Can targeted therapy help manage breast cancer in the elderly?

Question

Hello doctor,

My mother, aged 61, was recently diagnosed with breast cancer that has now metastasized to her bones and liver. This diagnosis last month was completely unexpected. She has previously undergone hormone therapy, but doctors have informed us that it is no longer effective. They are now recommending intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, but she is already very weak, barely able to get out of bed. Her appetite has diminished significantly, she is losing weight rapidly, and severe back pain disrupts her sleep every night. We are providing home care, but it is overwhelming, and I worry we might be missing treatments that could improve her comfort. Would oral chemotherapy or targeted therapy be gentler alternatives than intravenous chemotherapy? Additionally, can the bone metastases be treated directly to reduce pain and help her mobility?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Your mother’s breast cancer has metastasized (spread) to her bones and liver, and hormone therapy is no longer effective. She is experiencing rapid health decline with significant weight loss, severe pain, decreased mobility, and loss of appetite. Besides intravenous chemotherapy, there are other treatment options that may be easier to tolerate, such as oral chemotherapy or targeted therapies like cyclin-dependent kinase four and six inhibitors (CDK4/6 inhibitors) or phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors (PI3K inhibitors), depending on her cancer subtype and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status. Radiation therapy can be used directly on bone metastases to relieve pain and improve mobility. Involving a palliative care team can help manage her symptoms- pain, sleep difficulties, and appetite while improving her overall quality of life. Strong pain medications and focused treatments can make her more comfortable. It is important to discuss these options with her oncologist and consider a palliative care consultation as early as possible.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.