It seems that the cancer in her bones is from her breast cancer. While it is impossible to predict any single patient's response to treatment, patients who have breast cancer that spreads to the bones can very often live for many years, especially if their breast cancer is sensitive to hormone blocking drugs. Radiation therapy can also sometimes be used when a patient has metastatic tumors in the bone that become very painful, or when the tumors cause weakening of structurally important bones like the spine or pelvis or hip bones.

Unfortunately, once breast cancer spreads to the bones, it can never be cured. Hopefully, though, your mother's breast cancer can be controlled with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for a good long time.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Wascher