AboutClaes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. Expertise I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.
Experience I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden.
Question My sister was diagnosed today with inoperable lung cancer and bone cancer which had spread from breast cancer.
She had the breast removed 3 years ago and for the last several months had been complaining of severe back pain and chest pain. She was also quite breathless.
2 months ago she had a bone scan which she said was OK. Regarding her chest pain, her doctor kept telling her it was muscle pain and was probably from the breast removal.
I live in the USA and she lives in Scotland therefore it makes me very upset when the hospital won't tell me anything. I spoke to my sister and she said, "I am going to be eighty at the end of the year and we all have to go sometime".
I feel that she has given up on life after being told that she can't have any of the treatments for cancer apart from being given pain killers to dull the pain.
Can you give me any indication as to how long she may have to enjoy some quality of life?
You recently helped me in July and were right on the mark with your answer, my daughter died in August.
My brother also died in April.
If you can help me again, I would be truly grateful as I need to prepare myself to be strong once more.
Answer I'm sorry for your loss of your daughter and brother and for the condition of your sister! Unfortunately it is quite difficult to predict the clinical course of any cancer with any real precision. In most cases it is close to impossible. The only real exception is when you are dealing with very malignant brain tumors, they almost run like clock works. Cancers like patients are individuals not identical copies/clones. However in the case of your sister we are dealing with a stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her lungs and also to bones. Such a case is at present incurable. Hormonal therapy is often possible that may control the cancer even if not cure it but only if the cancer has hormonal receptors. If those are lacking such therapy is fruitless. Probably her breast cancer was checked for such receptors right after her surgery 3 years ago. Radiation therapy may be used too but it too can not cure her and not really control her cancer. Its main use would be against her bone lesions for local pain control. The only remaining method to perhaps be able to control her cancer would be chemotherapy. It has however side effects. If her drs. conclude that her condition is to frail to allow any chemotherapy and its side effects and at the age of 80 and with such an advanced cancer that is a distinct possibility, then that road too is closed. Unfortunately I think that this is the situation of your sister. Back to the prediction. As I have already mentioned such a prediction will unfortunately be most uncertain. But with the symptoms you have mentioned, especially her breathing problems, and at her age I think that her remaining life span can be measured in months at most, certainly not in years. But this is an educated guess. This is as close as I can come with the given information. Her hospital is by law forbidden to say anything to anyone without her written permission. Even to a sister. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!
P.S. I have tried to find your previous question but the only Tamara asking anything in July was asking about the abdominal tumor of a niece not a daughter. When exactly did you ask?
