hi ladies, firstly i was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer her2 negative and er+ on 27th march 2014
i had a large tumor in axila which was taken out and was mulit focal also 19 /19 postive lypmth nodes the plan was then to have chemo, rads and hermone therpy but then after a CT scan it was found that i had bone mets in T3, T4 T5 T6 T8, L2 L3 L5/S1 (pelvis) and now thats all changed. i have been offered bone juice thats all… up to this date i have not had any treatment as of yet. I have had a bone scan, and MRI to see where else if any i have anymore cancer.
i have been offered a masectomy and its been exlained to me why they recommened for me to have one but im really still unsure, its to stop it spreading but mine already has!? its not currently in my liver, lungs or kidneys which im really lucky and greatful for… maybe i will feel different once i get my full results!?
Its been a very scary time for me and my family and the waiting seems like forever, i just wondered if anyone else has been threw or going threw the same or similar as me
would love to hear from you ladies
Thank you xx
Rose xxxx
Hi Rose,
I’m so sorry that you find yourself here, but there are some wonderful ladies on here with a wealth of experience to share many of whom have had both a primary and secondary diagnosis together.
It is certainly a shocking experience and feelings are all over the place plus waiting for results.
I was originally diagnosed in 2009 (primary) with mixed ductal/lobular bc with new primary Dec.2013 and I didn’t have a lump.
I have mets (2014) and I too thought they would throw everything at it when diagnosed but I think the idea is now control with the least amount of toxicity possible.
Once you have the results of your MRI and a treatment plan in place it does get a little easier.
Do you have a breast care nurse? If so, you can ring and ask her to explain about the recommendation to have a mastectomy.
There are many treatment options for ER+ ladies.
Hope it’s good news from the MRI.
(((((Rose)))))
Take care and there is light in the darkness.
Tink x
Hi Rose - I’m not the same breast cancer diagnosis as you so can’t help with treatment but as I have mets to bone and lungs I certainly feel on the same wavelength emotionally. When first diagnosed and going through all the tests your mind is all over the place and it’s hard to know and understand what is happening. As Tink said speak to your BCN if you can or ring the helpline on this site. They are there for you and will talk things through. I hope a treatment plan is put in place soon and you begin to get a better understanding of what this is all about. A secondary diagnosis is really scary but there are many women on here who have survived for a long time after.
We’re all here to help so just post away.
Huge hugs, h xxx
Dear Rose,
I am so sorry to hear your news. Like you I was diagnosed with bone Mets and breast cancer at the same time a year ago. My breast cancer is her2 pos and ER positive. I haven’t had any surgery yet. I did have taxotere plus herceptin and perjeta for 4 months and since October I have ‘just’ been on the herceptin, perjeta, tamoxifen and the bone strengthener denosumab. I was stable in January and have recently been scanned again. It is just awful been diagnosed like you have. Initially they wanted to try me just on tamoxifen and denosumab. I was concerned that I wasn’t being offered herceptin initially. Anyway I asked for a second opinion. I went to the Royal Marsden for that and they said I should have that plus the perjeta which is from the cancer drugs fund. My local hospital in the end did change to suggest taxol and herceptin.
Anyway sorry for being so long winded! I just want to say if you are not happy ask for a second opinion. In the end I could see where my hospital were coming from treating me with the hormonal treatments but I just wanted to do something more proactive and fortunately they did listen to me. You do have a say in all of this. As you are her2 negative herceptin won’t be an option but there are hormonal treatments and of course chemotherapy. The idea of chemotherapy is horrific and I cried for hours when I first went to the chemo lounge. However in the end it wasn’t that bad at all.
Something else that has just occurred to me. Is they may want to give you radiotherapy to your spine. I had to wait for my fractured femur to heal. I had radiotherapy to my left leg and then started on chemo and the rest. Have they said there is any need to operate?
I must say after a year of all of this I don’t feel too bad. The uncertainty doesn’t help but you sort of adjust to that. Hopefully in a years time you will feel more positive. Its hard I know. When you read different websites it does seem that her2 neg ladies with er positive bone Mets who seem to do well. I know I shouldn’t generalise. Do you have any family? That is hard. My children were only 9 and 11 at the time. I told them and then said we would get a little dog which we have done and she is a lovely focus for the whole family.
Wishing you all the best. I hope I may have helped a little bit.
Sue XXXXX
Thank you so much for replying ladies… i do have family support, 2 children 1. is 15 and another is 28 with a grandson which is just turning 1 years old they are great but its also nice to speak to women that are or have been threw the same.
I have a appointment on wednesday 22nd to get my full bone scan and MRI results to see the extent of the spread, they offered me and should start Zometa on wednesday but as of Femara that depends on blood results as im not quiet sure if im going threw my menauplause yet, they have also said they are saving chemo as a last result… i was expecting chemo but that all changed after they said i had bone mets.
Im currently under royal marsden, i know im in good hands i suppose i have to be patient
they havent mentioned surgery as of yet, but i do have really bad back ache and also pains in my left arm and leg which they know about…
anyway thank you all for taking the time out to message me, it really means alot xxx
thanks again
Rose xxxx