How to manage stage 3 breast cancer with liver cirrhosis?

Question

Hi doctor,

I have been suffering from stage 3 breast cancer with liver cirrhosis and esophageal varices. I started bleeding during the last chemotherapy session. They found my platelets were only 20,000 per microliter. I needed an emergency transfusion, and now they say my liver is failing. My ascites are getting worse, and they had to be drained twice last week. The cancer has spread to my bones, but I cannot take pain medication. What should I do?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Metastatic breast cancer can be treated but not cured. Life expectancy is difficult to predict, and each person's case is different. With proper treatment, more and more people are living longer. Your treating team can talk to you about the progression of cancer.

You may worry if their answers are vague, but it is not possible to accurately predict how each person's illness will respond to treatment. Bone metastasis needs:

Pain relief.
Bone strengthening treatment.
Hormonal therapy as Bisphosphonates injection or tablet.
Targeted biological treatment.
Chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy.
Surgery.

All these procedures help to give you the best quality of life for as long as possible. Cirrhosis is associated with increased levels of estrogen, which may be causally related to breast cancer.

Ascites may be due to cancer cells that can cause the peritoneum to leak too much, the effect of chemotherapy, or lymph vessels or nodes blocked, removed, or damaged. The best treatment is therapeutic paracentesis to drain the excess accumulated fluid. Blood transfusion might be indicated in severe bleeding.

I hope this information will help you.

Thanks.