Hi

[Abshobha2709]

Hi I m writing after a long time I m from India. I was detected Metastatic breast cancer stage 4 in November 2016 which had reached my vertibra 4, after taking 7 chemo and found my reports normal. Now doctor has asked to get operated. Can anyone suggest if I should go for surgery as doctor does not give guarantee that after surgery it will not reoccur

[Kats2]

Hi Abshobha,

When I was found to have bone mets including two compressed disks in the spine, I was NOT encouraged or told that I needed surgery. None of the vertebrae were pinching on my spinal cord which would cause excruciating pain!

I was told that bone strengtheners like Zometa or Xgeva would help my bones and also the different cancer medicines that are available for my type of breast cancer would help heal the fractures that I had there and in other places like my ribs and pelvis.

My Oncologist referred me to a Radiologist who agreed that I approach the situation with the bone strengtheners and drugs for bone mets.

Spinal surgery is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs! If you don’t have unbearable pain, do NOT be operated on!! You could end up being paralyzed!

You need to get another doctor’s opinion on this. Maybe even see an Oncology surgeon and see what he/ she has to say about the matter. Have them show you the x-rays of your back and show you what is going on so that you can understand the whole picture.

Do NOT have any drastic procedure done on your back if it’s not absolutely necessary. If you can walk, that’s a good sign. You’ll probably need pain medication to help you as you get either Zometa infusions or Xgeva shots to help heal your bones. Are you getting this now? If not, then it’stime to find another Oncologist! Surgery is not the only way to go.

I get Zometa. At first it was every month for 2 years. Now it’s every 3 months. It’s helped me a lot,

How would having back surgery stop your cancer from recurring? You need to ask this question. Is your doctor talking about removing some of your vertebrae?? Once you are Stage 4, you can be treated but not cured. So surgery may not be the right thing to have. Your cancer has to be “managed.”

Get more opinions about this. If your cancer is in your spine, this can be treated without surgery. It is for me.

But if you can’t walk and are in horrible pain, I would ask about having that area radiated to see if it would help. Lots of women on this site have had radiation to certain areas of their bodies to help stop the cancer from progressing and to help stop pain.

I would see a Radiologist first before having someone operate on my back! Ask your Oncologist for a referral to a Radiologist.

I hope this has helped you. Kats2

[Abshobha2709 in reply to Kats2]

Hi thanks for a quick reply. No surgery on vertibra. Doctor has asked for mastactomy removal of breast. Also I m taking bone strengthing injection every month. Already I have taken 12 now every 3 months I have to take one. As it has reached bones surgery was not advised earlier and now the pet scan report shows normal without any malignant cells but doctor does not give guarantee that it will reoccur again

[Kats2 in reply to Abshobha2709]

Abshobha2709,

There is NO guarantee with cancer or if it will reoccur in the future.

You will need to be under an Oncologist’s care pretty much for the rest of your life, having bloodwork done and scans or x-rays periodically. You will also have to be on some type of cancer drug. What are they giving you right now besides the chemo you had? Are you taking Arimidex or Tamoxifen or something else? You need to be on medicine for many years.

Has your Oncologist mentioned radiation of your spine or breast and lymph nodes? They say that that helps kill any microscopic cells that remain in your body.

Having a mastectomy when it is already known that your cancer has spread to other parts of your body, in your case, the bones, is debatable. Removing your breast when the cancer has already left it, needs to be discussed with your Oncologist or more than one Oncologist. How about having a lumpectomy? Please see another doctor to get more opinions about this,

I’m glad you’re not having surgery to your spine! Perhaps I got mixed up when I read your post about having surgery. I think you meant a mastectomy and not spinal surgery.

I’m happy that your Pet scan came out good. You will need to still have scans done as time goes by, like maybe every 6 months or so,

Do you know what type of BC you have? Is it ductal? Lobular? Are you Est+ and Her2+ or -? This is important to know. Your treatment plan is based on this information. If you have your Pathology report, it’s written in there. If you don’t have this report, ask for a copy of it at your Oncologists office. And ask your Oncologist about what type of BC you have.

Get and keep ALL bloodwork reports and scan reports. Put them in a file at your house. You may need them to look over or to show other doctors that you see in the future.

I wouldn’t rely on just ONE Oncologist to make important decisions concerning your breast cancer. The fact that you’re asking whether you should have surgery or not means that you DEFINITELY need to consult with at least another Oncologist about this matter. Make an appointment soon! Don’t take this matter lightly. Your life is what’s at stake.

( I’ve talked to 2 other Oncologists from good hospitals about my condition. I’m glad I did. They communicated with my current Oncologist and gave their recommendations. He was grateful for their input.) It will put you at ease too.

Good luck!!! Kats2

[Abshobha2709 in reply to Kats2]

Thanks kats I m meeting my oncologist tomorrow will update u. As per the diagnosis it is mentioned as Metastatic CA right breast. My ER & PR is positive and HER is negative

[Kats2 in reply to Abshobha2709]

Ok. Thanks and good luck at the Oncologist’s. Let us know how you make out there. Kats2

[BklynCatwoman]

Perhaps get a second opinion. Although doctors can never guarantee anything, if surgery increases your chance of not having a recurrence, it is usually a good bet. In the US, often they do chemo to shrink the mass, then do surgery, to give a lower recurrence rate. Also, it has to be considered what is the state of the cancer of your vertebra? Is it also undetectable. These are very personal decisions. I was diagnosed in Stage 1 and opted for the most aggressive treatment (mastectomy then chemotherapy). But everyone is different and every cancer is different. The best of luck to you.

[Abshobha2709 in reply to BklynCatwoman]

Thanks will take second opinion. Also my medical oncologist has asked for the pet scan in November after the reports we will decide.