It’s the nature of the beast. The way Metastatic disease works. We begin the best treatment option and hope it works for a long time. If you’re lucky, it does. Sometimes, like this time, your luck runs out sooner than you hoped it would.
I began Faslodex in January of this year and Ibrance in February once Insurance approved it. That’s the shortest run I’ve had because of progression.
The news wasn’t as ‘bad’ as it could have been. (That’s a lie…it’s all shitty when there is cancer showing in a PET scan). The PET scan showed cancer in the lymph nodes under my left arm near my breast as well as that painful spot in my ribs has grown bigger.
There are a lot of unknowns right now. I’ve never had cancer in my nodes before. Not even when I was first diagnosed and this is the “non-cancer” breast. This could be a totally new primary breast cancer with a new pathology. Also, the cancer in the ribs could be different now too.
So…..here is the plan of action:
Next week I will be having a Mammogram/Ultrasound and Sentinel Node Biopsy. Then I will be having a CT guided biopsy of my ribs (hopefully under some kind of sedation).
Once all the pathology comes back we can figure out what treatment will be best to keep this from getting out of hand. It is of utmost importance to keep this from reaching my organs for as long as possible.
I absolutely MUST be at my Son’s High School graduation next June. I will not accept any other alternative. If that means I get a little more aggressive with this treatment then that’s what I do. Any Doctor not on the same page as I am with this won’t be treating me.
Now, I will take some time for me. I will release the emotions I’ve been holding in all morning and have a good cry so that when Adam comes home he won’t see how scared and sad I am. He deserves to have the appearance of a ‘normal’ Mom for as long as I can give that to him.
*Hugs* nothing worse than treatment failing. Ugh.
I hate all of this. I am sorry. Thinking of you and sending you all the positive energy the universe can offer, as well as positive thoughts. xo
Xoxo
I am sorry. Sending love and support your way. xo
Thank you Nancy..xox
Dammit. xoxo, Kathi
You can do this … I send you strength. And love to push through this .. May You have many more years ahead. Xx
Thank you. I certainly hope so. Xox
I don’t even have words Susan.
Fight like hell ! We are fighting, praying, screaming, with you.
Hugs ❤ and many, many prayers for you.
Thank you. Prayers are always welcome.
So sorry Susan! Looks like we are both about to start something new. Cancer sux! Thinking of you!
Hopefully whatever new treatment we start next will work for a long time and will have minimal side effects. Xoxo
*hugs* and prayers of course
I, too, have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. I had my first surgery in 1995, liver in 2001, and bone radiation 2014. It has been a constant battle, but I m still alive. You can survive, too. Never give up.
Thank you so much for your blog.I think that you are an insightful and lovely woman
Thank you. Very sweet of you to say. Xox
I am so sad to hear this news. Fuck MBC!!!!!! Fuck cancer!!! I find myself saying this a lot today. Stay strong and take no prisoners! My thoughts are with you fellow fighter!
I agree. Fuck Cancer indeed. Thank you.
You’ll make it to June…….and yes,it’s disheartening when a chemo drug either fails or is too potent to use more then once,like cisplatin is. On the day that I lost my wife,I take what love and light I have and give it to you,Susan.
Fuck cancer.
From your lips….thank you. Very kind of you. Xoxo
You and your family are in my prayers. Stage IV also and tired of it!!
Thank you Linda. It’s all very exhausting, isn’t it? Hope you’re doing well. Xoxo