Which treatment is best for my aunt's stage 4 breast cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mom's sister was just diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. She is 62 years old, and it has already spread to her liver. She has always been healthy, never smoked, rarely drank, and regularly exercised. How did this happen?

She had a clear mammogram last year. Now they are saying she might only have months to live. What are the best treatments? She wants to try alternative therapies, but I am skeptical.

Also, what does this mean for me and my sisters?
Should we get genetic testing?
How often should we get screened? My mom is a nervous wreck.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

It appears that my mom's sister is suffering from advanced breast cancer, which has spread to her liver. Treatment at this stage depends on the molecular profile of her histopathology report and the cancer drugs she has previously received.

If she has triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and has not received immunotherapy, that may be the most effective option. For other forms of breast cancer, hormonal therapy or CDK4/6 inhibitors could be beneficial. Reviewing her previous biopsy and molecular testing reports is essential to determine the best action.

She should undergo genetic testing for the BRCA (breast cancer) mutation, as a positive result would mean that other family members should also be tested. Risk factors for breast cancer include

A family or personal history of the disease.
Early menstruation.
Late menopause.
Dense breast tissue.
Excessive alcohol consumption.
BRCA1 (breast cancer 1) mutations.

Approximately 70 percent of breast cancers in women with inherited BRCA1 mutations are triple-negative, emphasizing the importance of early screening and preventive measures for those at risk.

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.