Category Archives: Metastatic breast cancer
Dana-Farber Patient Stays Positive Through Metastatic Breast Cancer
Posted on November 5, 2020 by Mia Khatib
At 29 years old, Adriana, 38, of Massachusetts, was diagnosed with metastatic (stage four) breast cancer after noticing a lump in her breast and feeling some “strange symptoms.” Only three months after a move across the country, Adriana was told her best bet would be to move back home for her treatment. “I talked to some doctors down in Florida, and they said to me, ‘You’re not going to get good care down here, if you’re from Massachusetts, go back to Dana-Farber’” said Adriana. “Within a few months, I had moved to Florida, packed up my bags and went back …
Priority Areas Illustrate Expertise
Posted on June 17, 2015 by Carol
With a breadth that addresses all types of breast
and gynecologic cancers – from the common to the
obscure, the early-stage to the advanced – the Susan F.
Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber is
propelling the science and fine-tuning patient care for
women (and in a few cases, men) of all ages.
The center’s research and care expertise is growing
in four major areas where patients find themselves in
particular need of assistance: breast surgery, metastatic
breast cancer, breast cancer in young women, and
recurrent ovarian cancer.
Breast Surgery
Colleen Sullivan was prepared to follow a typical plan
for her breast cancer: a lumpectomy followed by radia-
tion. When she learned a …
What’s New in Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment and Research
Posted on November 18, 2014 by Carol
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC), also known as stage IV breast cancer or advanced stage breast cancer, ultimately affects approximately 20-25 percent of all people with breast cancer. There is no cure for MBC, but new developments in treatment and research are helping patients live longer and experience a better quality of life.
“There are women who live with MBC for many years, often five, ten years or more,” says Eric Winer, MD, director of the Breast Oncology Program in the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber. “Although some women with metastatic breast cancer still face a shorter life …
Despite Metastatic Breast Cancer, Foster Mom Continues Opening Her Home
Posted on November 12, 2014 by Carol
Lise Pass has been living with metastatic breast cancer for nearly a decade, but she prefers focusing not on her disease, but rather on her children – all 48 of them.
Lise (left) and Sami Pass with the family’s latest foster son.
In addition to a biological son and daughter who are now adults, Pass and her husband Harry have been foster parents to 46 boys and girls.
The way Pass sees it, being a foster mom has played as big a part in her getting through cancer treatment at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber.
“You have to empower …
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Posted on October 23, 2013 by Peter
When people hear the words metastatic breast cancer, A lot of them have no idea what it means. I know we hear a lot of talk about breast cancer in the month of October. Yet very little about male breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer means that cancer has traveled outside of the breast area. It usually spreads to the bones, brain, lung or liver. At this point it is considered stage four, with no cure. It is considered a terminal disease at that point. They are trying to make it a chronic disease. This also means …
Hitching a Ride
Posted on October 14, 2013 by Carol
Will an emerging cancer therapy that links potent drugs to tumor-seekers take the place of standard chemotherapy?
by Elizabeth Dougherty
Eric Winer, MD (left), has been leading clinical trials at DF/BWCC focusing on the antibody-drug conjugate T-DM1.
Sarah Merchant was working as a Web designer in Boston when, at age 28, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Surgery, radiation, and a series of chemotherapy regimens followed, as did nerve damage, hair loss, and a general decline in her health.
Then Merchant heard about T-DM1, a trial drug promising the effectiveness of chemotherapy without the toxicity. “I wanted to get into that …
Recent Scan results
Posted on August 19, 2013 by Peter
When you live with metastatic cancer you live in 3 month spans. Typically every 3 months you have a scan and no matter how good you feel you hold your breath until the results come in. My most recent scans were a month ago and I wish I had better news to send. My cancer has spread to my lungs and liver. We have been on quite a ride since this cancer journey started 5.5 years ago and over 11 treatment programs. That is way too many. I really hate to tell you all this news, I especially hate to …
A Note from Peter – Boston Strong
Posted on April 29, 2013 by Carol
BOSTON STRONG
I could not use another title. Being a former marathoner, doing Boston like ten times, I can’t help but be touched in so many ways by this bombing. I have a few of my friends still running in this great event and many others watching it.
Luckily none of friends or family got hurt. My thoughts and energy go out to to all who were victims of this event. I will not give these horrible people any of my energy, it reminds us that there are still some bad people in the world. What I would love to focus is …
Male breast cancer
Posted on November 20, 2012 by Peter
Male breast cancer…..
Someday it will be a word everyone has heard of and familiar with. However, right now most men have no idea they can get this crazy disease. Approximately 2140 men per year are diagnosed and 440 men die from this disease each year.
Thirty years ago is about the time when women really started talking about breast cancer and raising awareness and of course raising a lot of money since then. As money is constantly raised for breast cancer in the Billions we are still no closer to a cure. I am affiliated with a group called NBCC. This …
