now, I am not so sure. I wish I could be there with her so I could ask her doctor questions, I really would like to research her type of cancer. My question is, for those of you who know more about cancer than me, what does it generally mean when they don't do chemo/radiation? Is it because it is not that bad or that it's so bad that it wouldn't help anyway and why put them through all that? She has had back pain for almost 2 years now, I don't understand why her dr didn't do more rigorous testing on her considering her history. It took them a long time and much testing to find out she had it. I am not ready to lose my grandmother. Your help is very much appreciated.
Sponsor
SamQKitty
03-30-2004, 10:15 PM
It's difficult to figure out what's going on without more details, but I have some "educated" guesses.
The word "chemotherapy" usually refers to anti-cancer drugs that are given intravenously. It's possible that the medication and monthly injections your grandmother is taking is actually to treat the cancer. It appears that they've determined that this is breast cancer that has metastasized (spread), then they would be treating it with medications that are used to treat breast cancer. There are so many medications now to treat breast CA, and many of them are pills, and I've heard of monthly injections, too.
You may want to post on the Breast Cancer board as you might get more specific information there.
Ruth
The word "chemotherapy" usually refers to anti-cancer drugs that are given intravenously. It's possible that the medication and monthly injections your grandmother is taking is actually to treat the cancer. It appears that they've determined that this is breast cancer that has metastasized (spread), then they would be treating it with medications that are used to treat breast cancer. There are so many medications now to treat breast CA, and many of them are pills, and I've heard of monthly injections, too.
You may want to post on the Breast Cancer board as you might get more specific information there.
Ruth
Katyana
03-30-2004, 11:10 PM
Sweetie, I don't know how old you are, and it doesn't matter. Your grandma is lucky to have you as a grand child :)
Cancer is a terrible thing, and you're right, it's important to know certain things so you understand and can manage things in your own way. My mother died when I was a teenager. I didn't realize she was as sick as she was, and as a consequence I never got to tell her things that I kept meaning to. And I never had my chance to say good-bye to her. The only reason I'm answering this post for you, is so that you don't have that same regret.
Diagnosis of advanced breast cancer means that the cancer cells have metastasized (spread) outside of the breast to other parts of the body (such as lungs, liver, bones, brain) or to the lymph nodes that are not near the breast (such as those above the collarbone). When breast cancer does spread to other parts of the body, it is still called breast cancer. Advanced or metastatic breast cancer is referred to as Stage IV breast cancer.
Every woman is an individual and each situation is unique, treatment options may vary. However, treatment of Stage IV breast cancer generally involves systemic (whole body) treatment such as chemotherapy. Other treatment options may include additional surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy or use of other drugs which may provide symptom relief. Which treatment given to fight the disease depends on the person's physical condition, the progression of the disease, options available to the person and the doctors AND the person's own choice. No doctor can force a patient to receive a treatment she does not wish to have. In the case of your grandma, it sounds like the doctor is giving her hormones in order to slow down the rate of the cancer growth. The known chemotherapy's that we have these days aren't effective against cancer once it's spread to the bone. All the doctors can do is what is called comfort care. Hormones to slow down the growth, perhaps radiation in time if the tumors grow and start to affect the nerves and cause nerve related symptoms (which can happen when the cancer is in the spine) or lots of pain. But that's only to keep the person comfortable and as pain free as possible for as long as possible.
Women have more treatment options if their breast cancer is detected early, and their chances of survival are greater. In your grandma's case, her breast cancer was caught early and she was well beyond what is called the 5 year survival rate, and was considered "cured" and was cancer free for 15 years :). The cancer has now returned and is now considered "Advanced".
Although statistics show that, in general, women diagnosed with advanced (Stage IV) breast cancer have a low five-year survival rate, some women with advanced breast cancer live beyond five years and some much longer. New treatment alternatives, which may extend breast cancer survival, are available, and more are being developed and researched every day.
New treatments are being developed every day. The longer a person stays alive, the better their chances of staying alive long-term. Every woman—regardless of the stage of her breast cancer—should remember that she is an individual, NOT a statistic.
It doesn't look good for your grandma, and I suspect she knows this, and I also suspect that she hasn't told anyone for a reason. When she's ready for people to know what the doctor talked to her about, she will tell you all. I imagine that she's in a bit of shock having heard the diagnosis.
In the meantime, just be there for her. Love her. Be natural around her. Don't treat her like she's dying. We all die one day, it's just a matter of when and how. She's still alive, and she loves you all very much. Just love her in return, and tell her that often :)
My grandma has just been diagnosed with cancer. It is in her bones on her spine. She survived breast cancer 15 years ago and they say this cancer stems from it, that it is a very slow growing kind. She also has many non-cancerous spots that they want to keep an eye on. I don't live near her and she isn't the type to ask many questions of her dr. She doesn't have to do chemo or radiation, but takes medication and has monthly injections. Her dr did tell my mom that this would not cure her cancer, only slow it down. I thought that since they weren't doing chemo/radiation, it probably meant that her cancer wasn't that bad. Now, I am not so sure. I wish I could be there with her so I could ask her doctor questions, I really would like to research her type of cancer. My question is, for those of you who know more about cancer than me, what does it generally mean when they don't do chemo/radiation? Is it because it is not that bad or that it's so bad that it wouldn't help anyway and why put them through all that? She has had back pain for almost 2 years now, I don't understand why her dr didn't do more rigorous testing on her considering her history. It took them a long time and much testing to find out she had it. I am not ready to lose my grandmother. Your help is very much appreciated.
Cancer is a terrible thing, and you're right, it's important to know certain things so you understand and can manage things in your own way. My mother died when I was a teenager. I didn't realize she was as sick as she was, and as a consequence I never got to tell her things that I kept meaning to. And I never had my chance to say good-bye to her. The only reason I'm answering this post for you, is so that you don't have that same regret.
Diagnosis of advanced breast cancer means that the cancer cells have metastasized (spread) outside of the breast to other parts of the body (such as lungs, liver, bones, brain) or to the lymph nodes that are not near the breast (such as those above the collarbone). When breast cancer does spread to other parts of the body, it is still called breast cancer. Advanced or metastatic breast cancer is referred to as Stage IV breast cancer.
Every woman is an individual and each situation is unique, treatment options may vary. However, treatment of Stage IV breast cancer generally involves systemic (whole body) treatment such as chemotherapy. Other treatment options may include additional surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy or use of other drugs which may provide symptom relief. Which treatment given to fight the disease depends on the person's physical condition, the progression of the disease, options available to the person and the doctors AND the person's own choice. No doctor can force a patient to receive a treatment she does not wish to have. In the case of your grandma, it sounds like the doctor is giving her hormones in order to slow down the rate of the cancer growth. The known chemotherapy's that we have these days aren't effective against cancer once it's spread to the bone. All the doctors can do is what is called comfort care. Hormones to slow down the growth, perhaps radiation in time if the tumors grow and start to affect the nerves and cause nerve related symptoms (which can happen when the cancer is in the spine) or lots of pain. But that's only to keep the person comfortable and as pain free as possible for as long as possible.
Women have more treatment options if their breast cancer is detected early, and their chances of survival are greater. In your grandma's case, her breast cancer was caught early and she was well beyond what is called the 5 year survival rate, and was considered "cured" and was cancer free for 15 years :). The cancer has now returned and is now considered "Advanced".
Although statistics show that, in general, women diagnosed with advanced (Stage IV) breast cancer have a low five-year survival rate, some women with advanced breast cancer live beyond five years and some much longer. New treatment alternatives, which may extend breast cancer survival, are available, and more are being developed and researched every day.
New treatments are being developed every day. The longer a person stays alive, the better their chances of staying alive long-term. Every woman—regardless of the stage of her breast cancer—should remember that she is an individual, NOT a statistic.
It doesn't look good for your grandma, and I suspect she knows this, and I also suspect that she hasn't told anyone for a reason. When she's ready for people to know what the doctor talked to her about, she will tell you all. I imagine that she's in a bit of shock having heard the diagnosis.
In the meantime, just be there for her. Love her. Be natural around her. Don't treat her like she's dying. We all die one day, it's just a matter of when and how. She's still alive, and she loves you all very much. Just love her in return, and tell her that often :)
My grandma has just been diagnosed with cancer. It is in her bones on her spine. She survived breast cancer 15 years ago and they say this cancer stems from it, that it is a very slow growing kind. She also has many non-cancerous spots that they want to keep an eye on. I don't live near her and she isn't the type to ask many questions of her dr. She doesn't have to do chemo or radiation, but takes medication and has monthly injections. Her dr did tell my mom that this would not cure her cancer, only slow it down. I thought that since they weren't doing chemo/radiation, it probably meant that her cancer wasn't that bad. Now, I am not so sure. I wish I could be there with her so I could ask her doctor questions, I really would like to research her type of cancer. My question is, for those of you who know more about cancer than me, what does it generally mean when they don't do chemo/radiation? Is it because it is not that bad or that it's so bad that it wouldn't help anyway and why put them through all that? She has had back pain for almost 2 years now, I don't understand why her dr didn't do more rigorous testing on her considering her history. It took them a long time and much testing to find out she had it. I am not ready to lose my grandmother. Your help is very much appreciated.
jbcgal
03-31-2004, 09:05 AM
Thank you so much for all your information, you confirmed what I suspected. I honestly don't think my grandma knows much more than what she told, my mom went with her to the dr. They both are the type that doesn't want to know bad news, so they don't ask. It drives me crazy, I would go in there with an entire page of questions. Both my grandma and my aunt had breast cancer, so my mother thinks she is doomed to get it too, but thankfully, she does make sure she gets her mammograms so if she does it will be detetcted early. I really appreciate your kind words. It's just hard for me because I live so far away from my family and I wish I could be there for my grandmother. We have always been very close (I am 32, by the way). It will break my heart if I am not able to be there to help take care of her if she gets really sick. It will be hard knowing she probably doesn't have much time left, so I will definitely make the best of what time we do have together. Thank you.