What does a diagnosis of METS to multiple bones and pleural effusion mean?

JoAnn, I have bone mets, too. It's in almost all my bones except below my elbows and knees. I'm a 8.5 year survivor and continue treatments. My life is good, I've slowed down. I had disease progression to my skull and was treated with radiation. I lost my hair, but it came back. Now I am losing my hair from the chemo. There are a lot of new drugs, now. I praying your Mom will do amazing. I care, Ginny

Oh, JoAnn, the pleural effusion may be an infection. Your mom may have anemia from the Mets.

I too have bone Mets, diagnosed in 2015. Ibrance worked amazingly for over 8 years. I have disease progression in my stomach lining now.. There are some very good treatments- prayers for your Mom AND for you! I know how my disease affects my daughter❤️. Faith, hope and one step at a time. Keep us updated with her progress. -Nancy

Virginia, i’m so happy to hear treatment has worked for you and sorry to hear that this horrible disease has spread as well. she is currently being placed on capivasertib and fulvestrant along with a leuprolide injection for her bones. this is in hopes that the treatment works

hi nancy, how did you qualify for ibrance? my mom is HR+PR+/HER2- so i’m not sure how doctors are deciding her treatment, she was on verzenio and tamoxifen but this medications did not work for her. i’m hoping the new treatment works and slows down the progression!

JoAnn, have your mom fill in the Treatment section of this app. Then, you can access the NCCN guidelines for treatment options and medications for her more specific disease. Knowledge is power. Then, you can ask her oncologist why they choose one med over another and why.

Metastatic cancer to bones and pleural effusion can feel overwhelming to process, especially while waiting for medical appointments. These terms indicate that cancer has spread to bone locations and that fluid has collected around the lungs, which the medical team will address with targeted treatment plans. Many community members here have navigated similar diagnoses and found meaningful support through sharing experiences, treatment insights, and encouragement with others who understand this journey.