My story

I was diagnosed with high grade aggressive breast cancer (invasive duct carcinoma) in September 2010. I was diagnosed with primary and secondaries at the same time. Secondary tumors included Right shoulder ( no movement and shoulder muscles paralysed). Also 2 liver mets. Each day things picked up speed and I had several rib mets and 2nd thoracic and  5th lumber mets. My cancer is Estrogen positive. HER neg, progesterone -ve. I suffered with severe insomnia unrelated to anxiety and pain from boney mets

I underwent aggressive treatment with radiation to shoulder and spine, hormone treatment, chemo and bone strengthener all in the 1st 3 weeks.

I responded well to treatment despite multiple hospital admissions. I regained 2/3 of shoulder movement and all power again. The other boney mets stabilised. 6 months later my liver mets were on the move again with new boney mets in thoracic spine and crest of pelvis. I completed another 6 months of chemo and then started femara in January this year. I am very thankful to be stable at this point 2 years into my journey. I continue with blood tests 6-8 weekly and scans 3 monthly. 

I embraced a whole food plant based diet which includes regular juicing.I also attended Gawler foundation in April this year to support this. My vitality with good foods is fantastic. I no longer have insomnia,pain or fatique.

My quality of life is great.

I attend regular counselling sessions with a psychologist and work on keeping my wellbeing as high as I can to optimise the immune system so it can deal with healing.Research  shows doubled life expectancy for well-supported people with breast cancer.

I do regular gentle exercise as research also  shows people who exercise opposed to those who dont double their life expectancy. Just competed last weekend in 200 km ride to conquer cancer for Chris O'Brian Lifehouse which is scheduled to open next year.

I get out in the sunlight regularly as it is good for endorphins and vitamin D.

I generally try to seek pleasure where-ever possible as research shows white blood cells have receptor sites on them for endorphins which in turn makes them work faster. 

My tumours were in same location where a mammogram diagosed a cyst 5 yrs earlier and no further followup.

All of us have our own journey, we all respond to treatment differently, we make different choices to deal with our cancer diagnosis. When we see that there are so many options out there to  help ourselves this gives us hope. 

Kathleen and Tracey touched on bone mets can remain stable for many years.

I hope that you get encouragement from this site.