I don’t often contribute but read loads of your threads which are fascinating and informative. I know there has been a lot of not very good news on the secondary threads this year but I’ve had some relatively good news today and thought I’d share it so I hope you don’t mind.
I was originally diagnosed in July 07 with secondaries in bones as well at same time. Even with treatment my chances of making 5 yrs were only 20% and the likelihood of recurrence is 90% in 5 yrs but hey they’re only statistics ! Had chemo, mx, full anc, rads, then tamoxifen, now zoladex, arimidex and zometa (my current cocktail) with a drop of prozac to help me cope with the hormone treatment side effects. I’m due back to see onc in Dec with a bone scan beforehand to see how things are but today I was at the surgeon’s for a 6 month checkup and having found a skin rash near my scar and a tiny, tiny lump in my other breast I was a little worried.
However, all is well and there are no problems so it’s back in 6 months to see him, the drugs appear to be working and he said he’s never seen me looking better !!! I came out a very happy bunny.
Thinking of all of you who are struggling at the mo.
Great news Liz…I was diagnosed like you with stage 4 from the very beginning in 2003. I’m feeling very well. Let’s keep confusing those stats.
Take Care…x
Yaaaaaahey - great stuff. I’ve got it in my bones too - no idea what my stats are (how do you all find out these things, - espcially if like me, you are on herceptin which has only really been out a short time).
Celeste - I found out my stats from my bcn who used adjuvant online. I knew my figures were rubbish before I asked but I was applying for retirement from work at age 44 and thought they would help my case which was a very, very long shot but was granted first time without appeal. HR and union were gobsmacked as I was 20 yrs off normal company retirement. This was 18 months down the line and after a failed attempt to go back to work - I didn’t want to know during treatment!!! And I worked on the principle that someone has to be in the survivor statistics…
nice to hear good news