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New diagnosis metastatic breast cancer
Hi, I'm all very new to this being diagnosed only 7 wks ago with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (triple positive) which has spread to my bones. I am 51 with 2 children. I had only had my first mammogram 18 mths previous which was clear. I felt unwell at work & went to hospital and they found it looking for something else. It has been such an overwhelming process. My family & friends have been amazing but am feeling so very alone.1.8KViewsSign in to react to this post29CommentsStage 4 breast cancer
I have been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer recently, lungs and bone involvement. Hormone receptive high. After reading up about it I was feeling very upbeat. Then I met my oncologist, she was very positive and I was feeling at peace and ready for anything. But after a lot of thought, and knowing I am on borrowed time, knowing all the blood tests, scans, and injections for my bone cancer (and lung) for the rest of my life, meetings with oncologists, GP and allied health workers and with only a 50% chance of living for up to 5 years I'm seriously wondering if it's all worth it for me. When will I get the chance to live my life fully when I will constantly be reminded that my time is limited? Knowing the side affects and how the doctors change the meds to try and find the right ones when I feel I don't have time or the energy to put my heart and soul into something that will kill me anyway. I don't feel depressed, over whelmed definitely, sad for sure but I can feel the real me leaving already and becoming just another statistic. My breast care nurse is wonderful, the oncologists have been lovely and supportive and everyone involved has been amazing. But, the thought of going through all the treatments I have to go through and the end result will not be a cure and no certainty that I will be one of people who die within the first year is too much. I'm not afraid of dying but I am afraid of becoming a struggling cancer patient who will die. That's how I see my reality. I am 65 and have had a wonderful life. I have no regrets, just a simple and happy life. I have no grandchildren but I live an active busy life in retirement and I know with all the treatments, appointments, the ups and downs I don't think I will have the time or will or energy to be the person I am now. I sincerely hope someone out there can understand and perhaps give me some hope that after awhile my new "norm" will be ok and that I don't forget who I am. Gerry xxViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsHow did I get here?
Hi everyone, what do I say…I am in shock! I felt it was time I reached out to the community as I’ve been reading all your posts the past few weeks and now I really need support and reassurance. I am 56 and have a wonderful husband and three beautiful 20 something children. I had a routine mammogram in April (12 monthly due to Mum and sister both having BC in the past - both early and doing fine now) and diagnosed on 13 May with invasive carcinoma with micropapillary features, 17mm in size, ER/PR+ve HER2 2+equivaocal from biopsy and ultrasound/3D mammogram. A further weeks wait for HER2 ISH testing which was negative before surgery options were discussed. As I have size G breasts and the lump was apparently so small I opted for WLE with oncoplastic breast reduction as my Mum and sister had both had good outcomes with lumpectomy so I was confident with the reduction they would get good margins. Surgery was performed on 30/5 and I’ve recovered well. Here js the kicker…I went back for the surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy results and first the surgeon tells me the tumour was 64mm not 17mm! Then he tells me there were mega metastases in the lymph node which was removed. On the pathology report it say ‘the lymph node is almost completely replaced by metastatic carcinoma with similar histological features’. The sentinel node was 28mm. Does this mean I have metastatic cancer? I am reeling…how did they get it so wrong??? And what now? The surgeon has said the next step is an auxiliary dissection which he has booked me in on 30/6 to do…20 days away! He said he needs to wait for things to settle properly after the last surgery with reduction. Meanwhile this cancer is travelling all through me… I am booked in for a PET with CT scan on Thursday which I guess they are looking for more metastases. Should I also be asking for a bone scan? I have not been referred to an oncologist yet, apparently that is after the next surgery but I really don’t understand why they wouldn’t be thinking to get me started on that now rather than waiting even longer. I just can’t comprehend the results I got yesterday. I have so many questions and I just feel like the surgeon is following a routine but I don’t understand why. After a sleepless night of anxiety through the roof I would love some words of advice from this amazing community. Thank you xViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsMets now in my brain
Hi Everyone my latest scan has been a shock and made me sad. I was on enhurtu and hoping for big success. However after 4 round 2 of my liver mets increased and now i have mets in the right side of my brain. I fell over in the last treat cycle and got a black eye and I also fainted one night. Luckily the bed was beside me when I fainted. My oncologist phoned me with my results Friday and I am numb. She said the plan is this. I get a port monday, tues chemo, thurs I have a skin check (melanomas) and the oncologist is ordering an mri of the brain for my radium oncologist. I don't have an appointment yet but the plan is to radiate that brain met. Then I have one other enhurtu infusion in September and another scan. My oncologist tells me there is other chemo we can try and the brain mets will be treated with radium. My husband and I are in shock and sad. My mets has progressed so fast - 2 yrs and several treatment changes already. This is so hard.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsTravel insurance
Hi everyone I'm going to Bali in 2 weeks and can't find a travel insurance company that will cover me. Anyone found any for Indonesia?ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsDe novo Mets
It's everywhere, all through my spine, left shoulder , should blade, breast bone, hips and both femurs. Some of them are big . In February I was blissfully happy with my husband , backpack hiking in Tasmanian mountain wilderness for our 1st year anniversary. I just had an annoying sore shoulder and what I thought was normal menopausal aches. The tumour in my boob is tiny, I can't even feel it now I know where it is. It wasn't picked up in mamograms. My blood test are normal. I don't feel sick other than waves of panic. I'm not angry, just terribly terribly sad . Biopsy says it's a HR+ PR+ Her -. The nurses telle that's good and slow growing, lol, tell that to my skeleton! I'm finding it hard to be positive given the extent of the spread. Still waiting to see a specialist and start treatment. My doctor has said no running, cycling or hiking and that I'm lucky I haven't broken my arm or back. I literally don't know what to do with myself. It's like I have to give up my "core" personalityViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsCan not believe it.
Shock, denial, anger - cant imagine how I can move towards acceptance. Newly Dx. Initially was stage 2, then told stage 3 and now looking at stage 4 with lung mets. What the! This roller coaster is insane and I want to get off. Found a lump 8 weeks ago, took a month to get into my rural GP, another 2 week wait for scans and a further possible month wait after this for biopsy (apparently). So instead spent a fortune flying myself to Sydney to the one stop shop at Sydney Breast clinic (they were amazing) scans, biopsies, pathology all on the same day with lovely nurses, surgeons and Breast GPs to consult with as well. Got the bad news of lymph node involvement that day (what a horrible trip home finding trains and sitting in the airport alone with this news). 4 days later with core biopsy results apparently better news of - Gd 1 slow growing highly hormone receptive and HER 2-ve Ca. Staging scans the next week, another week to get into the breast surgeon. Feeling good and starting to get my head around Mastectomy and some Hormone therapy and maybe some radiotherapy. Then the bad starts flowing again not stage 2 now looking at stage 3 with potential Mets in lungs - What!. So Surreal when one is so fit and healthy. Now another 2 weeks wait and long distance travel to have more invasive investigations to confirm or discount this scary stage 4 Dx. On top of this had to go cold turkey off my HRT so everything aches, I cant sleep, I cant breath and the emotions are all over the shop and the anxiety is making this all 10x worse. Meanwhile I am trying to continue work and family life as normal!? So unfair when I have finally got to a place in my life, happy in my newly set up little business, kids almost off doing there own thing and life was finally looking like I could start having some me time. I did everything right - regular and recent mammograms and health checks all good, but somehow this little nasty thing just some how snuck under the radar. Well damn! DebViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsNew to MBC. How to stay positive when every Onc meeting seems to bring less certainty?
Hi, I'm new to online forums, so here goes. I was diagnosed stage 2 grade 2 BC in 2014 aged 36. Find out 27/12/23 metastasised to my bones at age 46. Married, 3 kids (9,11,12). It's not hormone receptive anymore, so treatment is looking like chemo, after hip replacement and radiation. I enjoy a laugh and some practical tips on how to keep going with this new norm.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsStage 1 hormone sensitive to Stage IV
Diagnosed last week with stage 1, hormone sensitive BC in my left breast after I came across a lump. I am 41 with 2 little sons, 4 & 6- it was a massive shock. After CT, bone scans & MRIs this week, my diagnosis has now changed to stage IV oligometastatic BC after finding it had spread to one vertebrae. To say I’m devastated is an understatement going from a curable stage 1 cancer to this. I am beside myself with worry on what this means for my kids- not being there for them, the battle ahead, continuing to work/pay mortgage & health bills and what being diagnosed with stage IV really means, particularly in regards to life expectancy. I don’t even know how I am going to cope/function with this news. I am meeting with my oncologist tomorrow to discuss what’s next- perhaps this will help. I did have surgery planned for mid April but this may change now. I would love to hear any suggestions on coping with your diagnosis, esp those with metastatic breast cancer. How do you stay positive to get through it? Thanks so much xViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsMetastatic Breast Cancer
I have just been diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer & trying to come to terms with everything. Starting my first round of Chemo this coming Wednesday & feeling overwhelmed. Hopping to hear positive feedback from others who have been or are going through the same experience.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsMetastatic Breast Cancer found just by accident
Hi, I’m 58 years old & was in pretty good health when I sustained a massive bruise after just a small amount of pressure in my pelvic area. I showed a friend (nurse) who told me to go to the doctor sooner rather than later. From there my journey began. After ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI’s & about 25 vials of blood it was found I had cancer in my lever. It was only after a biopsy on my liver & mammogram that my breast cancer was diagnosed. It’s been 8 weeks since that bruise & here I am now trying to come to terms with the diagnosis. I’m off this morning for a biopsy on my breast where a large tumor as become obvious over the past 3 weeks, an Echo after that then a PET scan on Wednesday. My chemo & cocktail will start in a week or so. My family & friends a very, very supportive but everyone has a story to tell & not all of them positive. I hope & pray I can keep up the strength I know I’m going to need to continue on the emotional rollercoaster I’ve found myself on.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsMetastatic de novo diagnosed 20 July
Hello, I was diagnosed on 20 July with grade 2 stage 4 De novo BC. As many of the ladies on this forum have mentioned regarding their own experiences , it’s been a wild roller coaster ride. The diagnosis of BC was confronting in itself, to find out it had already spread to my hip, well I was just gobsmacked. I’m 58 and keep very fit by running and going to the gym. I run around 40km per week and just couldn’t believe I had it in my hip. I’ve absolutely no pain, and ran in a 10km race the day before my diagnosis. Well, I could deny it all I wanted, the fact is, it’s in my hip. The next complete shock was to be told there is no cure. In the interval between the original BC diagnosis and the PET scan(which showed the hip lesion) I’d been reading and researching everything I could on the various treatments etc. and preparing myself mentally for surgery, chemo etc. to then be told that none of it was for me, as it’s metastatic, well that was just devastating. However, I’ve now received some good news. My health team has recommended an aggressive approach to treatment. Since the hip lesion is small and is the only evidence of BC outside of my breast, and I’m young (😂) and fit with no other health issues, they are going to try for cure by starting with hip replacement surgery and radiation, Two weeks post surgery I will start on Chemo for 5 - 6 months and will then undergo a mastectomy. It’s terrifying, but also gives me hope. It’s been 3 weeks now since diagnosis and I just want to get on with it. I see the orthopaedic surgeon on Monday and hopefully have surgery the following week. I’ve found the comments and discussions on this forum to be such a help, inspirational really, so a big thanks to everyone.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsMy mum has just been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
Hi, I joined this network because my mum has just been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Mum had left side mastectomy and axillary clearance in October 2018. Mum lives with me and I am her full time carer though I also have a full time job. I hope to find information and support in this forum so that I can help mum through this difficult time. If possible, I would like to join a relevant discussion group. ThanksViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsNewly diagnosed
Hi I’m 44 and have just been diagnosed with triple negative metastic breast cancer. It has spread to my liver. First time cancer and extremely scary. After first finding out it was cancer it took nearly 3 weeks to get oncologist appointment and then had a pet scan. They have referred me for a clinical trial at the PA but everything seems to take so long. Meanwhile I’m scared it’s spreading more. Finally got a phone call yesterday to go in tomorrow to have all this pre screening tests done. Let’s hope I meet the criteria. I’ve been just trying to live life normal and trying to be very positive but is so frustrating.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsHere Goes
Hello. My name is Jenny and I live on the NSW/Vic Border. I have gone to post in here a couple of times but backed out. Denial maybe? On Wednesday I was officially given the diagnosis of BC. I have had a large lump for around a year but I have 26JJ sized breasts and the lump is down along where the bra wire sits. I put it down to thickening because of the bra wire. I recently started Lite N Easy and after loosing around 10kg I noticed that the lump was much larger than I thought. It has its own postcode ;p Its 5cm x 3cm x 2cm. So I did the mammo and ultrasound and knew when I called for results, that the urgency by my GP to get me in to see her, that something was very wrong. That day I had bloods, CT scan and was booked in for biopsy. All along I was doing as much research as possible. Armed with knowledge I have always found it easier to deal with things. Must be part of the anxiety I have day in and out. I met my surgeon on Wednesday who gave me the diagnosis. I was alone at the appointment and was in shock, none the less. I guess I was hoping it was just a mass that they just wanted to remove for safety sake. I do remember asking him what type of Cancer and I vaguely remember him saying Metastatic and that its very common. I am booked in for a lumpectomy and node removal on the 22nd. (Tuesday Week). I am then too do 5 weeks radiation. I've got all of that in my head and ready to deal with. But now I am reading all of the paraphernalia and Metastatic means I have it in other places in my body? Do they know where? Does this mean I will probably have to do chemo after radiation? I know I am overthinking all of this and should take it one day at a time. I work 3 days a week and also on partial DSP. Being at work keeps my mind off things. I am planning on taking vacation leave for the rest of the week after my lumpectomy. I am so grateful that my oldest of 2 (daughter) is able to travel up from Melbourne to bring me home from the surgery and stay with me for a couple of days. Another questions. I had been using implannon rod to control my periods, over the years. The last one was put in around 2011 and is still in my arm somewhere. As I have very thick arms I cant feel it and haven't bothered about it. I believe that it has run out of the hormones anyway after all of this time. Is this something I should tell my surgeon about? I have so many questions. When will I start radiation? Will someone contact me or do I contact them? I met my Breast Care Nurse but she was heading on vacation to France the next day. I have the number of another one and I will phone her and make contact with her this week. It's like my whole life is about the Cancer now. I am being strong in front of everyone else but these times at home alone I am terrified. Sorry if this is all over the shop but that is how my head works. I have been treated and continue to be treated for Depression an Anxiety for close to 20 years and have only recently found a…ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsThree weeks into my journey.
Hi everyone, i wanted to say hi and thank you to everyone for the useful comments puts on this page. I started my journey 3 weeks ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my right breast after going to the doctor with a suspected hematoma to my breast after a simple fall. Sadly results came back with a diagnoses of infiltrating ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma, which means a lump in my breast, milk ducts and in my lump glands, after ultrasounds, CT scans and MRI of both breast and Brain, as well as core biopsy of my breast and lump glands, we have also discovered it is now in my Liver. Thursday this week is full results of whether it has also travelled to my brain, fingers crossed it stopped at my Liver. Then finally a course of action of whether it is chemotherapy first then mastectomy, or other way round. Again thank you for all your helpful comment, reading other people stories helps you fell like your not alone.ViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsIst Timer
Hi all, Very new to this unfortunatley I have been diagnosed with secondary BC without any preliminaries with early BC. I have bone mets which i thought was musco sleletal issues from a fall off a horse, I am 47 with an 8 year old girl and terrified. I have started hormone therapy to starve my cancer and doctor says this could work for a long time but no gaurantees. Can anyone let me know anything about this. ThanksViewsSign in to react to this postCommentsNew
Hey everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. I have secondary breast cancer. Was originally diagnosed in Sept 2006 with stage 4 BC and had chemo, mastectomy, and radiation. Then in June 2011 we found bone mets and a new primary in other breast and lymph nodes. I then had chemo and hormone therapy, (though my original diagnoses was triple negative some of the secondaries were eastrugene positive) then in June 2012 we found a 4cm tumor in the liver. I then had more chemo, didn't work now 8cm so we then tried another chemo with success and have shrunk it to 3 cm in the liver and after 4 months with no treatment we haven't had any growth so things stable at the moment. I have an amazingly supportive husband and 3 children, 2 girls 19 and 17 and a boy who is 14. Hopefully we can control these secondaries for a long long time.ViewsSign in to react to this postComments
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