Metastasized to...

[Annadm]

Hello sisters! I’m just curious where you breast cancer metastasized to? And I know it may sound stupid but any of you that it metastasized to the lungs still smoke if you were a smoker before? Peace and love to you all 💕 Basically, do you think smoking 2 cigarettes a day is wrong with Mets to lung and liver?

[AuntyJane]

Last summer (3rd reoccurance ) mets to both lungs. Largest nodule in right lung which is the side of my mastectomy. Right side is also where I had a mass by my collarbone during my 2nd reoccurance. I’ve never smoked. I read almost 70% of breast cancer metastasis is to bones followed by liver then lungs and smallest percentage to brain.

[Annadm in reply to AuntyJane]

Thank you

[Susan1953]

Bone only, almost 3 years since diagnosis de nova.

[Hidden]

Hi Smurf1212,

Interesting question....I don't have an answer to your direct question, but are you also raising the general question about - in theory - smoking with lung mets? That one had me debating inside of my head for a while, which was fun, but it got noisy in there!

It actually gave me a flashback to literally 45 years ago, having a similar debate among my ruffian friends and I, 12 & 13 years old, as we sat someplace I'm sure we weren't allowed to be, endlessly smoking Marlboro Reds (and worse... :)) Someone's Dad or Grandpa was dying of lung cancer and was still smoking and the idea put forth was, why should he give up something he enjoys/quit and suffer, if he's dying anyway? We debated, but I don't remember which side I was on...

Anyway, back to the present... :). Let's admit up front that smoking is not smart..."stupid"...significantly but not outrageously more stupid than being very overweight, e.g.. Eating Big Macs for lunch every day, driving after that second or third glass, or even speeding are on the same spectrum, just closer to the middle. My point here is to take the cultural judgements/perceptions out of it, along with the sort of visceral reaction of "omg, how can someone do that to their cancerous lungs!!!".

So it's stupid, but most humans do stupid things to some degree.

With that as a given, I think that smoking while having Breast Cancer lung mets is probably LESS stupid than smoking while being otherwise healthy. The breast cancer is likely to kill someone long before lung cancer occurs or becomes an issue. Lung cancer from smoking and exposure to pollutants is, I think, very much a time/amount of exposure thing. So one's risk of dying of lung cancer first, while dying of breast cancer, is probably pretty small. But with 20 year survivors increasing, so does the stupidity of smoking, unless one has reason to believe that their life will be shorter.

Plus, from what I understand, the reason why lung cancer is so deadly is that it has few symptoms until it is quite severe. If caught early, I understand that it is quite treatable. So if someone is getting scans regularly, any early lung cancer will be detected. The problem is, I suppose, that with lung mets, the fact that it's a separate lung cancer will probably not be known? They won't biopsy some new tumors, unless there is an obvious difference? I don't know.

Not to get morose or graphic here, but I think if someone smokes with lung mets at some point their bodies will likely tell them to stop. I had a friend who died of ALS about 12 years ago. He smoked and drank red wine as long as he could. We'd sit and gab and since he'd lost control of his arms, I'd just keep bringing the cups of wine with straws up to his lips...for hours of great conversation and lots of laughs. But at some point his body told him to stop smoking, the breathing was too difficult. But he drank the wine almost to the end. RIP, dear Al Berger!

The only thing I don't know is if the smoke will actually worsen lung mets. I truly suspect that it won't. It will irritate the lungs, in theory, but I've never met a smoker who complained of lung irritation. But I'm sure that's a factor, to some degree.

Apologies for the public musings but, again, I found the idea interesting and enjoyed my path as I thought through it!

But, in conclusion, DON'T SMOKE!!! Right? But also ENJOY YOUR LIFE!! I'd say choose what works for you, life is short, regardless...

Take care, and thank you for distracting me from the very boring task I was engaged in, even though I'm pretty sure your question was more literal than theoretical!

Lynn

[Duranteg in reply to Hidden]

Great post! Thank you!

[123048 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Lynn, that was great, so sensible

[Hidden]

Hi, mine went to my lungs, spine, shoulders, ribs and pelvis. My Cancer is Oestrogen driven.

I have never smoked. This lung Cancer is totally different to a smokers lung Cancer.

I had Breast Cancer Stage1 in 2013. I got the 5 Year all clear in July 2018. Then, in December 2018 I was told that the same type of Cancer (Stage 4 HER2 Negative) is in my lungs and bones.

I hope this helps you and I haven’t gone in to deep on the explanation.

Best wishes.

[Justme153]

My metastasized to my right ovary . I had a left breast mastectomy almost 2 years before. I am Er+ Pr+ her2-.

[Maludagui]

Hi I had right breast cancer in October 2010. Radical mastectomy + Tamoxifen for 6 years. In August 2018 Metastasis in my hip, pelvis and minimum points in my elbow. The tumor was found on the left side of my hip. Side totally contrary to breast cancer. In my particular case I believe this happened because they removed my tanoxifen

[Duranteg]

No! You’re fine, a few can’t hurt you!

[laurac1014]

Mets to Lung & Bone. So that's why my tailbone hurt for the year prior to dx ! (thought i sprained it)

Only smoked from 15-18 years old. I now check Never Smoked on forms

[PlumNice in reply to laurac1014]

Oh, my word. Some days I feel as though my tailbone is going to explode. It hurts all of the time. I cannot get comfortable even on pain meds. How did you manage?

[laurac1014 in reply to PlumNice]

I have a Comfort Life cushion, mostly for work and i tend to sit at one end of the couch and lean. Not great for the neck though

[Iwasborntodothis]

Lungs from the get-go thought I had Bronchitis - didn't smoke (OK maybe some pot in college) because both of my grandfathers died from lung cancer.

Doesn't seem fair to be living healthy and now have bad lungs. Makes you wonder for sure.

I am taking the approach of trying to live even more healthy than before..juicing, reducing meat, etc. Exercise makes me feel better. I don't think smoking is a great idea but I am certainly not going to tell you not to do it.

[KMBL_]

I was diagnosed in May of 2019 with breast cancer in two places in my stomach de novo, no primary found. I just had my second CT scan, and they see something small in my omentum by my right abdomen. I don’t eat the healthiest, especially since I lost a lot of weight before my diagnosis and haven’t gained anything back. I would never tell you not to do something. That would be like someone telling me not to eat the fries.

[Red1246]

Hi Smurf!

My original bc in left breast (2009-10) and metastasis was discovered in May 2019 in bones (spine T-10) plus two lymph nodes near left lung.

I smoked for 30 years and found it strange the original tumor wasn’t in my lungs. Gave it up 16 years ago but when diagnosed in 2009 the first thing I asked my bff to bring over were cigarettes and a bottle of gin.

I’m the cautious type and probably wouldn’t smoke even two now. But it is an interesting quandary as LynneFish points out.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best in your treatment and longevity! 🙏🏻

Red

[Red71]

Mine is to my bones only. I have never smoked.

As to the question of continuing to smoke, although 2 cigarettes are not much, any smoking does affect your health. According to figures I read, smoking 1-4 cigarettes per day increases your risk of dying from ischemic heart disease. So while I would also, like others, Not tell you to stop smoking, I will say it won’t help anything very much, except maybe your mental health😊. Elaine

[Geulah]

First of all..You ARE NOT stupid. Good for you for asking...that's a smart move and hopefully will help you in decision making. Try googling smoking and breast C.....

I was diagnosed from begining with mets to.the bone

Good luck ,good news...

As a non smoker married to a chain smoker hope you'll stop. You will smell nicer,look better and breath better.

Guess it also depends how often you smoke. Good news soon

[Lilykristymichael]

Dear Smurf1212: Wrong??? DANGEROUS, yes yes yes. Smoking is known to cause cancer. I know it is hard to quit but if you can enroll in a stop smoking program, that can help you. I hope you can find the help you need to stop. Good luck.

[PlumNice]

Mine is Mets to bones(from pelvic to skull and right femur), liver, lungs, and colon after 27 years of being cancer free!! I was diagnosed with breast cancer originally. Just re diagnosed in July 2019.🙁 No question is stupid by the way. In my humble opinion, if you feel a conviction about smoking, don't. If you feel okay about it, continue on. It certainly does not help the lung situation, but it certainly helps the stress and nerves!. I stopped smoking with the help of God in September 2019. Im a newbie lol. May God bless you and your family through this new journey of your life.

[George5545]

Moms was breast cancer in the right breast. She had a bilateral mastectomy in hopes that she wouldn’t get cancer in the left breast. No chemo or radiation. And since her Oncotype was so low, she opted not to have hormone therapy. That was in March 2018. She was diagnosed 12/31/19 with Mets to the pleural lining of her chest cavity (I guess that is technically lung?) She used to smoke regularly but quit in 2008. She has fallen off the wagon here and there, most recently in April 2019, but never for any significant period of time - maybe for a month. With all the difficulty breathing she had with the pleural effusion, she has been “scared straight” and says that she has absolutely no desire to smoke ever again.

There is no way to ever know for sure, but I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the smoking did somehow contribute to where her cancer metastasized to. I’m very supportive of living your best life, especially if you are going thru something like this. So if smoking is that for you, then go for it. Just please be sure that you fully understand what the consequences might be. Hopefully you have an oncologist you can discuss this with who won’t automatically shut you down.

All the best! ❤️

[Birdee]

My mets is bones and lungs . I am not a smoker. Rational thought says quit smoking however this is a really tough journey, to me do what you must to get through . Absolutely no one is allowed to judge you.

[morty87]

Spine, hip (small lesion) and brain (1 tiny lesion). Back surgery to remove 2 vertebrae the consistency of butter (plate and screws in place), radiation to hip/back and Gamma Knife to brain. Seem to be doing well. I have taken Ibrance and Letrozole since January 2018 with 3 month intervals of Zometa.

[hdhonda]

I stopped smoking years before I got MBC to right lung. It is hard to stop smoking but I think you should try. I gave it up for Lent one year and have only smoked one cigarette in the years since. It helps to distract yourself. Good luck. Blessings Hannah

[hopenowandtomorrow]

Mine went to the pelvic bone. Never smoked. ❤️🙏❤️

[PJBinMI]

I've never smoked but grew up with a mother who smoked. When she died from lung cancer, most of the art hanging on her walls was coated with residue from the cigarette smoke--YUK! I was diagnosed in March 2004, with extensive bone mets found during initial staging, so denovo stage IV. I happen to have lobular bc, which is generally E+ P+ and her2neu -, as mine was. Lobular sometimes metastasizes to places other than the usual bone, liver, lung, brain that the more common ductal mbc typically spreads to, often tissues that line organs and spaces, like the lining of the abdomen or brain. Those of us with lobular often live for quite awhile. Often the best thing we can do for ourselves is to get a second opinion from a bc specialist onc if we aren't already seeing one. If you are in the US, the top cancer centers are those designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. Most of those are connected to medical schools. They have oncs who specialize and who both see patients an do research. They do second opinions. You can find a list of those if you go to the home page of this group and click on "resources" on the right hand of that page. The first time I saw a bc specialist onc, when she examined my breasts, her fingers felt different than any other time my breasts had been examined, as though she had radar or something! I had to drive for a few hours to get there but it was definitely worth it! Something that has become available since I was diagnosed is genetic testing of our cancer that helps determine more about the cancer cells and what treatment is likely to be helpful and what treatment isn't. Foundation One is the genetic testing I had a couple of years ago. I don't know if those with lung mets ever get referred to "pulmonary rehabilitation", which is a bit like physical therapy, but I have other lung issues and found the PR really helpful and fun, to boot. Have you asked your onc about the 2 cigarettes a day? If you keep smoking those, will you be mad at yourself later if the cancer progresses? You don't mention how old you are, but the younger you are, the more you have to gain by not smoking.....just a thought. And something to ask your onc about. One of the great unfairnesses of the world is that younger women often have more aggressive bc than older women.

[SeattleMom]

Hello, Smurf!

My metastases are in my spine. And yes, I think that smoking is wrong decision. Don't give cancer a chance to do its work! Prayers to you; I've heard quitting is hard, but this should be an easy decision!

Love and prayers, Linda

[mariootsi]

I feel like if it is something you enjoy, at this stage, go for it.

[laurac1014 in reply to mariootsi]

like chocolate ? and girl scout cookies ?

[Shelly1009]

Mets to my abdominal cavity after being declared cancer free in fall 2017. They call it a "cold cancer" as it's really difficult to detect on scans. Pretty sure it was there since my original diagnosis in 2016. I was having severe abdominal pain before my primary cancer was found in my right breast.