Breast Cancer/How much chemo

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Expert: - 9/25/2006


Question
My wife has was diganosed with breast cancer, to the lung, 5 years ago.  This was 1 year after her original diganosis of breast cancer.  Five months ago it mestaized to her brain 3 small lesions were found.  She had 15 wbr's.  She is having her last treatments of chemo.  Dr. says there are no more left to try.  She has no energy and is always in pain.  She sleeps over 12 hours a day.  How much time do you think that she has lfet and do you think it would help for her to try an experimental chemo?  Myself I think she should work on quality of life at this time.

Answer
The best more chemo therapy can give her at this point in time is perhaps some prolonged survival time at the cost of all side effects. If she has not received radiation therapy to her brain before that can be given as an alternative, but apart from maybe somewhat less side effects it can not offer more. Without therapy she can survive maximum one year with this, probably much shorter! I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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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.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. 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.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

I also answer questions about Oncology (General Cancer), General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Colon Cancer

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I'm a medical doctor and specialist in medical oncology and radiation therapy.

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