Question: After 2 years fighting breast cancer my wife has just been diagnosed with a
tumour in her sternum. I believe that when breast cancer spreads to the
bones, there is no realistic chance of a cure and average life expectancy is
around a couple of years.
I am wondering what will happen over the next couple of years. How will the
illness progress? She is fit and active now but for how long? How long till
she will be bed ridden and needing nursing care or hospitalisation? Most
worryingly, I understand that bone cancer can be very painful. My wife does
not tolerate morphine well. It makes her vomit. Are there other pain
killers that can effectively deal with bone pain?
Answer:i'm 38 yrs old and was diagnosed with stage 4 last october. i have dozens
of bone mets (and some in my lungs, liver and kidney). in my opinion, if
your wife is strong and still healthy (as much as she can be), then she will
probably fare well. i'm doing pretty well myself. this is her first bone
met, and it can possibly be treated with radiation if neccesary.
my question would be what kind of treatment is she receiving presently? is
she still on treatment? if not, resuming treatment may shrink that new
tumor and help prevent new ones from forming.
i too am on zometa which has helped to heal many of my bone tumors. yes, it
can be painful. i take oxycodone and/or darvocet for the pain and i also
have nasea problems on occasion from those pain meds. there are drugs to
help control nausea if she needs them. unfortunately, the opiate family of
pain meds are probably the most effective form of prescription pain control.
but don't rule out the possiblity of accupuncture and other non- drug forms
of pain control.
my best advice to you would be to try not to look at the end yet. it could
be very far off still. it would seem a waste of time now to focus on what
may happen in the future. just try your best to help her manage her current
situation and enjoy what you do have now. later will take care of itself.
she still has time - and good time at that. even very advanced breast
cancer can be treated as a chronic disease for years. you never know what's
coming down the pipeline in a year or two - there are many very promising
breakthroughs, and only more to come. you never know - we might get lucky.
till then, hang in there and try to enjoy life as much as you can.
good luck.
