My mom died of stage 4 breast cancer almost two months ago. She was diagnosed over 3 years ago.
2006-11-07 13:57:55 · 8 answers · asked by hrmom02 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Yes, it is. With stage IV breast cancer the choice of chemotherapy treatment depends on the patient's goal of treatment. If the goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life, it may be more desirable to select a chemotherapy treatment with minimal side effects. On the other hand, if the goal of treatment is to attempt to cure the cancer, treatment with more aggressive chemotherapy regimens is opted. Either way, all the new advanced drug therapies have recorded average survival rates of fewer than 24 months—so your mom sure had a passion for life! Here are some recent trial findings:
ET (Ellence® (epirubicin) and Taxotere® (docetaxel)): In a randomized clinical trial comparing ET to FEC (fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide) as first-line therapy for stage IV breast cancer, the response rate to ET was 63%, compared to 31% for FEC. The average time to cancer progression was 8.6 months for patients treated with ET, compared to 6.1 months for patients treated with FEC.
TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide): In an attempt to further improve treatment, a third drug has been added to the combination of doxorubicin and docetaxel and evaluated as initial treatment for patients with stage IV breast cancer. Two years following treatment, nearly 60% of patients were still alive. The average survival had not yet been established past two years following treatment.
AT (doxorubicin and paclitaxel): A recent clinical trial evaluated the use of AT in patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients received AT or a common chemotherapy combination consisting of fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC). The results of the two groups were then directly compared. The average survival time was 23.3 months for patients receiving AT versus 18.3 months for patients receiving FAC.
Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Xeloda® (capecitabine): Researchers conducted a clinical trial to directly compare docetaxel plus capecitabine to docetaxel alone in the treatment of patients with stage IV breast cancer. Patients who received treatment with docetaxel/capecitabine were more likely to experience anti-cancer responses, have a longer time to cancer progression and survive longer when compared to patients treated with docetaxel alone. One year following therapy, 57% of patients treated with docetaxel/capecitabine had survived, compared to only 47% of patients treated with docetaxel alone.
Gemzar® (gemcitabine): Recently, clinical trials indicated that gemcitabine and paclitaxel is an effective treatment option for initial therapy of stage IV breast cancer. In one trial, researchers from France treated 36 patients with stage IV breast cancer or locally advanced breast cancer with gemcitabine and paclitaxel. Following therapy, approximately 42% of patients had an anti-cancer response. The average time to cancer progression was approximately 7.5 months.
2006-11-07 19:45:14 · answer #1 · answered by LUCKY3 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about your loss. Yes it is. My step-mother had stage 4 and she lived about 9 months I believe. Your mother was definitely a fighter.
2006-11-08 01:05:49 · answer #2 · answered by Dana A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stage 4 usually lasts less than one year. I have heard of one person who actually beat it-more than 5 years out. They told her she was a walking miracle though. I am sorry for your loss.
2006-11-08 04:08:43 · answer #3 · answered by catzrme 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so sorry to hear that. but yes i do think three years is a long time. my grandmother died not too long after she was in stage 4 she even had a mastectomy but it just spread so quickly.
2006-11-07 14:04:36 · answer #4 · answered by missaboo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is good.. im sorry to hear about your loss... butt at the same time ur mom is a survivor.. she lived three years.... stage four is bad..... my aunt lived for 6 months stage four... very strong women your mom!
2006-11-07 14:00:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry about losing your mom. I lost my mom recently to the same disease. She wasn't as lucky as your mom, though, in how long she survived. Your mom must have been quite a fighter. That makes the biggest difference in holding on to life. It's very different for each person.
2006-11-07 14:08:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
definately
2006-11-07 14:05:15 · answer #7 · answered by pponiatow 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES OH MY GOD YOUR GOING TO DIE VERY SOON ILL PRAY FO YOU
2006-11-07 14:00:20 · answer #8 · answered by Kim 1 · 0⤊ 9⤋