Yes I am still here (for those of you who have followed my posts), still on Herceptin (actually Ontruzant now), and still no sign of Breast Cancer after 260 infusions. That’s secondary BC since 2003 to liver and bone.
That’s the good news but this year hasn’t been a good one for me - hence not coming on here to post my yearly update. My husband of nearly 46 years died this year, my mother has terminal cancer and I have recently been diagnosed with a second cancer CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia). It’s an awful lot to take onboard and process but I am getting there (I hope) and remain positive.
Who knows whether the 3 lots of chemo I have had since 1995 have damaged my DNA somehow and caused this new cancer but the way I look at it is this - if I hadn’t had the chemo treatments I wouldn’t have lived long enough to get this CLL!
CLL (I hadn’t even heard of it before!) is a blood cancer that you can live with for years with, relatively, few side effects and there is no benefit to treating early, unlike Breast Cancer. I will live with this, alongside my BC treatment and now have an Oncologist and a Haematologist (lucky me!). I am now on ‘Watch and Wait’, or ‘wait and worry’ as many CLL patients have renamed it. See - BC patients aren’t the only ones with ‘cancer humour’!
I never thought that, when I started this cancer journey in 1994, that I would outlive my strong, healthy, handsome life partner of 49 years. Certainly in 2003, when I was given 4 months and told by the Liver Specialist to ‘put my affairs in order’, it wasn’t a conceivable option.
I want to pay tribute to my wonderful husband who was with me every step of my BC journey. I hope I can manage without his loving care and I want to be here to continue to support our family as well as he did. I also want to acknowledge the debt that we all owe to those of our friends and family that help us to ‘hang in there’ when life gets tough.
So sorry to read about the loss of your husband and soul mate it can’t be easy for you.
Like you I have been on this forum for many years although my journey has been only 9 years. Breast cancer and bone mets at same time for 8 years then discovered in liver last October. You are my inspiration. Hopefully I can live as long with liver mets.
Sorry to read you now have another cancer to deal with on top of everything else.
wow you are an inspiration to us all and give that gimmer of hope that we really are “living” with cancer not dying from it. Sorry about your loss it must be really hard losing your soul mate.sending hugs
wow you are an inspiration to us all and give that glimmer of hope that we really are “living” with cancer not dying from it. Sorry about your loss it must be really hard losing your soul mate.sending hugs
So pleased that you have made 15 years Blondie - I have been following your posts since I started on the forum almost 6 years ago, they are very inspirational. I am so sorry for the loss of your husband, your mother’s diagnosis and yours of CLL. I hope you have supportive friends and family to help you, be thinking of you and watching for your Year 16 post.
Blondie
Nice to hear from you but so sorry to hear of your loss …you must feel so lonely after having such a devoted carer …but you are a strong lady and will cope. For Her positive ladies …herceptin has been a wonderful drug regime. .unfortunately I’m the her negative so it doesn’t fit my cancer. …
Please keep in touch . We love to hear from you.
Very sorry to hear of your loss. It must be devastating to lose a loved one.
But know that you are an inspiration to many.
Prayers for you and all positive thoughts for strength and perseverance at this difficult time. God bless you
You sound like you have had long rough journey but you are a warrior. I am not how to contact you privately but would be interested in your story? I have just been told I now have spots on my liver and a couple of bones and I am not sure how to feel - I was triple positive when diagnosed in Oct 2016
Blondie you are a huge inspiration to anyone who finds themselves on this site, so sorry to hear your going through such a hard time but you probably dont realise how much your posts mean to so many, you are a legend on this forum.