Intubating someone with advanced BC

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Hi all,
my mum has secondary BC and is in hospital at the moment with breathing problems. No secondaries on her lungs but she has other health problems and has chronic obstructive airway disease.
The reason for my post is that after the “do you want to resuscitate” question (which incidently my mum answered yes to), the consultant said “OK but we don’t intubate people with cancer”. I accepted this at the time but now its preying on my mind as to why they don’t. If there’s a valid medical reason for this then I accept this but I can’t help thinking she’s getting different treatment because of her age (78) and because she has secondaries. My mum is very clear that she is not ready to leave us yet and is happy with her quality of life. She’s being treated with hormone therapy for her BC.
has anyone heard of this. ? Why would having breast cancer stop them putting a breathing tube down her airway?
mals x

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Hi Mals, welcome to the BCC forums

I am sorry to read that you have this worry about your Mum, please feel free to call our helpliners to talk your concerns through, lines are open 0808 800 6000 during the week 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2

You may find some of the following BCC ‘secondary breast cancer’ information useful via this link:

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/secondaries?utm\_source=Homepage&%3Butm\_medium=help\_you&%3Butm\_campaign=secondaries

Take care

Lucy

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Hi I don’t have an answer other than I agree with what you are saying if there is a valid reason that is one thing but you need to know the reasoning behind that decision.
I hope you get an answer soon that you and your mum are happy with.
June

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I agree with doodlecat. If a patient was terminally ill with the cancer eg 3 months or less to live, then I guess there may be a case to say no heroics. However, if her cancer was relatively stable, and she was “living with it” rather than “dying from it”, I think it is a dubious protocol to say “we don’t intubate people with cancer”, especially if it is the expressed wish of the patient (as well as the family) that full resuscitation measures are to be taken.

I certainly think that in your mother’s case it warrants further discussion. Perhaps the doctors need to speak with her oncologist?

I am sorry to hear you are all going through this difficult time.

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Thanks Morwenna doodle cat and Lucy,
im at the hospital now and just got round to reading your replies. They have found a mass on her thorax which looks suspicious. It could be lung mets or it could be lung cancer. If its secondaries her lettrozole should improve the situation, if its lung cancer there’s nothing they can do as she’s too ill for chemo or radio. They may be able to tell from the fluid taken from her lung. They talked about rescusitation again saying it would only prolong her life for a few days. Mum just changed the subject. I politely told them to drop the subject and let us absorb the info they had just told us. Until further notice her answer is the same. Her voice has gone and they said it won’t come back as its the mass pressing in the vocal nerve. I’m due to go back to the ward soon. From the way they are talking she hasn’t got long and I’m heartbroken. My sister is also waiting to see if her primary BC has returned after an MRI last week. Thanks for your messages. Helps to know there are people out there. Mals x

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Oh Mals, I’m so sorry. It sounds like a terribly sad and worrying time for you … and your sister too!
Our thoughts are with you. {{gentle hugs}}

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Thanks Morwenna x