Good evening I am on the hunt for info, my mum has recently been diagnosed with secondry b.c. the c/t scan showed evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes in her chest wall and, neck, also areas of rib and spine and in the spleen, she has had very sore back and shoulder which eventually led to ultrasound which showed enlarged spleen so c/t scan to show why and the result was as I have said, she is on 2x50mls mprphine a day + liquid morphine inbetween. she has seen breast surgeon who said “there is nothing I can cut out, so I will refer you to onc” began her on the post men equivilant to tamoxifen (cant remember the name) and we are waiting to see onc. Mum had org dx in 2000 after routine mamogramme has WLE and radiotherapy + tamoxifen for 5 years…no problems til now I am concerned about the spleen…for those who have come accross me before you will know I have not long finished treatment for my second breast cancer I had original BC in 1997 mx/chemo/tam then last year I was dx in the other breast this time with ext lymphovascular invasion + spread to lymph nodes so I had 2 ops WLE + SNB then 3FEC + 3 TAX then MX!!! I am fed up with this disease it robbed my 2 children of their last summer hols now it looks like it will eat into this years!!! my 10 yr old son is autistic and confused and my little girl who is now 8 yrs old, said the other day out of the blue " mum…, Im afraid Grandma is going to die she just been not well for ages" we haven’t told her it’s BC …they have been through enough??? Any hope???
many thanks Jeanette
Hi Jeanette and welcome to the BCC forums
I am sorry to read that you and your Mum are going through such a difficult time,in addition to the peer support and shared experiences you will soon have here our helpliners are on hand to offer you further support and information on 0808 800 6000, lines are open 9-5 weekdays and 10-2 Saturdays
The following link will take you to the BCC secondaries information page where you will find more information and support ideas for both of you:
http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/secondaries
I hope this helps
Take care
Lucy BCC
Hi Jeanette (!)
Haven’t spoken for ages because have been having problems of my own.
I don’t know who have spread to the spleen, but with secondaries, operation is no longer the best option, specially with multiple secondaries:-(
For rib and spine (bone mets), bone strengthener is essential: e.g. IV Zometa or the tablets form. Or there’s a new drug, Denosumab injection. As for the rest, hopefully the hormornal treatment will work, otherwise it would be chemo.
Hope you still have my email and please contact me whenever you need it. Feel free to ask her to contact me personally. Speak soon and free feel to ask anything.
M xxx
thanks M, still nothing to report still waiting to see oncologist XXXX I am waiting until mondays post and if no appt I will ring the oncys sec to chase things up, It has now been over 4 weeks since DX and we are no futher forward with a treatment plan/stage/grade/prognosis etc, I think the not knowing is getting her down I know it is me!!! X J X