Odds of Living for Many Years With Stage 4 Cancer

Hi everyone, 

 

I'm not sure if daughters of those with parents affected with cancer are allowed to post, so I apologise if this isn't the correct place for me. 

 

Last monday I found out that my mom's  breast cancer had come back and spread. According to the reports it was stated that my mom has extensive chest involvment with a tumour in the lungs. The full title was  thoracic lymphangitis carcinomatosis. I'm in my 20s and just feel utterly heart broken. I understand that my mom's life is likely to be shortened, but is it unrealistic to keep hope that she can live many years with this? Are there any individuals out there who have themselves, or have parents who are living relatively normal lives for many years with this cancer? I just don't want my mom to suffer and it's made my life feel so empty. 

 

Thank you for any words you are able to provide.

  • Hi there. I'm very sorry to hear this. I'm 38 and heavily pregnant, my Mum has terminal cancer. Hope is very important at the stage you're at and personally I found arming myself with a LOT of knowledge and reading everything out there that I could get my hands on, gave me a lot of hope in the early stages and somewhere to channel my energy. There are lots of books out there and examples of people who have survived stage 4 terminal cancer diagnoses. I'm not sure I'm allowed to list them here but google could/should help. One book leads to another and an army of further information and people out there, some of them doing very well with a terminal diagnosis. This forum is where I started initially but there is plenty else out there. My Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer early last March. She was offered no further treatment on the NHS at this stage because her cancer is rare and basically they don't have any they think works (and is cost effective). We have done many other things though outside of the NHS. She is still 'clinically' well. Today she has had her covid vaccine. Wishing you lots of love and luck. X