| America received a shocking piece of news in | | | | have metastasized are still breast cancer cells, no |
| March 2007. John Edward's wife, Elizabeth, had | | | | matter where they are found in the body. |
| been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. | | | | Treatment is palliative, improving quality of life, |
| She spoke calmly, with inner strength, about how | | | | relieving symptoms and aimed at extending a |
| she had asked her husband to continue his | | | | woman's lifetime. But there are new treatments |
| presidential campaign, and how she wanted to | | | | coming that are giving more hope to those |
| campaign by his side. She did not want to be best | | | | patients with this cancer. Many women with this |
| known by her illness; she wanted, in fact, needed, | | | | illness choose to become part of a clinical trial in |
| to carry on as normally as she could. | | | | order to access treatments that are not yet |
| Her diagnosis gave a face to this illness. | | | | approved by the FDA. |
| Americans began to discuss Elizabeth and John | | | | If it is "estrogen-receptive," hormonal therapies |
| Edward's decisions. Globally, people talked about | | | | such as the drug Herceptin can be lifesaving. |
| how deeply cancer affects families. Breast cancer | | | | Chemotherapy is indicated in bone, lung and liver |
| is something that affects many, and almost | | | | metastases. For bone metastases, radiation and |
| everyone has known someone who has died | | | | the drug bisphosphonate are often used. For liver |
| from it. Her announcement gave a face to it and | | | | and lung metastases, occasionally surgery is used. |
| it made people think. It brought the topic out in | | | | For cancer that has spread to the brain, radiation |
| the open. | | | | and surgery are used. |
| What is metastatic breast cancer? Also called | | | | Palliative care to relieve symptoms from both the |
| Stage IV breast cancer, it is cancer that has | | | | cancer and treatment involves drug and non-drug |
| spread from the original (primary) site to other | | | | treatments such as relaxation therapy, |
| organs or tissues in the body, such as bone, liver, | | | | acupuncture, and dietary management. Besides |
| lungs or brain. | | | | physical symptoms, palliative care for patients |
| Sometimes, like Mrs. Edwards, it is a recurrence | | | | who are being treated or who cannot be cured |
| of the original cancer. However, in one out of ten | | | | focuses on spiritual and emotional needs, as well |
| diagnosed, the first diagnosis that a woman hears | | | | as physical needs. |
| is metastatic breast cancer. | | | | As far as anyone knows today, metastatic |
| In it, cells break away from the breast, circulating | | | | cancer can't be cured. Sometimes, treatments |
| through the blood and lymphatic system. The | | | | can actually stop the cancer from growing for |
| body's immune system attacks these circulating | | | | months or years. When Elizabeth Edwards |
| cancer cells. Most do not survive, but if the | | | | asserted that she thought her own might be |
| immune system malfunctions or is weak, or for | | | | treatable, people listened. She gave a face to this |
| another, unknown reason, will usually spread to | | | | illness - a loving, brave, wise, face - that no one |
| the bone, then lung and liver next. The cells that | | | | will forget. |