How bad is Elizabeth Edward's cancer?

[roguevalley]

This was on slate. It might help some understand what she has and what is available to help her. My dad survived lung cancer. It is never hopeless until it is.

http://www.slate.com/id/2162548?nav=tap3

Yesterday we learned that Elizabeth Edwards, John Edwards' remarkable and impressive 57-year-old wife, has suffered a return of the cancer for which she was treated just three years ago. What is this likely to mean for her?

When she was initially diagnosed, Edwards' breast cancer was treated with a combination of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, to which she seemed to respond well. The details of her cancer have not been made public, but we might expect roughly 90 percent of women with this diagnosis and with an apparently good response to treatment to be disease-free five years after treatment. Unfortunately, Edwards is among the roughly 5 percent of women in whom the disease reappeared more rapidly.

See the rest at the link.

[benddem]

1. very bad

it is stage 4.(the highest stage) It has metastasized to the bone and could be lurking other places in the body. They say it isn't curable, but it is treatable. That means she will be having really aggressive treatment. It isn't something they can just cut out. They have to kill it in place. I think they are wonderful courageous people. I know that cancer treatment has improved greatly. It I prayed, I'd be praying for her. I'll just send vibes.

[quiller4]

2. stage 4 breast cancer doesn't mean aggressive treatment

anymore. It may mean a combination of bone strengthening medication like those prescribed for osteoporosis plus a hormone cocktail. If that isn't effective then there a number of new, targeted chemotherapy drugs used.

One of my sisters has been down this road.She needed no aggressive therapy. Unlike when her cancer was first discovered, she didn't have a port for an IV drip. All of her medication was in pill form. She made clinic visits about every three weeks at the start. She suffered no nausea, lost no hair and was still able to chase after three active grandchildren every day and commute 60 miles at night to teach night classes at the U.

She manages this like the chronic disease it is. According to her doc, her asthma is more likely to kill her than her cancer.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. What's the typical prognosis?

From what I'm reading, over 80% of patients with metastatic breast cancer don't survive 5 years. Obviously, she could do much better than that, and let's pray that's the case. I assume your sister falls into that 20% category?

[dflprincess]

4. According to one of the nurses I spoke to at work,

it all depends on whether or not it is confined to the rib(s). If it is, then there is a good chance it can be managed and contained. If it has spread to the lungs, liver or spine, things won't look so good. We can only continue to send the Edwards family our thoughts and prayers.