Maggie Daley: Mayor's wife undergoes biopsy - Maggie Daley treated for metastatic breast cancer since 2002

Maggie Daley: Mayor's wife undergoes biopsy - Maggie Daley treated for metastatic breast cancer since 2002
By Deborah L. Shelton
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
April 23, 2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-maggie-daley-cancer-23apr23,0,6686007.story


Mayor Richard Daley's wife, Maggie, who has been treated for metastatic breast cancer since 2002, underwent a biopsy Wednesday after a routine test detected changes in a lesion, or tumor, on her spine.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital doctors, who performed the outpatient surgical procedure using local anesthesia, said the results may be available as early as next week.

The lesion was one of multiple tumors identified after Daley's metastatic breast cancer was diagnosed. In July 2006, Daley had surgery to remove a tumor in her right breast.

Daley's physician, Dr. Steven Rosen, director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern, said changes were detected in the lesion during a routine MRI that was part of Daley's regular follow-up care.

Rosen, who has overseen Daley's care since her diagnosis, said the tumors were normal for breast cancer that had metastasized and were being controlled by treatment.

Metastatic breast cancer commonly infiltrates the bones, said Dr. Lydia Usha, medical oncologist at the Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at Rush University Medical Center.

"Between hormonal drugs, bisphosphonates [also used to treat osteoporosis], sometimes radiation to the localized lesion, we usually can manage the disease progression," said Usha, speaking in general terms and not about Daley's case in particular. "Sometimes we have to start chemotherapy or change the chemotherapy."

A great advance in recent decades has been that doctors can look at specific markers on tumors that can help direct treatment, Rosen said.

Asked if Daley's condition has declined, Rosen said he is optimistic.

"If you had asked me seven years ago if she would be as healthy and doing well today, I probably would have said no," he said. "Right now she is still doing beautifully and her disease hasn't changed very much, and I anticipate that's going to continue.

"There are so many breakthroughs going on in breast cancer therapy ... that I'm very hopeful that this will go on indefinitely."

Asked later how the mayor was handling the latest development in his wife's medical condition, spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard said: "Maggie is doing very well. As a result, so is he."

dshelton@tribune.com