cancer in bones?

Question

Ok well it started out breast cancer, plus 16-17 positive nodes..the ONC told me there was a strong chance the cancer would re-occur even though I was going through high amounts of chemo
Well last week I was told that a mass was found in my back and shoulder...they would be starting rads Monday and also continue my chemo treatment.
These mass' most likely mean that I am stage 4...but the doctor says Im not terminal...I thought stage 4 was terminal...I dont even know what questions to ask...or what to think
Anyone got good advice about what I should do or ask???

Answer 1

Stage 4 is not a death sentence. It is a way for the oncologist to know what treatment to use for your cancer. A stage 1 cancer is smaller and does not have the same type of treatment that a stage IV would have. That is what the stages mean . . they are to help determine treatment. Stage 4 also means the cancer is advanced and has spread from the original site, so yes, your cancer is now considered a stage 4. That does not mean it is untreatable.

What you need to be now, girl, is strong. I know how scary this all is and it is hard to think. Try to learn as much as you can about the disease . . so that you will understand the doctors when they talk to you . . and that you can help determine the path of your own treatment. If you are unable to do this research it is perfectly fine to ask someone (a relative or friend) to help you out . . and have them come to the doctors appointment with you to take notes or ask questions. A wonderful young lady with stage IV cancer once said this: "You have been given family and friends for a reason. Use them. Cancer is not a journey that you will battle alone. Granted, most of your family and friends won’t understand what you are going through, but a shoulder is still a shoulder and a hug is still a hug. -M.H."

Read as much as you can at the following sites:
NCI: Breast Cancer
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/breast

NCCN: Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients
http://www.nccn.org/patients/patient_gls/_english/_breast/contents.asp

Medline Plus: Breast Cancer
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer.html

ACS: Breast Cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2x.asp?sitearea=LRN&dt=5

Support Groups
Young Survival Coalition
http://www.youngsurvival.org/

ACOR: Breast Cancer Electronic Support Group
http://listserv.acor.org/archives/brca.html

Stay strong.

Answer 2

I know all of this seems to be very confusing, and depending on what one reads, something will lead you in one direction, and another article will make you think another thing. I will try to shed some light onto this topic as easily as I can for you.

All oncologists and physicians dealing with cancer use a staging book by the AJCC, currently we are using the 6th edition. By definition, Stage IV is defined as the following:
Any tumor, any size with at least one node present, and at least one distant site of metastisis or lesion located someplace other then the site of the primary disease.

You have said that you have 16-17 positive nodes. This would indicate the N or node portion of your staging. I am not sure as to the location, size, or histology (type) of tumor you have, but based on the above given information, you are clinically defined as a Stage IV.

Stage IV does not necessarily mean that you are terminal. I have treated plenty of patients that have had stage IV breast cancer and have been able to go into remission and had wonderful responses. A lot of this depends on the histology or type of breast cancer you have.

I would ask your physician to try and clear up some of these things for you. Here is what I suggest to my patients:
1. Ask for you physicians to all discuss your case openly before selecting a treatment. You also want a report from with a concise treatment plan from these physicians: Radiation Oncologist, Surgeon, and Medical Oncologist.
2. Find out what type of breast cancer you have.
3. Ask for a prognosis of your cancer and if you select the recommended treatment, what it is.
4. Find out if you are ER/PR positive or negative.
5. Ask if the did any Her2Nu testing.
6. Find out what chemotherapy regimn that you are on and what the pro's and con's are of it.
7. Ask the radiation oncologist if they have ordered a CT/PET scan, if so, are there any other areas of interest.
8. Ask about having a coordinator dedicated to your case for any questions or concerns you may have.
9. Ask if they feel if there might be a genetic link at all if you have children.

Answer 3

I was originally diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago and this year found multiple bone metastases (spine, rib, femur). Stage IV is still generally considered terminal but not necessarily immediately. I've had radiation to my spine and will now have chemo indefinitely. The radiation did slow the growth of the tumors in the area of the spine that was radiated but then the vertebra collapsed requiring surgery.

Most of the issues I've encountered have been with trying to work enough hours to maintain my benefits so that I can actually get treatment. So as a result, most of my questions have been around side effects, quality of life and capacity to work/raise my child.

The real questions should come from your personal life priorities. Do you need to work? Raise kids? Travel? and how will treatments fit in with everything else you have to do in your life. You may now require some form of treatment for the rest of your life. Knowing that treatment needs to be incorporated into daily life rather than tolerated until your life can resume creates different challenges.

PS/ don't let anyone minimize what you are going through with their trite advice to "be positive". Find a support group or network of people who actually are supportive. A resource I find to be helpful is the Young Survival Coalition chat board.

www.youngsurvival.org

Answer 4

Cancer is not necessarily governed by stages anymore.
Because it has migrated to other areas of the body they call that metastatic activity. Look at the mass' as the cancers inability to hide from you anymore. Again stages don't govern your life expectancy. My daughter is a radiation therapist for over ten years now and she says that many times the patient loses the will to fight because of the intensity of the treatments and the side effects. She says people who have a positive attitude have a better chance of defeating cancer. Instead of telling yourself that cancer is killing you call it a "health challenge" that you are defeating. Realize that there are people who do not have cancer that are going to die way before you. Do as suggested make a list of questions for your ONC no question is wrong. Read up on healthy eating and if you have a faith pray for healing, give thanks for your healing and live in your healing. And by all means whatever you go through with this SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF OR GET SOMEONE WHO WILL, TO HELP YOU.

Answer 5

There are issues which could make it illuminate different than maximum cancers. A test is ordinary in the previous surgical technique of this variety after maximum cancers. Why became is right now theory she had bone maximum cancers from in basic terms test outcomes? it could look her medical doctors have been leaping the gun in the event that they theory that, or became it that the kinfolk or your chum had that working by way of their minds, which may be time-honored to be petrified of as quickly as you have maximum cancers? Inconclusive would not recommend that they could't elect if it is maximum cancers or no longer, inconclusive ability the main cancers Markers for her maximum cancers and bone maximum cancers weren't helpful -- it is an particularly reliable factor, in basic terms like her kinfolk is, rightlfully, taking it as. The biopsy confirmed this. as far as lights up a test, something from inflamation to scar tissue can illuminate a test. Your chum's commonplace practitioner knew a test on my own in no longer honest for prognosis applications and did the biopsies to rule out maximum cancers. instinct isn't good, fantastically while it isn't the main cancers affected person's instinct.

Answer 6

The doc is right. You are not terminal. There are several types of stage 4. The worst type is when it spreads into liver and brain. The skin is no big deal.

Answer 7

Hi Hezzy. The questions you asked here are the questions to ask your doctor.

Make a list of all your questions/concerns and take the list with you. Be sure the doctor answers all of your questions to YOUR satisfaction. If you do not understand something, ask the doc to explain it until to you do understand.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 8

I agree that you should make a list. Don't be afraid to ask
your doctor questions.