That is interesting. Where I work (a breast cancer clinic in an academic teaching hospital), our metastatic ladies get active treatment, if they want. Yes, they cannot be cured, but our doctors offer chemo, oral chemo, endocrine therapy, radiation, etc to prolong the lives with best quality they can give. We lost a patient last year she was Mets to bones and liver. She lived 13 quality years. She traveled, spent time with family, and raised over $500,000 for breast cancer research. We call it “goal of control” not palliative. We do refer some patients to our palliative care to help with pain.
Wishing you well!

I think women associate 'Palliative' with end-of-life care and that is not the case. It is meant to keep you comfortable. Get Palliative radiation to your shoulder, it will stop the spread, prevent pain and fracture. My radiologist told me I would be seeing him on as needed basis which means when a new lesion appears on a scan it will be radiated. It works Karla, you don't burn like regular radiation, it is targeted to the specific spot so it doesn't harm other organs. Meanwhile you will be on medications meant to slow the spread down. My entire sternum looked like Swiss cheese with holes from cancer eating through the bone. Had 5 Palliative radiations to it July 2023 and now new bone has grown over it, pain gone and stable. Then I had another lesion found 6 months later on my hip and that also was resolved with Palliative radiation. 2 months ago a new lesion was found on my lower spine and that's when my oncologist stopped Anastrozole since it was no longer working and wanted me on 2 other drugs but I declined. I still haven't pursued radiation to my spine.
I was only taking anastrozole for stage 4 BC knowing that wasn't going to be enough, my doctor wanted me on ibrance all along, but I declined. When medication stops working, they change it.

Karla, Palliative care does not mean end of life care. They offer 'Palliative' radiation which is not regular radiation. Its usually very targeted to a specific lesion/tumor over a period of 5 days aimed to stop the growth . I got Palliative radiation twice already. In July of 2023 and March 2024 and both bone lesions have remained stable. Are you on any hormone blocking or other drugs? You should be on at least one.

Exactly Karla. You are in good hands, don't worry. The word Palliative really throws women off. Get your shoulder radiated, its 5 days in a row, tiredness is the side effect. You will go for a special CT first to get pictures of your shoulder and a few 'tattoo' dots where the radiation will enter. They will also make a mold like device for your legs while you are laying there which they will use for all 5 sessions, its to keep you still . Once the radiologist gets plan of action together they will call you and tell you when to start.