Our first Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer Video/Phone Discussion Group will be Thursday, September 6th at 1:30 pm EST.
Connect with different women with metastatic triple negative breast cancer as they discuss topics associated with this challenging diagnosis. The topics range from the fear of disease progression to the lack of viable treatment options. Join for the opportunity to share your experiences with women who have a similar understanding.
I've had bone mets for a very long time and have know a number of women with bone mets. I'm not dealing with a TNBC but the only thing done "differently" for bone mets compared to other location of mets is that we generally receive a bone strengthening med like Zometa or Xgeva. The good news about having bone mets is that since these meds have become standard treatment, we generally do not die from bone mets. Bone mets used to cause multiple fractures and patients would become bedridden eventually and die from pneumonia. That no longer happens. And it is thought that these meds help bone mets heal as well as strengthening the bones. As you have probably learned, the primary determining factor in deciding on treatment is how the cancers test for hormone and her 2neu receptors. With TNBC, there are not those receptors that can be targeted with meds like the anti-estrogens or herceptin etc. But chemo is often effective. You might also ask your onc about having Foundation One testing for other genetic factors in the cancer cells. That can help predict what is most likely to be effective for you. Do you have symptoms from the bone mets? Pain can often be taken care of with radiation or meds. And there are surgical procedures to support places in our skeletons..... not fun but better than not doing them. If you have just a couple or 3 metty spots, some oncs would even say that "cure" may be possible with stereotactic radiation. I don't know how realistic that is, but it sure sounds hopeful to me! (I've had "extensive" bone mets from the get go, in several vertebrae, pelvis, shoulder blade and rib, at least a dozen spots. But never any pain, lucky me!)
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