Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 9/6/2009

Question
My mother found out she had breast cancer in March of 2008. Since then, they have done endless surgeries, a double mastectomy, and chemo therapy twice. I need a second opinion..With the first surgery, the removed the cancer tumors, but she was allergic to the stitches. She ended up with an open wound the size of a golf ball for nine months.So because of the wound the doctors couldn't do the radiology, well after the wound healed, they planned radiology. Until they found more cancer, that's when they did the double mastectomy. Even then they had to wait for radiology until she was recovered. By that time, the cancer had spread to her lungs and lymph-nodes and became stage four breast cancer. Now that that's all happened, her lungs keep filling up with fluid. The first time they tapped her left lung and got forty ounces of fluid. the second time they tapped both lungs and got two and a half liters of fluid out. (the fluid refilled her lungs within 6 days) She started new chemo therapy pills and the doctor said they would help. But so far there has been nothing. She can't go 5 minutes without her oxygen, and she can feel her lung filling up again. The doctors haven't really said much except for the fact that she has 2-5 years to live. I am just looking for a second opinion if you could help me get a better understanding.

Answer
Well, I'm sorry that your mother finds herself in this situation! And also that her family does the same! However I do not think we can only blame her treatment (or faults in it) for this situation. Probably her breast cancer is of a severely aggressive kind. If that is correct the prediction with regards to her survival time by her dr may turn out to be somewhat optimistic unfortunately. To check this further I would appreciate if you could let me read her pathology reports - if possible. If so you can copy them here. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!