TNBC stage 4 ,metastasis brain,lungs,bones
SOS
Triple Negative Metastatic
P.s Long Post
I would like to ask for opinions regarding my mother’s case.
She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in Albania in November 2018.
The tumor was ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-low (0)PD-L1 negative, and BRCA1/BRCA2 genetic testing was negative.She has also no possibility for immunotherapy.
She moved to Vienna, Austria, where treatment started in May 2019 with 4 cycles of Eribulin and 4 cycles of Docetaxel (Taxotere). In November 2019, she underwent a mastectomy. At that time there was no evidence of disease spread.
In October 2022, the cancer recurred with a soft tissue metastasis between the 4th and 5th ribs and small lung lesions. The new biopsy revealed HER2-1+. Treatment resumed in Vienna in March 2023 with 16 cycles of Docetaxel and Trodelvy on day 1 not the full cycle with day 8 too.
Due to financial limitations as a private patient, she returned to Albania and continued treatment with Capecitabine plus Avastin from June 2024 until January 2025, followed by Carboplatin until December 20, 2025.
At the end of 2025, brain metastases were detected. She returned to Vienna and received brain radiotherapy from January 12–16, 2026. Back in Albania, she was treated with Gemcitabine from February 9 to May 14, 2026.
In early June 2026, new brain lesions and a lesion in the T11 vertebra were found, and she underwent another course of radiotherapy in Albania. Two weeks later, due to increasing pain, a new MRI showed bone metastases involving T9, T10, T11, and S1. She now has significant pain and reduced mobility.
We have been told that her prognosis may be around three months. However, she is still able to travel and recently tolerated a flight from Tirana to Pisa, Italy, where we are seeking another medical opinion.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation, especially with triple-negative/HER2-low metastatic breast cancer involving the brain and bones after multiple lines of treatment?
Recent imaging has shown progression of the lung metastases. The largest lung lesion is now approximately 5 cm in size. The soft tissue metastasis located between the ribs has also increased and is approximately 5 cm.
In Italy first Chemo is planned on 2 of September and I hope she will resist and recover because till 3 days she say has a shortness of breath with oksimeter 92-94.
Thank you so much
Comments
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Hi @renalda , welcome to Breastcancer.org. We’re very sorry that your mother and your family are facing such a difficult situation.
Thank you for taking the time to share her history with us. We hope you get responses from other members soon.
We’re glad you’re seeking another medical opinion in Italy, and we hope the upcoming appointment will give you clearer guidance about the next treatment steps. The shortness of breath and oxygen readings you mentioned are important symptoms to keep her oncology team informed about, especially if they are new or worsening.
Because you are supporting your mother through all of this, you may also find our Caregivers forum helpful. It is a space specifically for family members and loved ones caring for someone with breast cancer:
Please keep us updated when you can. We’re thinking of you and your mother and sending strength to both of you.
Sincerely,
The Mods
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Hi ,
Thank you so much for your reply
She had an X-ray yesterday, which showed that there was fluid on the right side, covering about 60%. Today, she is going to undergo the appropriate treatment to remove the fluid. However, all her blood test results and other blood values are very good.
Hopefully she will be stable till 2 of September for taking Enhertu.
Best regards,1 -
hi @renalda just wanted to pop in for support. I too am triple negative with bone Mets. It’s like kicking the can down the road, multiple treatment changes are the norm, trying to keep the disease from spreading too much too fast. My heart is with you. The best I can offer is go with the flow, hug your mom and give yourselves many small joys many times. Life is at a different tempo in cancer land. Hugs to you both .
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@rlschaller Thank you so much for reaching out and for sharing your experience. I’m so sorry you are going through this too. How are you feeling on Eribulin + Keytruda? I hope the treatment is working well for you and that you are feeling as well as possible.
Unfortunately, things have been getting more difficult recently. Just two weeks after they drained the fluid from her lung, it came back again and she had to have the procedure repeated.Yesterday she flew to Italy because she is starting a new treatment there. She is not in the best physical condition right now. She doesn’t move very much because her right leg hurts when she puts it down, and I’m worried it may be related to a metastasis around S1. Her left arm is also almost frozen — she can barely move it, although she can still move her fingers and open and close her hand. On top of everything, she has also had Parkinson’s for about four years, which makes mobility even more difficult.
Tomorrow she is having another scan, and I’m really hoping she will be well enough to receive the treatment. Thankfully, her blood tests were very good, so I’m holding on to that positive sign. ❤️P.S. I’ve also read a lot about ivermectin and fenbendazole. I haven’t personally met anyone whose cancer was genuinely helped by either of them, and there are unfortunately so many scams and misleading stories online. It’s really hard to know what is real and what isn’t.
Thank you again for taking the time to write to me. Your words about finding small joys and going at a different tempo really touched me. Sending you a big hug. ❤️1 -
Hello,
Just here for new updates
These past few weeks, since her arrival in Italy, she has been experiencing breathing difficulties, so I took her to the emergency room.While there, they drained the fluid and placed a tube. She was then transferred to the oncology department, where she received her first chemo treatment with Enhertu on the 9th.Her mobility has become very limited, especially after the chemotherapy, but the doctors told us this is a side effect of the medication.They have also done the markings for radiation therapy, and she has an MRI of her neck scheduled for the 22nd.It is very difficult for her right now because she cannot move around or take care of herself independently. However, we are holding onto hope that this medication will help and that maybe a miracle will happen.In the meantime, there has been no new fluid buildup since the last drainage, and they have successfully removed her tube. I believe this is a very good sign.
#tnbc#metastatic
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