12 years cancer free now suddenly stage 4 pleural effusion

I used to hate the word palliative because it used to be pretty interchangeable (at least in my rural setting) with hospice. Now, it is more about making you comfortable while the treatments do their job. Honestly it still has a negative feel in my mind, but I know it isn’t giving up. If there is no tumor, only BC cells and they are giving you herceptin, and letrozole they are actively treating these cells. The treatments kind of stink but they could be knocking this thing back to a manageable place.
When is your first treatment with herceptin? Are you getting it alone or with another agent at the same time?

Dear Relapse, I'm so sorry to hear your news. I am in the same situation with markers increasing last year and confirmed MBC in December via lung biopsy. The pleural fluid build up caused severe respiratory issues and I've had 3 thorocentesis to drain. MBC is not curable but definitely manageable. I began treatment with Verzenio, since it is a pill it falls under prescription insurance. Very expensive but Eli Lilly has a plan called Lilly Cares, your oncologists nurse can help with the application, that covered my copay. Diarrhea is the main issue with this drug. Unfortunately, after 6 months, a pet scan established the Verzenio was no longer effective. I began chemo (Abraxane) the first 6 treatments full dosage and resulted in getting the cancer under control. Dosage was reduced by 20% dramatically improving my life balance. I will be on this chemo until it is no longer effective at which time we'll try another chemo. I share all this to let you know, while the diagnosis sounds devastating (I thought I was at end of life), there are options that will allow you to have as much of normal life as possible for quite some time. God Bless!

Does anyone have stageIV inflammatory breast cancer and would like to share their experiences?

<p>Breast cancer metastasis to pleural fluid of lung.</p><p>I am 71 and on my 3rd event with left side breast cancer. The first time was in 1999, then again in 2009, and now in 2023. The first time I had a simple mastectomy, no lymph nodes removed and no other conventional treatment. The second time the cancer spread to the skin of the chest and axilla and 2 out of 8 lymph nodes. I had surgery, Arimidex, and radiation to the left side chest, axilla, and supraclavicular lymph nodes. No chemotherapy. I stopped the Arimidex after 8 months. Now, 14 years later, the breast cancer is in the pleural fluid of the right lung. I recently had an in-dwelling pleural catheter put in to be able to drain the fluid at home. Very unpleasant. I would like to connect with others who have this type of catheter due to breast cancer metastasis. I hope there are others on this website with a similar experience.</p>

Hi @relapse, I'm so sorry you got this news. My sister is 11 years post diagnosis and was just diagnosed with pleural effusion. Would you be willing to give me an update to your care and treatment? I hope you are well. Thank you in advance!