I Have De Novo Ogliometastatic Breast Cancer - Can I Stop Treatment?

Last month while at my oncology appointment, I decided to ask my doctor an unpopular question. I asked her if she ever had a patient that went off treatment after years of being stable, and if so, how did it go?

Now before the collective gasps and judgments, hear me out.

Do I dare to dream?

De novo oligometastatic disease is defined as having limited metastases along with the primary tumor at the time of diagnosis. The data is limited but one study suggests that hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with bone-only metastases and surgery may have better overall survival.^1,2

I have lived with de novo oligometastatic breast cancer for almost 10 years. Bone-only metastases. I have been on my current treatment of Ibrance and Faslodex for 7 years. But, thinking about this milestone, I couldn't help wondering if there will ever be a time when I could discontinue treatment and still be okay?

I didn't have any lymph node involvement. That means cancer spread through my bloodstream. I had the bone metastases radiated and a lumpectomy to remove the primary tumor. Could there still be circulating tumor cells sleeping in my bloodstream? If I stopped treatment, would any rogue cells wake from their slumber and decide to check out other areas of my body to occupy? Or, maybe, just maybe, they are all gone?

I asked my oncologist

I was optimistic about what my oncologist would say. For example, she could have had a patient that has gone off treatment after years of the same therapy and is doing well. I crossed my fingers that there was just one person she could reference.

So, I waited for my oncologist to ask me if I had any questions for her. I took a deep breath and asked the "forbidden" question. I clarified that I wasn't considering this - I just wanted to ask the question. She replied that it was a good question and shared her first-hand experience.

Two patients with a similar MBC to mine went off treatment. Each had different reasons. They both had some progression-free survival but ended up progressing and returning to treatment. While I was disappointed, I wasn't surprised. I appreciated her honesty.

I was not surprised at the response

When it was all said and done, she didn't feel it was wise to stop treatment. While she couldn't know when or where it may go, it was almost certain cancer would continue to do what it does and spread. I was not surprised by her response; however, I am slightly disappointed.

I never intended to stop the treatment that has been working. In the back of my mind, I always knew it probably wasn't possible. But I couldn't resist asking the question and hoping against hope I would hear what I wanted.