In June of 1997, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After having a radical mastectomy and receiving 6 months of precautionary chemotherapy, she was declared cancer-free. None of the tests showed that the cancer had spread to any other part of her body, for which my family and I were so very grateful. Less than 2 months ago, my mom went to the doctor because of some pain she was having in her abdomen. They finally determined the pain was from her gall bladder. However, the infection in her gall bladder was being caused by a problem in her liver. On May 14, 1999, after weeks of all kinds of tests - ultrasounds, CAT scans, and a biopsy - my mother was once again diagnosed with cancer...of the liver. The cancer was metastatic - meaning the breast cancer she had 2 years ago had spread to it. At this point, the cancer had already formed numerous tumors throughout her liver, so the only possible treatment was chemotherapy. If the chemo was effective, it would have shrunk the tumors enough so that the liver could start functioning again. My mother was hospitalized on May 19 because of complications caused from what we now know was the beginning of liver failure. Two days later, she received her first chemo and had no problems with it. She was doing so well, it seemed. Her spirits were high, her color was coming back, and she just looked like she was feeling great! Little did we know that the cancer was so advanced and that her liver was on the brink of just completely shutting down. On Tuesday, May 25, she was moved into the Critical Care Unit. At about 10 minutes till 6:00 that evening, she died.

American Cancer Society

National Cancer Institute

OncoLink

Cancer Prevention and Control

Cancer Research Foundation of America

Cancer Organizations

Breast Cancer On-line

Breast Cancer Support Groups

Pink October

National Breast Cancer Coalition

Liver Cancer

Questions and Answers about Metastatic Cancer

Wellspring: Metastatic Cancer Support Group