OP I am so sorry about your younger sister. I lost my beloved stepmom of 30+ years last April to brain cancer and my youngest sister 10 years ago. It is a horrible cancer to have and I'm sure I don't have to tell you to spend as much time with her as you want/can from this second on...it will probably be very quick.

I haven't read the other posts but you mentioned your family has a strong history of cancer - have you looked in to the HNPCC gene? Many in my family have it and we tested at Georgetown for it (which is good and convenient). It can involve pretty much any cancer between the brain and the ovaries and many family members with cancer at young ages who die from it - it's not just colon cancer, despite the name.

Again, I'm sorry for your situation.

Your sister and you are in my prayers.

OP, really, really sorry to read this. Please know that even though we're all strangers, there are people thinking of you, your sister and your family. Virtual hugs for you all during this very sh-tty and sad time for you.

Anonymous wrote:I'm so, so, so, sorry, OP.

I'm a cancer survivor myself (I'm younger than your sister, though), and I was recently told by my oncologist (over the phone, no less), that I have 'distant metastasis', per my last scan results. I might be in denial at this point, but I refuse to believe it.

So sorry. You're right. Words don't even begin to describe.

op again-- Pp I'm holding you in my thoughts and hoping for the best possible outcome for you. From my sisters situation I've learned that all cancer metastasis isn't the same and every woman's experience is different. While my sisters story isn't encouraging, I've heard some very encourAging stories of women living with stage 4 breast cancer.

I'm so, so, so, sorry, OP.

I'm a cancer survivor myself (I'm younger than your sister, though), and I was recently told by my oncologist (over the phone, no less), that I have 'distant metastasis', per my last scan results. I might be in denial at this point, but I refuse to believe it.

So sorry. You're right. Words don't even begin to describe.

Op again-- sorry about the typos.

This is the OP, she has stage 4 breat cancer metastasis to the brain. In addition to several brai lesions she has Leptomeningeal carcinoma, meaning the breast cancer cells are in her cerebrospinal fluid and coating the outside of her brain. It is a very aggressive cancer. She probably had just a few weeks to live.

Anonymous wrote:So sorry, OP. My mom has beaten breast cancer twice, and I can't imagine what I'd do if I'd lost her either time. History of breast cancer in our family. I'm still in my 20's and have been getting yearly mammograms since age 18.

We rid because I have a family history of breast cancer to but we only did a baseline mammo at 35 and they every other year starting at 40.
How old was your mom??

OP, did you say your sister had brain or breast cancer?

So sorry, OP. My mom has beaten breast cancer twice, and I can't imagine what I'd do if I'd lost her either time. History of breast cancer in our family. I'm still in my 20's and have been getting yearly mammograms since age 18.

This is Op. I'm here at the hospital with my sister and was making arrangements with hospice. This is just unspeakably sad and so difficult. I find I'm fine for a while and then I'm overwhelmed. Thanks for the many supportive posts. It truly is a help.

I'm sorry, OP. My aunt (uncle's wife) has gone through this over the past 20 years, losing her mother, all her mother's siblings, and one brother to cancer. We try not to be afraid or focused on what might happen with her, but it is an awful shadow over a family. You are right to be angry and scared, and I hope that you have strong friends and other family around you to help you through this.

Op, my thoughts are with you.

I'm so sorry, OP.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I've lost both parents to cancer but no siblings. CANCER SUCKS. It is so many different diseases and so complicated. The idea of your own cells turning against you just blows me away. I did lose a number of classmates and friends to cancer along the way (I'm in my forties). It's unfair. You do everything right, and still get stuck with that disease. My sympathies to you and your family.

This was how I felt about losing my dad. He had spent his entire adult life trying to be as healthy as humanly possible, and it still happened. Nope, not fair.

OP, I've lost both parents to cancer but no siblings. CANCER SUCKS. It is so many different diseases and so complicated. The idea of your own cells turning against you just blows me away. I did lose a number of classmates and friends to cancer along the way (I'm in my forties). It's unfair. You do everything right, and still get stuck with that disease. My sympathies to you and your family.