Hi all,

I've been naughty and followed the forums for some time now and never posted, but the chats I see go on between everyone has always given me a sense of strength and peace knowing its not just our family dealing with this horrible disease. I now feel ready to post and share our story of what we are going through (sorry its taken so long).

My Mum in Law's cancer (I call her Mum coz she is and she is amazing) came back last May 2017 as mestatic bone (in her shoulder) and lung. 

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 3 years ago and had an operation to remove the large tumour at that time (they removed her left breast and 22 nodes under her left arm). We hoped that woudl be it but it has returned as explained above and is terminal so only paliative treatment can be given.  

Her radiotherapy on the bone cancer shrunk the tumor a little last year and even shrunk the lung tumors a littl but she did suffer nerve damage to the left arm.  She never bounced back to 'same old Mum' after that and since then has been house bound and not able to get upstairs.  She is weak and can't walk for long without a stick or walking frame. 

Both sites however have started growing aggressibly again.  She was not responsive to chemo when her breast cancer was initially diagnosed 3 years ago so this time round she did a CARIS test.  Her oncologist found that only two types of chemo could potentially work on Mum in slowing the tumor growth (Irinotecan or Platunim) and he opted for Irinotecan, as he felt it would have less side effects on her in her weakened state.  

Her first round of chemo did not go well and she was hospitalised for 2 days due to severe diarrhea, fever and adverse liver function readings.  She has opted for a second try of the same chemo drug but the dosage has been reduced by 25%.  I guess now we wait and see how her body copes with this one.

We all want to stay positive and hope this trearment will be effective, but I guess you always have in the back of your mind the nagging question you daren't say out loud 'will she have a good quality of life this way'. I really hope she does.

Has anyone else had Irinotecan for these types of metestatic camcers and were they effective and if so are they still or is it short lived.  I kow I must sound cold but the family is trying to prepare for the best and worse case scenarios and ensure she has the right things in place for both outcomes.  All we want to do is ensure her time left (be it short or long) is happy, as healthy as it can be, and worth it for her with lots of lovely memories for her and the family that we can keep always.

Thanks all for reading,

ShKe