Breast, Ovarian and Brain Cancer.......Can anyone survive all three?

Jodie VanZant

Hello,
It has been a few months since I have been on here but here is my story and concerns. My mother (Current age 63) had breast cancer in (1990) 21 years ago, she went through 6 rounds of chemo and radiation.....She survived. In June of 2010 she was dx with stage 3c ovarian cancer, during her debulking they removed an 8 inch tumor but had to leave 3 large masses in her because they were inoperable, she went through another 8 rounds of chemo and was in the clear for 6 months, again she survived. Last week we found her on the floor and she had been there all night so I took her to the doctors, she could not walk and she could barely speak, she held her head rocking back and forth and was vomiting uncontrolabley so they sent her for a MRI and sure enough the cancer has came back in full force and she has 4 large tumors in her brain, she was in ICU for 3 days and then released 8 days after she was put in, she is now in a care center because she is such a high fall risk. She is doing very well and going through radiation every 24 hours on her brain and I am hoping to take her home next week but I am so scared because I have to work and she will not have someone there 24 hours a day to watch her and when she got sick it happen within 24 hours, she is so depressed and I go spend time with her everyday and try to keep her mind off the cancer but it's hard, the docs said she has a very low percentage chance of living but with the radiation that they are giving her I am afraid that she is getting false hope of survival because she has kicked it twice before, I know that you need hope when going through this but it makes it hard for me to make arrangements (will, burial, here insurance etc.)when she is confident that she is not going to die, it is a constant fight trying to get her to fill out paperwork. She is one of the strongest women I know and it is so had for me to watch her get so sick, I have 1 sister that live in San Diego so I am her only caretaker and I am exhausted. I am just wanting to hear similar stories of anyone out there that has gone through all three types of cancer, I want to know if she is going to suffer much, I want to know timeline (Docs never gave us one, just low percentage rate) and any other advice that anyone can give me......I am losing my mom and best friend and I feel like I am so alone.

Tethys41

Difficult road
Jodi,
So sorry to hear about what you and your mom are going through. The person who can really answer your question is LeesaG. She has overcome ovarian cancer and just had a procedure to remove metastasis to her brain. At last check in, she was doing great.
Personally, I don't give up on anyone who still has the fighting spirit. It must be hard believing that your mom will not win this fight, but if she is still willing to fight, I say appease her spirit. No one knows what makes some people that appear destinded to die pull through, but they do.
We didn't talk about it when I was going through treatment, because I never asked the question, but my doctor and his nurse did not think I was going to make it. When I saw his nurse for the first time in 10 months, 6 months after completing chemo, she nearly passed out. All she kept saying was that I was a miracle. So, no I don't like to give up on anyone who is still willing to fight.
Best of luck to you both.

leesag

Hi Jodi,
I tend to have hope
Hi Jodi,

I tend to have hope as long as the patient has hope. I witnessed my mother in law's battle with breast cancer mets to the liver and the brain. Doctors gave her only about six weeks, and we ended up with 18 wonderful months!

As for when your mom comes home, will she be moving in with you? One of the things we did with my mother in law (who had inoperable brain tumors) was to block off the stairs and install rails in the bathroom. The bathroom and kitchen were on the same floor. My husband and I were able to check in on her throughout the day by phone, and if she didn't answer, I worked 20 minutes away and came home.

As for my personal experience with brain mets, I have to say, as odd as it sounds, I was lucky.

I had one lesion that was large (like an extra large egg) laying on my speech center, and two other smaller ones towards the back, near the brain stem. My only issue prior to diagnosis was "expressive aphasia," difficulty finding words. I never had a seizure, and after surgery, my speech quickly recovered. I had fifteen daily rounds of whole brain radiation after my physical surgery. Then, I had Gamma Knife to target the two smaller lesions. I go back at the end of the month to get final clearance.

Having said all of that, my husband and my daughter took turns staying home with me this summer. If it's at all possible for a neighbor to check on your mom if she doesn't answer the phone, that would be the next best thing. OH, and no matter how much I hated it when my husband did this to me, take away your mom's car keys! People with brain tumors shouldn't drive! Radiation continues to work for a few weeks after it's stopped, and it can cause some temporary brain swelling.

I'm sorry I can't be more specific. As for your mother's paperwork, that's one of the first thing my husband and I did even before the cancer spread. Accounts, passwords, my final wishes, power of attorney, Advanced Directives, all of these things we talked about before we have to face them. Perhaps you could present it to your mom that way? Let's talk about this stuff, now when you're getting treatment so we can set it aside and enjoy life?


As for you, you need to take care of yourself. Speak to the Social Worker at your mom's oncology center or call the American Cancer Society to inquire about support groups and respite care (so you know who to call if or when it's needed).

In the meantime, please know that my thoughts are with you and your mom.

Hugs and Healing Wishes!

Leesa