Forum Discussion
Recently diagnosed secondary
It is almost 2 years since I was diagnosed with stage 2b IDC. That year went by so quickly as I went through first surgery, then chemo, then radiation. I worked through it all. I felt positive confident and hopeful. Last week I was told I had mets to the bones. Finding it heard to keep positive and hopeful. I have moments of " yes I can do this woman can live years with this diagnosis"to. "I am scared how long have I got" any help on coping mechanisms and stories of hope would really help. Any practical advice would be great too
15 Replies
- Hi Wendy I am now Into my third year of Bone Mets. I had BC sixteen years ago and was quite shocked also when I was told the news. I have just recently had CT and nuclear scans and the good news was it was exactly the same. I manage to play golf every week and when I do this I think of nothing else. It is not easy to put it from your mind as we have to deal with it every day whether from medication, chemo or radiotherapy. Every time I say to my husband this time next year I might not be around he always tells me "it is not in my tapestry " and until the tapestry is finished you and all the women like us will keep going on.
- Hi Wendy great to hear how well you are doing. I thought I had mentally prepared myself for the results but now know nothing can prepare you. See above reply for some positive things I have done today which really helped as well as reading your post too so thanks
- Hello there. It is so positive to hear your story and really gives me hope. Thank you for posting
Thanks for your reply. Yes it is an emotional rollar coaster this week that is for sure however today I got on to the. Cancer NSW hotline and they were brilliant. I now have someone who will be contacting me re finances etc I have been out on to a support group in the area of women under 55 who meet once per month, have been in touch with the breast cancer nurse who really made me feel more comfortable with things and have made a referral to get some counselling so I can enhance the coping strategies I had before the first time round. So in the end ended on a much more positive note.
- Thanks for your reply. I actually went in for my normal 6 monthly blood test. My tumour marker was slightly elevated CA15-3. I have been sitting at 18 since after the surgery. This time it was 51. Sounded high to me but actually was only one over the normal range of 50. My onc though was on to it straight away and just booked me straight in for full body scans, brain MRI bone density tests and another blood test. So it came up in the bone scan. I was having a few achy joints prior but only after going bush walking or doing major gardening so just put it down to being more active or the tamoxifen as it always went and I never needed any pain killers. So that is how I found out. My onc said a lot of her colleagues don't check the tumour markers as they can be elevated for so many reasons other than cancer but I am glad she did in my case even though the news wasn't good.
Hi, Wendy,
My name is Wendy as well. I was diaognosed with B.C almost 17 years ago so it was quite a shock when it came back in my bones almost 3 yrs. ago now. I have been on chemo, radiation treatment, & now on chemo tabs. ( Xeloda ) The side effects can be a bit of a pain at times but I try not to let them get me down. My cancer has stayed stable for a while now so life goes on. I think I am a stronger person for getting through the treatment & I feel that I appreciate life alot more.
Stay strong, sending you love as well
Wendy 67
Hi Wendy
I was diagnosed with mets to my bones at the same time as the primary. That was in July 2009. I have had my ups and downs, but overall I am living a pretty good life. I felt fairly scare at diagnosis but as the time went by I began feeling optimistic.
Since then I have quit work, been on a family cruise, travelled half way around Australia and just this year had a 7 week trip to Europe, including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I am not saying things are always easy but I feel I have achieved so much in the past five and a bit years.
I try to not think to far ahead and keep my mind in the present. I took up meditation and try to exercise every day, when I can. Good luck on your upcoming experiences and remember that bone mets are not normally a death sentence. Sending you much Love, Light and Rainbows <3
Hi Wendy
I was diagnosed with mets to my bones at the same time as the primary. That was in July 2009. I have had my ups and downs, but overall I am living a pretty good life. I felt fairly scare at diagnosis but as the time went by I began feeling optimistic.
Since then I have quit work, been on a family cruise, travelled half way around Australia and just this year had a 7 week trip to Europe, including England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. I am not saying things are always easy but I feel I have achieved so much in the past five and a bit years.
I try to not think to far ahead and keep my mind in the present. I took up meditation and try to exercise every day, when I can. Good luck on your upcoming experiences and remember that bone mets are not normally a death sentence. Sending you much Love, Light and Rainbows <3
- Hi Wendy So sorry to hear about your secondary diagnosis. They discovered my bone mets soon after my first stage two breast cancer. The obtaining of the tissue during the biopsy was very scary (I was awake) but it didn't take long. I have to say, I had exactly your thoughts, will it increase in size, will it spread? And indeed how long I would have. As it happens, it has stayed the same size and not spread after almost 5 years. Yes, I get pain in it sometimes, mostly in bed at night. However it's not really bad, and the arimidex aromatose inhibitors - stop the cancer reliant hormones) are keeping it at bay. Radiation was tried, but didnt change it. That was dispiriting, but the big positive thing is that it hasn't changed or increased at all. I go with that. You can have it for a long time without it changing at all. The only downside is needing to take the hormone therapy all the time, and the sometimes annoying side effects - for me, they haven't stopped, but again, if that's all I need to cope with, I think I'm going good. This forum is great for chatting, sharing thoughts and experiences, and fears. Keep posting...would like to tead more of your story. Take care kind wishes Kathleen xx :)
- Hi Wendy So sorry to hear about your secondary diagnosis. They discovered my bone mets soon after my first stage two breast cancer. The obtaining of the tissue during the biopsy was very scary (I was awake) but it didn't take long. I have to say, I had exactly your thoughts, will it increase in size, will it spread? And indeed how long I would have. As it happens, it has stayed the same size and not spread after almost 5 years. Yes, I get pain in it sometimes, mostly in bed at night. However it's not really bad, and the arimidex aromatose inhibitors - stop the cancer reliant hormones) are keeping it at bay. Radiation was tried, but didnt change it. That was dispiriting, but the big positive thing is that it hasn't changed or increased at all. I go with that. You can have it for a long time without it changing at all. The only downside is needing to take the hormone therapy all the time, and the sometimes annoying side effects - for me, they haven't stopped, but again, if that's all I need to cope with, I think I'm going good. This forum is great for chatting, sharing thoughts and experiences, and fears. Keep posting...would like to tead more of your story. Take care kind wishes Kathleen xx :)
