Hi all, just joining the group. Sharon, 59 yrs.
Sorry long post.
Primary BC 2018, ER+, PR-, HER2-, LN0, WLE, radiotherapy, anastrozole, tamoxifen, Letrozole - 2 years all up bad experience x3. Had 5th year mammogram March23, all been clear.
My old SIJ injury started playing up in Oct22 after dragging a trolly bag around during work trip, but settled. Started more exercise walking mostly from Dec22, feeling pretty good, loosing some much needed weight. By Feb back&pelvis ache more regular, made physio appointment in March with history provided. Given series of SIJ exercises, tried gym, tried rest no help. Had my 25th wedding anniversary hill walking in Scotland for 2 weeks in May…lovely but now pain was an issue, finally now suspicious. GP visit, elevated CA15-3 & alk phos, breast care referral & CT, emergency MRI in June, bone pain challenging even with analgesia / limited due to mild/mod CKD. Secondary BC confirmed July - mets in spine, pelvis, ribs. Start treatment on Monday, D-R-F.
Told immediate family, told work - now off for 3 months, told a couple close friends, and 1 sister. Need courage to tell more friends, other siblings and father. Mum RIP 2020.
Sorry to hear about your new diagnosis.
Seagulls
Sorry for your news. Wish you strength, love and luck, in equal measures.
Dear SMB
I have just read your message again. some of it means nothing to me as I don’t understand some of the abbreviations. What I get from it is the random nature of this disease. You had no lymph nodes affected when you got your diagnosis in 2018. It wasn’t that long ago, you did take tamoxifen and letrozole, but maybe not for that many years. That sounds similar to me, except I was diagnosed in 2003, then got a new primary in 2023. I am now 67, at my original diagnosis I was 48 so a bit younger than you. I do think it’s like a dice is thrown, you have no idea what way it will fall. We could all be on the receiving end of a secondary diagnosis as it is such a capricious condition. That’s why I always remember I could be you or anyone else who develops secondaries. It puts things in perspective and also means we are all part of the same club, whether we want to join it or not, we must always support each other, and no one is better than anyone else. Or worse.
Seagulls
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Just to come in again here, this is something that has always stayed in my mind since first diagnosed in 2018, with grade 3 IDC and 1 lymph node affected . . . . the yearly mammograms may show nothing new, and this year will be my last one since diagnosis (within the system as such) . . . . but I will always be aware that secondaries are a high possibility for me. I refused adjuvant chemo, had WLE surgery by a fabulous surgeon/consultant to whom I will always be grateful, and 15 + 5 radiotherapy treatments - but the quality of my life, at my age, governed much of my decision making as regards treatment and my wishes were kindly respected. I am 68, so 5 years ago I thoughts I’d had a ’pretty good run’ healthwise, and my life is nothing if I can not get out of the house every day and walk and participate in the world? If I’d have been 20 years younger I may have viewed things differently as regards treatment. My adult children have all always understood my way of thinking and respected it. I wish everyone here all the best always, as Seagulls says, you really just don’t know how the dice will fall . . . . .