My mother has breast cancer. What treatments are best for her?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mom, 58, was told her breast cancer has spread to the bones. She is already so weak from chemo. We are terrified and concerned about a few things, like:

What does this mean for her life now?
Are there treatments that can still manage it and provide her with some comfort?

We want her pain managed, and some hope that she can still live a little longer without too much suffering.

Kindly give your suggestions.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I hope you are doing well. I completely understand your concern for your mother’s illness, especially since the cancer has spread to her bones.

However, I want to assure you that everything can be managed. Before deciding on the most suitable treatment plan, I would like to know more details about your mother’s cancer type.

Is it hormone receptor–positive (ER and PR positive) or HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)-positive, or are all of these negative?
Has she undergone any genetic testing?

Based on this information, we can choose the best therapeutic approach. In most such cases, we avoid traditional chemotherapy. The suitable treatment plan may involve:

Palliative radiotherapy.
Zoledronic acid monthly.
Vitamin D and calcium.
Targeted or immunotherapy.

These options are much better tolerated and have significantly fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy. They do not usually cause hair loss, severe fatigue, or other harsh health issues.

When it comes to bone pain, there are several effective management strategies. We often use localized radiation therapy directed at the painful areas to reduce discomfort as much as possible.

In addition, we can administer a medication called Zoledronic acid, given every four weeks. This drug helps strengthen the bones, improve bone density, and reduce the osteolytic effects of cancer on bone tissue.

Alongside this, we recommend vitamin D and calcium supplements to support bone health.

For pain control, we prescribe painkillers according to the patient’s pain scale, starting from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and progressing to opioids, depending on pain severity.

Beyond medical treatment, your mother will need strong emotional support from all of you. Encourage her, stay close to her, and make sure she never feels alone in this journey.

Your mother should have small, frequent meals and maintain proper hydration throughout the day. If possible, she could join a group therapy program to receive structured emotional support and connect with others going through similar experiences.

Follow up with me after seven days.

I hope this provides clear answers to your questions.

Thank you.