The Beacon and Inside Story - putting it out there.

Hi Amanda,

I totally agree with you, I was diagnosed with ABC in March this year, my first diagnosis. Prior to that all I knew about BC was that it was curable, a girl friend of mine even said to me when I was going through all the tests that if I was to get cancer breast cancer was the one to get as it is cureable........... Now of course we all know different as my friends are all very supportive of me through my journey and they all know it's ABC and that I will most likely never be cured but will hopefully be under control. After 8 cycles of chemo (Abraxaine) and also being on Herceptin my blood test are showing that my tumor markers are low and I can come off the chemo for a while to give my body a break, but I will stay on the Hetceptin for maintenence. 

I too find it upsetting that pretty much all of the media focus is on the "good news story" of EBC because everyone wants to hear about cures not about the fact that some of us will not be cured and that this terrible diease will take our lives one day.

I realise it's been a few months since your original post but having just been through my first October and seen all the ads on TV it has made me feel even more isolated with the focus on EBC and early detection and mamograms for the over 50's, I am only 42 and if you were to believe the ads I shouldn't have Advanced Breast Cancer as it's an older womans disease, more focus needs to be on all ages and regular checks and cheaper/free mamograms for women from aged 40, or even 35, more money and focus needs to be on research into ABC and finding ways to get the cancer under control and extend our lives to as long as possible. I too have young children, 16, 14 & 7, and want to see them grow up and achieve what they want to achieve and be there for them on their journeys.

I agree that The Beacon and Inside Story shouldn't be two seperate issues it should be one and give everyone the full story on both types of Breast Cancer, maybe then we wouldn't feel so isolated if those with EBC understood what ABC is and that we fight just as hard if not harder against this disease as they do.

Hope your all doing well and thats my rant for the day 

Tracey :-)