A Case of spontaneous Disappearance of Secondary Cancerous Growths

Case Details

Disease Location

Breast with metastases to left to left axilla possible metastases to left femur and right lung

Personal Characteristics

37-year-old female nurse

Clinical Characteristics

Struck on the left breast with an umbrella (1885) date last menstruation january 1895 noticed small lump on breast (1889) readmitted to hospital with nodules around the scar and considerable dyspnoea (december 1894) weight loss and a decrease in general health (1894-1895) admitted to lagan ward january 17, 1895 dyspnoea and cyanosis , cough with blood (march 1896) condition somewhat improved (summer 1895) condition worsened (winter 1895) pain in left femur; deformity noted (may, 1896) biopsy proved breast cancer tumor (may 1890) visual exam revealed nodules on the left side of chest, left axilla, above right breast, and enlarged glands present above each clavicle (1895) physical exam revealed enlargement of the above nodules; deformity in left femur; suspected metastases in the right lung and left femur (1896)

Remission Characteristics

Physical exam revealed surgical scars had turned to keloid (june 15, 1896) disappearance of enlarged glands in axilla (june 15, 1896). General condition improved (june 15, 1896) condition steadily improved visual exam noted femur deformity not notably enlarged surgical scars free of nodules and cancerous growths no enlarged glands in axilla

Treatment & Mechanisms

Proposed Remission Mechanisms

It was suspected that the tumor in the patient's femur was reabsorbed

Clinical Treatment

Mastectomy of left breast (may 1890) removal of left axillary gland (july 1892) chloroform, morphia ether pine oil inhalations creosote bromide of am monthsia bismuth and hydrocyanic acid phenacetin, quinine antipyearsin caffeine salicylate of soda iodide of potassium iron and senega.