Fathers only sister has breast. spreads to liver and kidneys.?

Question

my father asked me to ask yahoo this question for him, his sister was diagnosed first with breast cancer now with liver she was told in may that it spread to her liver. now they say it has spread to her kidneys only thing is she is 78 yrs old. his question is does it sound like to you she has much time left. she will not tell him everything because she said she dont want to worry him. do you think the cancer is in its 4th stage yet. if anyone knows what web site might have information on the stages cancer goes through please let me know. thanks

Answer 1

National Breast cancer Society, Mayo Clinic. There are quite a few sites out there. Search for breats cancer stages. If it is in the liver now yes it is spreading but don't know if it is stage 4. Best of Luck

Answer 2

The minute her breast cancer sent microscopic malignant cells into the blood stream or lymphatic system she was automatically a stage IV. Cancer is staged according to the progression of the disease. In stages 1 and 2 the tumor is local . .in the breast . . in stage 3 there are more tumors in the breast and spreading out more . . and stage 4 refers to the disease metastasizing, which means the tumors 'seed' hundreds of new malignant cells into the blood stream or lymphatic system. Those microscopic seeds travel all over the body and some of them lodge in new locations and start whole new cancer colonies (breast cells - so this is still breast cancer but growing in a distant location). Those cells grow into cancer and start the entire cycle all over again . .without treatment the cancer will grow, spread, and travel indefinitely. As for your fathers sister . . she knows that she has advanced stage IV breast cancer.

ASCO: Breast Cancer (includes medical illustration of stages)

http://www.cancer.net/breast

As for your question about 'time left' . .absolutely no one can answer that question . . not even a doctor. Enjoy her company now and do not concentrate on her disease. She is here now and that is all that is important.