Thank you Dr. Griggs for yet another very informative video. My first diagnosis was in 2016. The breast cancer returned in 2021 with mets to the lung lymph. I have been taking Letrozole since diagnosis and all four tumors have shrunk plus there are no active cancer cells. May that long continue.
Thank you so much, Stage 4 Metastatic here in bone. Verzenio and Letrazole seem to be working well, has not spread in well over a year. Keep fighting the good fight everybody. Peace and Christ be with you all 🙏☦
My Grandma just turned 89 on 2/19 and told my mom she was in a lot of pain and she took her to the er and the gave her a ct scan and found spots in her lungs and kidneys. She was not feeling good again and my mom and aunt took her back to the er 3/5 and the used a mri and now the say she has metastatic breast cancer and has traveled to the bones. Im 36 and she helped raise me and is just so hard watching her go through this. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
It sound so hard to have your grandmother going through this. There are a lot of treatments that are likely to reduce her pain. We're sending you and your family strength and support during this challenging time. Keep coming back, and let us know if there is a particular topic you'd like us to cover here on our CZcams channel.
I just was informed that I was lung and bone metastatic and was looking for answers that were recent. This was most helpful. Thank you for settling me.
We're glad you found this information helpful during such a challenging time. Thank you for sharing, and we're here to help whenever you need more support or answers.
I had MBC diagnosed in 2016 while on Arimidex after 2 different primary breast cancers in 2006(R) and 2012 (L) - they treated my MBC W/Ibrance & Fulvestrant then 6 yrs later had “ too many lesions to count” in bone only- and a ESR 1mutation. then last March started I Elacestrant and by the end of 2023 had no live cancer lesions, only scarred bone. It was a miracle drug for me . I hope this new oral SERD continues to do its magic for a good long time at least equal to the years I got from Fulvestrant & Ibrance. By then maybe there will be a cure. As for my markers they soared when I started Elacestrant but a few months later settled down.
I had melanoma in 2022 surgical removal negative sentinel lymph node, breast cancer in 2023 treated with Lumpectomy chemo and radiation also negative lymph node biopsy. In April this year I was diagnosed with Perianal squamous Cell Carcinoma and will have MOHS this week. I had a CT scan on 6/17 and nodes were found in both lungs. Scheduled to have a bronchoscope next week to see if one of these cancers hung around for a while.
We're sorry to hear about all you've been through. It's been a challenging journey for you. Best of luck with your MOHS surgery and the upcoming bronchoscopy.
I'd like to ask that you please do a video on De Novo Oligometastatic disease (my diagnosis). We are not in the same category as other MBC patients. Even if you only discuss how much more this area needs to be studied before any new standard of care emerges (like the possible benefit of localized treatment such as STBR, which was considered in the NRG- BR002 clinical trial), it would help patients like me to see our diagnosis given recognition.
Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for expanding on my oncologist's explanation. I have recurrence of breast cancer on chest wall where I had a mastectomy, with metastases on several vertebrae. I've been on Letrozole and Ibrance for three months. The original recurring tumor has shrunk and I am tolerating the drugs well. Looking forward to understanding more as I continue to lead a productive, active life.
It’s great to hear that the treatments are working well for you and that the tumor has shrunk. We hope our videos continue to provide helpful insights as you navigate your treatment. Thank you for watching.
Dr my wife 4rth storage breast cancer she complete his chemo therapy end good results but 2nd treatment after 1month cancer spread in brain now she is metastatic cancer what she do now please help me m from Pakistan
We're so sorry to hear about your wife's situation. It's very challenging to navigate metastatic cancer, especially after a spread to the brain. It's crucial to follow up with her oncologist for the next steps, which might include radiation, targeted therapy, or clinical trials. Sending you strength and support from the Yerbba community.
This is very informative video, thank you. We just find out that my mom has metastatic carcinoma. We havent had any treatment yet and still waiting for the full biopsy result.
Keep coming back here. We have a lot of videos that may be helpful. In the meantime, we hope you are taking care of yourself too. Wishing all of you the best.
It's heartbreaking, isn't it? Breast cancer is really many different diseases, and cancers are really "clever" at outsmarting treatments. If they had consciousness, we suspect that cancer cells consider it their job to keep dividing no matter what is thrown at them. Check out our video on why isn't there a cure for breast cancer: czcams.com/video/fLcq25CvtcM/video.html .
Thank you for these informative videos, Dr. Griggs. My mother was diagnosed with BC for a third time in May, this time metastatic. She had a large pleural effusion on her right lung as well as a moderate amount of ascites, both fluids were removed and tested positive for breast cancer cells. However, her PET scan and brain MRI do not show any tumors. How can that be?
Fluid collections generally do not show up on PET scan because the cells are floating freely and do not make a big enough tumor to show up on the scans. A negative brain scan is the normal expectation and must be a relief. MRIs of the brain are highly sensitive.
Dr Griggs ,thank you..kindly advise why they is recurrence whilst on tamoxifen and why people are dying of cancer when they is continuously improvement in breast cancer treatment..i have lost 3 friends to cancer in a space of 3months
We are so sorry for your loss. This is just heartbreaking. We have made a great deal of progress, yes, but there is so much more work to do with prevention, early detection, and treatment. We do have a video on why there is no cure for breast cancer that may be helpful. In the meantime, we're sending sincerest condolences your way.
hello i have a very important question please,my 45 year old wife lives in Manilla Phillipines,1 year ago she had a large cyst removed from her left ovary but the doctor left the right ovary it also had a cyst ??? she started 3 month depo shots ,it made her feel terrible So she stopped the depo only 1 month ago now she has left breast cancer with 2 limpodes,,now her doctor wants to completly remove her breast and start her on hormone treatment,my question is why not remove the last cystic ovary,her doctor wants to do a complete hystorectomy ,is this correct i cannot find answers,the phillipines are way behind in new technology, thank you,
Thank you for writing. Your wife is fortunate to have you advocating for her. If she did not tolerate the depot shots, she will not feel good after the second ovary is removed. (The depot shots are basically the same as having both ovaries removed.) It would be uncommon to have to remove the uterus (which is what a hysterectomy is), but removing the other ovary would be reasonable as long as your wife is willing to have the side effects of menopause a few years early. A mastectomy and endocrine therapy are often part of breast cancer treatment although of course, we wish your wife were not going through any of this.
By decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body, letrozole, one of the 3 aromatase inhibitors, decreases the amount of estrogen getting to breast cancer cells that are estrogen receptor positive. This means the cells are not getting the estrogen that promotes their growth. In people with advanced disease, letrozole and the other AIs can lead to a decrease in the size of the metastases.
Hello Dr.Griggs my mother has stage 4 triple negative breast cancer. Her 8 cycle chemotherapy has been done. Now a fresh PET CT Scan has been done where it is shown that some new onsel nodules is seen in both lungs. But the doctor is not sure whether it is cancer cell or not. So now the doctor has given us 2 months medicine and said to return back after two months. Doctors also refused to do her radiation therapy now as they said they dont find the tumor in the primary area that was left breast so radiation cant be done right now. So my question to you to please tell us about targeted therapy. Can it be given to her? And please provide us some more treatment which can improve her condition.
We're sorry to hear that your mother is going through this and facing these challenges. Targeted therapy might be an option depending on specific markers or characteristics of the cancer cells. However, triple-negative breast cancer typically has fewer options for targeted therapies compared to other types of breast cancer due to the lack of hormone receptors and HER2 protein. Given the complexity of her situation and the new findings on her PET CT scan, it's crucial to discuss all possible treatment options with her oncology team. They can guide whether any targeted therapies are applicable or if other treatments such as immunotherapy might be suitable. If you are based in the U.S., consider having her visit yerbba.com to access her personalized Yerbba Report. The Yerbba Report provides personalized treatment options and detailed insights into her specific diagnosis. This resource can be especially useful for understanding all available treatment options and discussing them effectively with her medical team.
How long does a new medication take to have effect? In other words, if let's say 2 months passed and the tumour markers are going up drastically can we still wait under the assumption that the medication is still new to be judged?
Good question. Tumor markers can actually rise when treatment is working, so it can be confusing. Many oncologists do not check tumor markers until three months after starting a new treatment because the cancer cells can release the tumor marker into the bloodstream as the cancer cells die. Tumor markers alone cannot tell experts everything. Physical exam, symptoms, and other labs are all used, in addition to scans, to assess the response to treatment.
mam,,my sister had breast carcinoma in 2019...surgery and radio therapy was completed..but now she is in metastatis breast cancer in bone..pls,,,mam my sister be will cure?? Or which treatment is best of her??
We're sorry to hear about your sister's condition, and she is fortunate to have you. Metastatic breast cancer is challenging, but there are treatments available that can help manage the disease and improve quality of life. Treatment options often include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and bisphosphonates. It's best to discuss her specific case with her oncologist to determine the most appropriate treatment plan. Cure is generally not seen in the majority of people with metastatic cancer.
Thank you Doctor, is denovo er positive breast cancer worse than recurrence treatment outcomes? Is there any new promising drugs down the track to be approve by FDA for er positive? Thank you ❤
Thanks for writing. There is really no difference between de novo (Stage IV, four) breast cancer and metastatic recurrence in terms of "better" or "worse." Rather, it's the biology of the tumor (ER, PR, HER2) and the extent and sites of disease as well how the patient feels. Thanks for the terrific question.
My mother is 47 had a lumpectomy 2nd stage er+ pr+ .. 5 out of 20 axillry lymph nodes positive. Doctor said (16 chemo ) 4 on 2 weeks and 12 weekly...is it overdosing? N how many radiation shoud be given? Plz rply
A tumor with 5 positive lymph nodes is Stage III (three). With Stage III breast cancer, a combination of two different drug "combinations" is concordant with the published studies based on thousands and thousands of people who have been treated this way. The number of radiation therapy treatments will be based on the type of surgery. With positive lymph nodes, we recommend in general comprehensive radiation therapy to the area of the breast/chest wall and the regional lymph node "basins."
My mother is stage 4 BC (left breast, LN, Bone, lung) patient. Harmone positive. 1st line Letrozole + palbace. 2nd line Fulvestrant + piqray 3rd line Everolimus + exemestane. Then Chemo paclitaxel single agent 10 cycles. And today pet CT show SD. with inactive metabolic activity in bones. Now suggested to take tamoxifen And have chemo break. Please suggest if taking tamoxifen right now is a valid option?
Given her HR+ status and the current inactive metabolic activity in the bones, taking tamoxifen as a maintenance therapy during a chemotherapy break is a very reasonable option. It's best to follow the oncologist's recommendations and discuss any concerns you have with them to ensure it's the right step for her specific situation.
Thank you for reaching out. While our videos provide general health information, we are unable to offer direct email consultations. For specific treatment options and detailed feedback regarding your mother's scans, it's essential that she consults with her oncologist or a breast cancer specialist.
Thank you Dr. Griggs for yet another very informative video. My first diagnosis was in 2016. The breast cancer returned in 2021 with mets to the lung lymph. I have been taking Letrozole since diagnosis and all four tumors have shrunk plus there are no active cancer cells. May that long continue.
Thank you for sharing your story with the Yerbba community. So encouraging to hear that you've had such a good response to the letrozole.
Thank you so much, Stage 4 Metastatic here in bone. Verzenio and Letrazole seem to be working well, has not spread in well over a year. Keep fighting the good fight everybody. Peace and Christ be with you all 🙏☦
My mom has Mets in liver and bone hasn’t started treatment yet I’m going to pray for you there is hope
Thank you for sharing your story here with our community. Wishing you the best as you move forward in your treatment.
My Grandma just turned 89 on 2/19 and told my mom she was in a lot of pain and she took her to the er and the gave her a ct scan and found spots in her lungs and kidneys. She was not feeling good again and my mom and aunt took her back to the er 3/5 and the used a mri and now the say she has metastatic breast cancer and has traveled to the bones. Im 36 and she helped raise me and is just so hard watching her go through this. Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
It sound so hard to have your grandmother going through this. There are a lot of treatments that are likely to reduce her pain. We're sending you and your family strength and support during this challenging time. Keep coming back, and let us know if there is a particular topic you'd like us to cover here on our CZcams channel.
I just was informed that I was lung and bone metastatic and was looking for answers that were recent. This was most helpful. Thank you for settling me.
We're glad you found this information helpful during such a challenging time. Thank you for sharing, and we're here to help whenever you need more support or answers.
May god bless you with a long smooth life
My wife has stage 4 breast cancer and she’s doing okay
Over a year now
I had MBC diagnosed in 2016 while on Arimidex after 2 different primary breast cancers in 2006(R) and 2012 (L) - they treated my MBC W/Ibrance & Fulvestrant then 6 yrs later had “ too many lesions to count” in bone only- and a ESR 1mutation. then last March started I Elacestrant and by the end of 2023 had no live cancer lesions, only scarred bone. It was a miracle drug for me . I hope this new oral SERD continues to do its magic for a good long time at least equal to the years I got from Fulvestrant & Ibrance. By then maybe there will be a cure.
As for my markers they soared when I started Elacestrant but a few months later settled down.
Thank you for sharing your story. You give hope to other people living with metastatic breast cancer.
I am currently taking Letrozole and Kisqali. I will have surgery as well.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Thank you,Dr Griggs, for your continuous caring support.
Thank you for watching!
I had melanoma in 2022 surgical removal negative sentinel lymph node, breast cancer in 2023 treated with Lumpectomy chemo and radiation also negative lymph node biopsy. In April this year I was diagnosed with Perianal squamous Cell Carcinoma and will have MOHS this week. I had a CT scan on 6/17 and nodes were found in both lungs. Scheduled to have a bronchoscope next week to see if one of these cancers hung around for a while.
We're sorry to hear about all you've been through. It's been a challenging journey for you. Best of luck with your MOHS surgery and the upcoming bronchoscopy.
I'd like to ask that you please do a video on De Novo Oligometastatic disease (my diagnosis). We are not in the same category as other MBC patients. Even if you only discuss how much more this area needs to be studied before any new standard of care emerges (like the possible benefit of localized treatment such as STBR, which was considered in the NRG- BR002 clinical trial), it would help patients like me to see our diagnosis given recognition.
Thank you for the suggestion. We will add it to the list and do it as soon as possible.
Thank you, Dr. Griggs, for expanding on my oncologist's explanation. I have recurrence of breast cancer on chest wall where I had a mastectomy, with metastases on several vertebrae. I've been on Letrozole and Ibrance for three months. The original recurring tumor has shrunk and I am tolerating the drugs well. Looking forward to understanding more as I continue to lead a productive, active life.
It’s great to hear that the treatments are working well for you and that the tumor has shrunk. We hope our videos continue to provide helpful insights as you navigate your treatment. Thank you for watching.
do you have any treatment regarding the fracture bone of metastases ?
Dr my wife 4rth storage breast cancer she complete his chemo therapy end good results but 2nd treatment after 1month cancer spread in brain now she is metastatic cancer what she do now please help me m from Pakistan
We're so sorry to hear about your wife's situation. It's very challenging to navigate metastatic cancer, especially after a spread to the brain. It's crucial to follow up with her oncologist for the next steps, which might include radiation, targeted therapy, or clinical trials. Sending you strength and support from the Yerbba community.
This is very informative video, thank you. We just find out that my mom has metastatic carcinoma. We havent had any treatment yet and still waiting for the full biopsy result.
Keep coming back here. We have a lot of videos that may be helpful. In the meantime, we hope you are taking care of yourself too. Wishing all of you the best.
Hi Doc ,kindly answer on why people still die of breast cancer ,when we now have advanced treatment
It's heartbreaking, isn't it? Breast cancer is really many different diseases, and cancers are really "clever" at outsmarting treatments. If they had consciousness, we suspect that cancer cells consider it their job to keep dividing no matter what is thrown at them. Check out our video on why isn't there a cure for breast cancer: czcams.com/video/fLcq25CvtcM/video.html .
Notaz123❤❤
Thank you for these informative videos, Dr. Griggs. My mother was diagnosed with BC for a third time in May, this time metastatic. She had a large pleural effusion on her right lung as well as a moderate amount of ascites, both fluids were removed and tested positive for breast cancer cells. However, her PET scan and brain MRI do not show any tumors. How can that be?
Fluid collections generally do not show up on PET scan because the cells are floating freely and do not make a big enough tumor to show up on the scans. A negative brain scan is the normal expectation and must be a relief. MRIs of the brain are highly sensitive.
Doctor can you make a video about Luminal A & B breast cancer please
We'll add this to our list. Thanks for the suggestion.
We need a cure
You're absolutely right. The need for a cure for breast cancer, and all forms of cancer, is of paramount importance. Thank you for watching.
Dr Griggs ,thank you..kindly advise why they is recurrence whilst on tamoxifen and why people are dying of cancer when they is continuously improvement in breast cancer treatment..i have lost 3 friends to cancer in a space of 3months
We are so sorry for your loss. This is just heartbreaking. We have made a great deal of progress, yes, but there is so much more work to do with prevention, early detection, and treatment. We do have a video on why there is no cure for breast cancer that may be helpful. In the meantime, we're sending sincerest condolences your way.
When you say no cure for cancer yet but why do thay say get it early and you can been cure I don't understand,
@@TinaSweeney-fn2duright ❤❤
hello i have a very important question please,my 45 year old wife lives in Manilla Phillipines,1 year ago she had a large cyst removed from her left ovary but the doctor left the right ovary it also had a cyst ??? she started 3 month depo shots ,it made her feel terrible So she stopped the depo only 1 month ago now she has left breast cancer with 2 limpodes,,now her doctor wants to completly remove her breast and start her on hormone treatment,my question is why not remove the last cystic ovary,her doctor wants to do a complete hystorectomy ,is this correct i cannot find answers,the phillipines are way behind in new technology, thank you,
Thank you for writing. Your wife is fortunate to have you advocating for her. If she did not tolerate the depot shots, she will not feel good after the second ovary is removed. (The depot shots are basically the same as having both ovaries removed.) It would be uncommon to have to remove the uterus (which is what a hysterectomy is), but removing the other ovary would be reasonable as long as your wife is willing to have the side effects of menopause a few years early. A mastectomy and endocrine therapy are often part of breast cancer treatment although of course, we wish your wife were not going through any of this.
Is letrozole medicine kills cancer cells?
It prevents reccurence
What is letrozole pls
By decreasing the amount of estrogen in the body, letrozole, one of the 3 aromatase inhibitors, decreases the amount of estrogen getting to breast cancer cells that are estrogen receptor positive. This means the cells are not getting the estrogen that promotes their growth. In people with advanced disease, letrozole and the other AIs can lead to a decrease in the size of the metastases.
Hello Dr.Griggs my mother has stage 4 triple negative breast cancer. Her 8 cycle chemotherapy has been done. Now a fresh PET CT Scan has been done where it is shown that some new onsel nodules is seen in both lungs. But the doctor is not sure whether it is cancer cell or not. So now the doctor has given us 2 months medicine and said to return back after two months. Doctors also refused to do her radiation therapy now as they said they dont find the tumor in the primary area that was left breast so radiation cant be done right now. So my question to you to please tell us about targeted therapy. Can it be given to her? And please provide us some more treatment which can improve her condition.
We're sorry to hear that your mother is going through this and facing these challenges. Targeted therapy might be an option depending on specific markers or characteristics of the cancer cells. However, triple-negative breast cancer typically has fewer options for targeted therapies compared to other types of breast cancer due to the lack of hormone receptors and HER2 protein. Given the complexity of her situation and the new findings on her PET CT scan, it's crucial to discuss all possible treatment options with her oncology team. They can guide whether any targeted therapies are applicable or if other treatments such as immunotherapy might be suitable. If you are based in the U.S., consider having her visit yerbba.com to access her personalized Yerbba Report. The Yerbba Report provides personalized treatment options and detailed insights into her specific diagnosis. This resource can be especially useful for understanding all available treatment options and discussing them effectively with her medical team.
Thank you
Thank you for watching and being part of the Yerbba community!
How long does a new medication take to have effect? In other words, if let's say 2 months passed and the tumour markers are going up drastically can we still wait under the assumption that the medication is still new to be judged?
Good question. Tumor markers can actually rise when treatment is working, so it can be confusing. Many oncologists do not check tumor markers until three months after starting a new treatment because the cancer cells can release the tumor marker into the bloodstream as the cancer cells die. Tumor markers alone cannot tell experts everything. Physical exam, symptoms, and other labs are all used, in addition to scans, to assess the response to treatment.
mam,,my sister had breast carcinoma in 2019...surgery and radio therapy was completed..but now she is in metastatis breast cancer in bone..pls,,,mam my sister be will cure?? Or which treatment is best of her??
We're sorry to hear about your sister's condition, and she is fortunate to have you. Metastatic breast cancer is challenging, but there are treatments available that can help manage the disease and improve quality of life. Treatment options often include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and bisphosphonates. It's best to discuss her specific case with her oncologist to determine the most appropriate treatment plan. Cure is generally not seen in the majority of people with metastatic cancer.
Thank you Doctor, is denovo er positive breast cancer worse than recurrence treatment outcomes?
Is there any new promising drugs down the track to be approve by FDA for er positive?
Thank you ❤
Thanks for writing. There is really no difference between de novo (Stage IV, four) breast cancer and metastatic recurrence in terms of "better" or "worse." Rather, it's the biology of the tumor (ER, PR, HER2) and the extent and sites of disease as well how the patient feels. Thanks for the terrific question.
Thank you Doctor.
My mother is 47 had a lumpectomy 2nd stage er+ pr+ .. 5 out of 20 axillry lymph nodes positive. Doctor said (16 chemo ) 4 on 2 weeks and 12 weekly...is it overdosing? N how many radiation shoud be given? Plz rply
Radiation is recommended for lumpectomy
A tumor with 5 positive lymph nodes is Stage III (three). With Stage III breast cancer, a combination of two different drug "combinations" is concordant with the published studies based on thousands and thousands of people who have been treated this way. The number of radiation therapy treatments will be based on the type of surgery. With positive lymph nodes, we recommend in general comprehensive radiation therapy to the area of the breast/chest wall and the regional lymph node "basins."
@@yerbbahi. I went from stage 2 IBC in December (last petscan) to stage 4 in March (current petscan).
I want to talk to you 😢
Thank you for watching. Feel free to leave a comment with any specific questions or topics you'd like information on.
My mother is stage 4 BC (left breast, LN, Bone, lung) patient. Harmone positive.
1st line
Letrozole + palbace.
2nd line
Fulvestrant + piqray
3rd line
Everolimus + exemestane.
Then
Chemo paclitaxel single agent 10 cycles.
And today pet CT show SD. with inactive metabolic activity in bones.
Now suggested to take tamoxifen And have chemo break.
Please suggest if taking tamoxifen right now is a valid option?
Given her HR+ status and the current inactive metabolic activity in the bones, taking tamoxifen as a maintenance therapy during a chemotherapy break is a very reasonable option. It's best to follow the oncologist's recommendations and discuss any concerns you have with them to ensure it's the right step for her specific situation.
@@yerbba Thank you so much for your response.
Doctor can you give your email id i want to sent some reports of my mother's pET ct scan please help
Thank you for reaching out. While our videos provide general health information, we are unable to offer direct email consultations. For specific treatment options and detailed feedback regarding your mother's scans, it's essential that she consults with her oncologist or a breast cancer specialist.