Hello.
Ive been posting on a few breast cancer boards looking to contact with others who have been in a similar situation.
I was diagnosed with a new primary breast cancer in June 2010.Er+,Her2-.My onc ordered a CT scan and bone scan.My bones and liver were clear.But a single 4.5cm lung met was also discovered in my left lung.I was devastated,being only 33 yrs old and had almost made it 5 yrs since my first diagnosis of breast cancer in the right breast.Im negative for the BRCA genes.
I immediatly hit the internet to research.I googled single lung metastasis and breast cancer.The term oligiometastatic disease came up.That was me.Apparantly it accounts for only 1-5% of the MBC population so studies are limited.But, the studies that are available mostly out of MD Anderson Cancer Center in the US,explaine that oligiometastatic disease should be treated aggressivly rather than pallitivly.This is in hopes for a long remission or possible chance at a cure.I began to have hope and returned to my onc to talk about treatment.
Well,I told my onc that I wanted to be treated aggressivly and have the lung met removed.His response was this "it doesnt work that way."He gave me the option of starting Femara,I had my ovaries out already,or starting chemo.My gut and my research said chemo.I had a 6cm breast tumor and a 4.5cm lung met.Why would I start hormonals and wait 2-3 months to be re-scanned to see if anything was working?My tumor was fast growing,chemo was the only thing to get it under control.So I started chemo the next day,my 33rd birthday.i was put on Gezmar/Cisplatin.I then fired that oncologist because of his unwillingness to treat me aggressive.I was refered to another oncologist at a larger center.He had the same views as my first one.I fired him.I was then refered to a woman oncologist who dealt more with breast cancer.
At our first meeting I came armed with the studies from the internet and demanded to be treated aggressivly.She had her pesimistic views saying that I am young and younger womans cancers are more aggressive ect.She also said that that cancer would most likely pop up elsewhere since it has most likely already travelled through the blood.I said I understood everything but I am willing to take my chances.She agreed to treat me agressivly and would refer me to a thoracic surgeon.I then had a CT scan half way through my chemo.The 6cm breast mass was gone,and the 4.5cm lung met was 1.3cm x 1.7cm.My oncs reaction, “amazing”.She advised me to finish with my chemo rounds and to see the thoracic surgeon.I finished chemo and my thoracic surgeon ordered a PET scan to rule out further metastasis.He also ordered a lung functioning test and head CT scan.My head CT scan was clear.My PET scan showed 1cm of mild/moderate uptake in my lung,lung met was 4.5cm.No evidence of disease in my breast,breast tumor was 6cm.My surgery is a go!my thoracic surgeon not once said that i was unable to have surgery but actually agreed with me that it should be removed.
I am having a left mastectomy and an upper left lung lobectomy Jan 6th.I then will be having radiation to the breast area and put on Femara.
I have been in contact with 5 woman in the US who have had the same situation as myself.They all had there <3 lung lesions removed and have been NED.They range from 3-12yrs.Some had chemo,a couple did not.
I have been off chemo for 7 weeks and my energy is back.Im actually glad that I have been proactive and did not listen to my first onc.I see other woman from various boards and wonder if they know themselves that they have options and can be treated with “curative” attempt.I think a lot of ocologists out there are still stuck with the stigma of metastatic disease,when in fact there is a subset of woman who can be potentially cured.
Thats my story.i hope I can connect with others.Merry christmas to all, and a healthy new year.
Thank you for listening,
2x in Canada
