Agree 100% Cath62 ... take care buddy xx
With up to 30% of us going on to develop Mets (and let's be honest here - they still don't know who will progress to Stage 4 - or why!)
Even those with early stage BC with no node involvement and good surgery results may still progress to Stage 4 ... sometimes within a few years of the original diagnosis & treatment and 'NED'.
I'd like to know what percentage of funds raised during all the pink activities (buns, walks, cricket matches etc) specifically goes towards better outcomes for those diagnosed with Mets and what causes the progression?
Better still - make sure that a specific portion of the funds is USED to FIND that unknown link!
PLEASE .... can BCNA advocate strongly for this??
I (and others) would dearly like to see that funds are directed towards those who've had early stage BC with good results from surgery and/or radiation & tablets who then GO ON to develop Mets (for no known reason.)
Their first pathology slides should be pulled & studied against the new Mets slides - to try & work out WHAT TRIGGERED THE PROGRESSION!!
It should be AUTOMATIC that these early slides be pulled out for further investigation (in ANY Cancer that has progressed to Stage 4!)
I am SURE there would be medical researchers out there, who would give their eye teeth to get in on the ground floor & help discover that unknown link that suddenly triggers NED to become Stage 4.
As Sadly, a Mets diagnosis can happen to any one of us.