A friend who had BC in her right breast 20 years ago has just been diagnosed with Met BC (from a biopsy of a left rib following a period of unexplained rib pain.) It is not in her lungs or liver and she will be having a brain scan to make sure it is not there as she's been having the odd headache recently ... fingers crossed it is not there.She apparently won't be doing chemo - but is on a Hormone Blocking Drug (possibly Anastrozole) and there is talk of radiation at some stage.She is not up with computers, so thought I'd put the odd questions past you for your opinion .....The Mammogram/UltraSound has shown a lesion in the right breast again - but at this point the boffins have not suggested a biopsy (or removal) which I thought was a bit strange? We both thought at least a biopsy would be offered .... are we over-reacting? Has this happened to any of you? Is it normal? Would you request a biopsy even if the Specialist hasn't offered it?Some of my own history - I was diagnosed with BC in early Jan, had surgery mid Jan & radiation for 4 weeks leading up to Easter. I've just started Letrozole 2 days ago.

Well I'd be asking again as a friend of mine recently diagnosed with Es+ mets (8 years aftet first bc) with her workup was discovered to have a new primary of her other breast. This was treated as any other. ..and the biopsy showed her2+. So she is undergoing standard treatment for that but will continue with her mets plan also.

Good news ... my buddy is coping better just now - and apparently, with the medication she is on - her condition has stabilised & she is not in pain - so that is TERRIFIC!! She'll be having another MRI & other tests to reconfirm everything - but right now, things are looking better for her, just now. I am SO happy for her & her family!

I’m guessing that because a bone biopsy was taken,they don’t need a breast biopsy but your friend should ask her specialist. However,if it was me,I’d want a breast biopsy incase the pathology was different to the bone pathology.Or it may not even be a breast cancer but I’d like to know unless my doctor gave me good reasons otherwise.

I have it in my bones and a few other places and am on Ribociclib plus letrozole and denosumab , I had a biopsy when they put the pin in my leg, which means they don't need to test the others and no mention of surgery to remove any of the other tumours, the combination is shrinking the tumours so far.

Hi @arpie when I was diagnosed my oncologist put me straight on hormone med. to block oestrogen. No chemo, radio. or operations. He did do a biopsy but said it was just a formality. He said the treatment was hopefully going to be effective and that the primary breast lump was not the priority, rather the areas where the cancer had spread. I have CT scans every 6 weeks and tumour markers checked every 2 weeks. He says as long as they are dropping or stay the same he is happy. I have now been put on ribociclib. My tumour markers have decreased so my body is responding well to the medication.

Friend diagnosed with Met BC ... not offered biopsy

arpie
Member
7 years ago
Good news ... my buddy is coping better just now - and apparently, with the medication she is on - her condition has stabilised & she is not in pain - so that is TERRIFIC!!

She'll be having another MRI & other tests to reconfirm everything - but right now, things are looking better for her, just now. I am SO happy for her & her family!
primek
Member
7 years ago
Such a sad time for your friend and her family. Having a son suffering with depression for at least 5 years (and 2 suicide attempts) I understand how they don't see it as a temporary problem, but an awful enduring illness with no hope of improvement.. I live in hope he finds happiness eventually but so far it's eluding him despite best efforts. He was such a happy child and adolescence changed his brain chemistry not for the better.

Glad to hear your friend is having the biopsy. She will at least know she is on right treatment. And bony mets...are very treatable (but can be very painful ...obviously)
Anonymous
7 years ago
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arpie
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @tigerbeth .... up til her grandson's death, she was going really well - she'd accepted that she 'had it' and that it was a slow growing one, and was happy NOT to do chemo - and happy to do the tablets .... but her grandson's passing has just floored her (and her husband.) :(

I just hope the results of the biopsy don't compound things further ... xx
tigerbeth
Member
7 years ago
So sad @arpie ,thoughts are with your friend xx
arpie
Member
7 years ago
Good news, my friend's rad onc made contact and she is to have the biopsy this Monday (just in case it is a different cancer than the Met BC.) She was really stressing out over it.

I can 'sort of' understand why they didn't offer it in the first place - I guess they reckon she'll be dying eventually of the bone mets - so why do a biopsy as well (tho they may not word it quite like that ....)

She's had a really horrible week this week - her teenage grandson (still at school) suicided last week & his funeral was yesterday. 500 attended his funeral (most being school friends) .... yet he felt 'alone' and unable to share his fears.

Her blood pressure has gone thru the roof & is now on valium to help her thru this horrible period of grieving - on top of her recent Met BC diagnosis.

I hope everyone knows that even in the depths of despair - there are family & friends out there to help you thru the troubles ..... it was heartbreaking to see the sorrow yesterday at this lovely young man's funeral.

Sadly, he chose a permanent solution for a temporary problem. :(
poodlejules
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @primek. Hope she's doing ok x
primek
Member
7 years ago
@poodlejules Yes she was on hormone blockers for 5 years. Her mets were found when she had appendicitis during the workup. She had no symptoms at that point. She was accepted into the ribociclib trial.
arpie
Member
7 years ago
Many thanks guys. I spoke with my buddy yesterday & after just one week on the tablets (ariadne or ariane or a similar female sounding name - she wasn't 100% sure of it ...) she is feeling like shit. It is making her feel nauseous, unstable on her feet & not at all comfortable with it - so was going to contact the Onc to see it that was normal after just a week ..... or if she is having an abnormal reaction to it & should be on something else.

They are going to Norfolk Island for a holiday at the end of the month (with the blessing of the Onc) ..... so I just hope she is well enough to do it!! :(

@Tilly45 Thank you so much for that information - I had thought that it could be the case - to treat the bone side of things rather than any actual lesion since found ..... great to hear that your Tumour Markers have decreased. Could I ask which Tablets you are on initially? How come you changed to Ribociclib? Are you seeing Begbie or Shakespeare? Begbie was in charge of my husband's chemo in 2010 when he had most of his stomach removed from cancer, then had lots of chemo as well.
poodlejules
Member
7 years ago
Hi @primek Just out of interest with your friend, was she on hormone blockers for 5 years with her first bout of BC? Ta, J