Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 7/26/2010

Question
My mother is 62 yo and had a mastectomy in 04. Then again in 09 she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the other breast. Both breasts have been removed however her 2nd cancer was very agressive and had mastesized. She done chemo treatments for both. She did radiation treatments for the last cancer and just got through with them. Her arm started swelling so they did a ct of her arm and part of her neck. They found lesions in the back of the brain and ordered a mri. There were 5 spots found on her brain. They waited 3 months and did another mri where they found one of the spots to be 7 cm.  and there were more spots all over the brain. The dr wanted her to do 10 treatments of radiation and go from there. Can you tell me what her prognosis may be or what path we should take? They are also talking about doing chemo in the spine. What does that entail?

Answer
I'm sorry to read about her - and your - problems! Since her breast cancer has spread to her brain - another organ - it must now be considered a stage 4 breast cancer which at present is incurable and probably eventually fatal since her brain is involved. Her survival time can be extended by radiation therapy of her brain (maybe also of her spine since if in the back of her brain also her spinal cord and spinal canal may be involved). For the same reason chemo therapy of the spinal canal can be done by injecting chemotherapy drugs into her cerebrpspinal fluid in her spinal canal (the possibilities of reaching her central nervous system with such drugs to a sufficient level in other ways are unfortunately limited due to what is called the blood brain barrier). Even with such treatment however her survival time can probably be measured in months rather than years. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!




You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128     There is no restriction to the number of questions there.