Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 2/25/2008

Question
Hi, my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 weeks ago. She had a biopsy and the tumor was found to be estrogen receptive. Her Bone Scan showed that the cancer had spread to her 7th rib and the CT Scan showed a small lesion in her lung, lymph nodes under armpit and lymph nodes in chest.

The oncologist said that cancer is controllable but not curable. She has to stay on hormone therapy for the rest of her life and cannot receive surgery as the oncologist said the wound wouldn't be able to heal as their is cancer cells in the chest. She also wont be receiving chemotherapy as the oncologist said the hormone therapy (tamoxifen) is as just as good.

Surely if the hormone therapy is stopping the cancer cells from surviving then surgery is an option? And is radiation not also an option for the other sites of cancer?

Is the tamoxifen stopping the lung and bone cancers from growing/spreading? Or is it only helping the breast tumor?

What do you think of the prognosis? Does it look like a bad outcome?

Thank you x

Answer
I agree that her cancer is not curable but controlable. But since I do not know her actual primary tumor status I do not understand why surgery is not possible. It may however be impossible if her primary tumor is very advanced. I suggest a second opinion. Nor do I understand why chemo therapy is not possible. Chemo therapy & hormonal therapy can be combined. However if this is a very advanced case her dr. may feel it is of no use. Radiation therapy should probably be possible. Since no cure is possible the long time prognosis is bad - but so it is for all of us.