I am new to this forum as I was just recently diagnosed with Stage IV BC with mets to the bones specifically ribs, chest wall, femur/pelvic area. I was originally diagnosed with State II or III as it was detected in my lymph nodes in my right arm pit area. This was a shock to me as I have never missed a mammogram since turning 40. Can’t believe that my original diagnosis is Stage IV!!! I am 49 yo. My hubby and I were completely devastated at first but after multiple conversations with my oncologist and reading other Stage IV BC survivors stories we realize that this is not necessarily an automatic death sentence. I can potentially live with this for quite a while. My type of cancer is ER/PR positive HER2 negative and I have just started my treatment on 9/13/17. I will be taking Letrozole and Ibrance and receiving an Xgeva injection monthly. I am also taking Vitamin D/Calcium as well. It has not quite been a week yet and I haven’t really had any bad side effects. I suspect is probably too early. The only thing I have noticed is increased Hot Flashes but I also had my ovaries and tubes removed on 8/28/17. Today i am noticing increased pain in my outer thighs but maybe that is the actual bone mets? Not sure. The pain is certainly not bad at all but noticable is all. I remain very positive as I am in no way ready to leave this earth any time soon. We have a 20 year old daughter and a 17 year old daughter who is a senior in high school. I plan to see them both graduate college and be successful. We still have family vacations to take and my hubby and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage next year which we plan on celebrating. I am blessed to have such a strong support system not only in my family but in our amazing circle of friends as well. I come to this forum for any positive stories, advice and or tips on dealing with side effects etc etc. and I truly hope that someday I can be one of you who can provide the positivity and hope to others who receive this diagnosis in the future.
Hello sandy
Welcome to the forum where there will be lots of ladies that can give kindness and support.
It’s a lot to take in with the news …and the treatments but you sound very positive and ready to start a new journey !!
Sending some hugs xxx
Yes Renee,
Funny face is on the button there! Most of us surprise ourselves how long we survive and I think part of that is the sharing we give and receive on here xxx
Travel hopefully and enjoy what we have
??? Moijan
Hello girls - sorry I’ve been ‘away’ - after my lasr post had my sister and niece coming to stay for a fortnight, then eldest daughter came down with pneumonia and then school started! Back to work (dont work in school may I add!) and then husband’s best friend came from Canada for a few days which was great to see him but also for my lovely husband to talk to osomeone else that knows us and can understand a bit of what’s going on.
anyway, today had radiotherapy appointment which was good because as the treatment seems ti have worked, they are not going to keep calling me but when it becomes too painful to let them know and I can have an aopt at short notice ? Plus with everything else that is going on doesnt want to add to my schedule! ?
Tomorrow I have the gynae for the oopherectomy so we’ll see what they say. Next week is the oncologist and not sure what we’ll talk about but guess it might be a review although we havent done a new ct since august…
i’ll keep you posted.
hope everyone is ok and ready for winter… heating has been back on and thick duvet too! Xxxx
O funny face …I know how you feel but all dogs have a sell by date and at least Maggie is at peace from pain now …
The house will be so silent and you will feel the loss for ages but think of the good times you shared.
We had a jack Russell for 18 years …broke my heart having to send him over the rainbow bridge …felt like a murderer …hence the reason I have never got another one. …just dog sit for sons dogs now.
Sending real sympathetic hugs across the pond xxxxx
Funny face, I just couldn’t read and run, I am SO sorry for your loss, hugs to you and your hubby. It is so hard to lose a beloved doggie, ours are 10 and 13 and I’m dreading the day it happens but we have to do the right thing as responsible owners don’t we?
I feel sure that Maggie is running free over Rainbow Bridge and you’ll meet up again some day xxx
Well glad you are handling it well …I remember my little dog sitting with me , cuddling when I was going through primary chemo and sickness and remember how therapeutic he was in his last few weeks.
It’s just a pity that they don’t all just pass naturally in their baskets …it’s that trip to the vets that causes the upset!
Like us , you have the doggy sitting to do daily so you will still have that wet nose, dog hair and cuddles from the grand dogs! !
Hugs xxx
It’s so sad when you lose a member of the family. We had two dogs and one of them just became ill really quickly and she was the same age as her sister and we had to put her to sleep, so sad.
On a personal note, I’ve now come to the end of the treatment road so am now struggling to find my positivity. I am going to a two day conference at Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday called , I Can Do it, look it up on internet. It is all hayhouse authors, including Anita Moorjani. I’m sure I will leave there much more positive. I have got a spare ticket cos my husband refuses to see the " quacks" so I have a spare ticket if anyone is interested
Hello Barbara
It’s good to hear from you but sad that chemo option is running out …I have often read here that many ladies are put back onto a hormone therapy to keep things under control …maybe you could ask oncologist .
I hope you have settled into your new home …I think when you last posted …you had just moved to the coast …
Sadly I can’t join you in Birmingham although it sounds good as I’m not mobile enough to travel up from Devon.
Sending hugs xxx
Hi i am new to this. I’ll give a bit of an update. I am 34 wi stage 4 breast cancer spread to spine hips neck and shoulder. I was originally diagnosed in 2013 with stage 2 breaat cancer.i then had chemo mastectomy and radiotherapy.
Then in 2016 had secondary diagnosis.since then I have been on zoladex which stopped working so had my ovaries removed.since January this year I have been on letrozole which I think has now stopped working as my tumours markers have got higher. I am just wondering what is next after letrozole? I’m sure I will hear from my scan results soon to what is next.just looking for a little bit of a heads up before I am called in. Really hoping it’s not more chemo xx
Good morning ladies …
Hope your all had a good weekend , well the wasp and mozzy problems are better now another …daddy long legs …aagh creepy things …we had 7 in our lounge last night …hubby did his bit with them but got into bed last night …switched off light. .felt a tickle on my face …yep you guessed another one so I had a swat and spray to hand …not afraid to use it either …glad I don’t live in oz …could be snakes and killer spiders I suppose.
Xxxx
Hello Renee
It’s good some of your appointments are coming to an end …you must be exhausted with it all …you are doing so well to tolerate so many things at once …I’m a wuss …don’t think I could.
I live in Exeter. …born and bred here so a true Devonshire dumpling with a love of cream teas and pasties !!
Gorgeous weather here today …sunshine but with a autumn chill …
Hugs xxx
Oh Renee
You have the best taste in clotted cream …roddas
The best in the West.
Ilfracombe is about an hour or so away from Exeter and it’s a bit tired these days but there are lots of nice bays around the north coast .
Maybe once your treatments are less …you will be able to make the trip again and enjoy your memories.
Xxxx
Hello ff
Bone mets are clever little blighters …they can sting, burn, ache and itch so it’s difficult to know what they are doing. Most times unless they press on a nerve or limb …we don’t know they are there .
Hugs xx
Oh bon
You have described bone mets perfect …I had a flutter feeling and pulse in my femur at the beginning …felt like there was a spider in there living …then I got a big bruise that didn’t go away.
Bone mets on spine …cause different effects though …
Hugs
Hello everyone. Was wondering if any of you have had radiotherapy to help reduce pain ? My onc has suggested I have some on my spine and pelvis. Not sure whether to wait longer or to go for it now ? I hate making decisions!!!