Hi, this is on behalf of my wife Janet,
She had breast cancer about 8 years ago, had lumpectomy and radiotherapy, and two years ago, diagnosed with bone cancer, she has a bone infusion every 28days, and is generally keeping ok.
Recently she has had pains in the same breast the original cancer was detected, telling the oncologist, he never offered examination, but said if it got worse or mor uncomfortable, they may alter her treatment?
I’d have hoped he would offer some sort of scan, but to me it felt like " your terminally ill with secondary bone cancer, so the return of your breast cancer is the least of your worries"
Pardon my negativity, but I’ve had good reason to feel that she’s been classed as a lost cause.
Can anyone advise what we should be doing?
She feels that a trip to the doctor will result in a referral to the Brest unit, they in turn would perhaps offer surgery if cancer has returned, but she doesn’t really know what she wants, needs or expects?
We don’t have a dedicated Macmillan nurse, a she feels able to look after herself without aid.
I suggested this site or her, if not just to listen to others in the same situation.
Hi and welcome to the BCC discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for some good, honest support from the many informed users of this site who I am sure will be along soon to help.
In the meantime could I suggest you give our helpline team a ring and talk to the them about your concerns, they’re here to support both yourself and your wife through this. Calls are free 0808 800 6000 lines open weekdays 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2.
Take care,
Jo, Moderator
Hi husband of Janet / Janet,
I cannot talk from direct experience re secondaries, but feel for you and your wife’s situation. Purely based on you saying your wife doesn’t know what she wants, needs or expects I would have thought asking for the referral to the breast unit would be a good way of finding out more to enable your wife to have a better idea as to the condition of her breast and if any cancer has returned there, what the options would be in the context of her overall health and the bone sec’s, and therefore place her in a better position to make informed decisions. If it turns out there isn’t anything additional they can offer then surely it may help over the coming months knowing that you and she tried and did check out if there were any options.
I’m sure others better placed to share experience will post. If you feel you are being fobbed off you could always ask for a second opinion from another oncologist too.
I hope your wife can obtain the additional info it seems she needs,
Seabreeze
Hi husband of Janet!
Sorry you’ve not had many replies and I have only just seen this having been away on holiday for a few days.
I would suggest that you speak again with her oncologist and request a scan, I don’t think they can refuse you but some oncologists seem to be reluctant to scan, goodness knows why, it’s not like we want to be scanned. As she has got some increased pain it may be worth playing this up a bit? However if there does seem to be something amiss, after a scan, it would also be worth asking for a biopsy, which they would probably do anyway. This could determine if her receptor status has changed from her primary and secondary diagnosis and therefore a different treatment would be offered. I have experience of this as I was HER2- for my primary and original secondary (bone) diagnosis but changed to HER2+ after developing liver mets some two years ago which is when I also had increased pain in my bones and why I insisted on scans even though my very understanding onc didn’t think there would be anything to be seen. He was more gob smacked than I was when liver mets were found, which is saying something. I have now gone onto Herceptin and Perjeta treatment which I wouldn’t have been offered if no biopsy had been done. Definitely keep pushing though or ask for a second opinion, we are all entitled to one.
Nicky x