Some good news at last :-)

Well today was the day when I was to get my bone scan results and start treatment.

I am so pleased to say that the bone scan results were clear!! Yay! There was some evidence of wear and tear, and the beginning of a little bit of arthritis, but no cancer. I was in tears when heard the news! Having said that, my bones will be scanned in 12 weeks time to check for any changes. So for now, all is good...only lung mets to deal with.

I didn't start any treatment today, which was a bit disappointing, but my medical team has decided to try to get a biopsy done on the spots on my lungs. They believe 99% that the spots are the same breast cancer that I had before, however they want to confirm this 100% before going ahead with treatment. They want to completely rule out tuberculosis and another inflammatory lung disease. This means having a biopsy done, but I'm happy with this, even though it means another delay in treatment. I feel much happier knowing that they will find out exactly what we are dealing with, and offer appropriate treatment, before actually going ahead with just giving treatment in the hope that its the right stuff! Hopefully I will get the biopsy done within the next week.

I felt quite proud of myself today as I asked lots of questions and I think they were answered to my satisfaction. I even had the courage to look at my lung scan on the screen which I could never do before! I was always too chicken for stuff like that! The spots are really tiny mixed in with the blood vessels (almost like freckles), but scattered through the lungs....really weird looking.

So all and all, not a bad day today. I was expecting the worst and it didnt eventuate, so now I can sleep tonight! I am taking this journey one step at a time...now its just the wait for the biopsy xx

20 Replies

MandaMoo
Member
15 years ago
That's fantastic news Celeste! I am so pleased for you. I am interested int how the lung biopsy goes. I have always wondered if the spots in my lungs are really cancer too but as the biopsy on my skin met was positive we decided to treat according to that. I asked my oncologist the other day how they even knew that the spots in my lungs were active cancer and not just scarring etc... and she said they didn't - we just don't want to see them get any bigger.

Sam is amazing and a wonderful example to us with her story too. I didn't have the taxotere as I had already had two when the spread was found so we decided to try an alternative chemo. Fortunately there are a few options for us to try.

I too have everything crossed that you are in the 1% category.

Hugs, love and light to you.

Amanda xx
Al
Member
15 years ago
Fantastic news Celeste! Stay strong and take each day as it comes.

So happy for you and fingers crossed for more good news.

Take care and will be thinking of you,

Alison xxx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Thank you Ann-Marie, yes I am rapt!...one less thing to worry about. Celeste xx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Thank you Sam. It is comforting to hear from someone who has been there and is willing to share, openly and honestly. Yes i had a very toxic combo of chemo too first time around...Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide (AC protocol). One of these was a bright red colour (not sure if this is the same as Taxotere...maybe it is?). It was very heavy-going and i had it 3 weekly. It hammered my body, but i was healthy enough to take it......while I'm not looking forward to something like that again it's better than the alternative...not being here! ? Celeste xx
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
You truly are amazing and inspirational Sam.I don't know how you endured chemo again,especially Taxotere. You are so open and giving of your time to all on this site and you must feel so crook at times.You are a wealth of 1st hand knowledge and your words/advice,I'm sure,alleviates alot of fear for women on this site.Thank you for your wisdom and strength.

Tonya xx
Samantha_Cunnin
Member
15 years ago
yes, taxotere is pretty toxic..most only get 4 - 6 cycles (3 weekly) but as mine is secondary we just kept having it until the body couldn't take any more-we got 8 cucles in, tough, but it did the job. Lost my hair but it grew back and didn't worry me too much. I now have no hair again, just a stubbly scalp.

Glad i can be of inspiration..there has to be some upside to all this crap! I usually try to offer positive comment and support where i can-i benn doing this a while now and feel like an 'old hand' LOL

Sam xx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Thank you Josie for your best wishes. Yes my attitude has become much more positive since yesterday's news, although I am just taking it all one day at a time.

Hugs, Celeste xxx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Thank you Joy....yes, I am almost dancing in the rain again! I am so pleased to have a biopsy done so that they know what the correct treatment should be....makes absolute sense to me!...otherwise they are just shooting in the dark and hoping things work out!...not ideal!

WOW, thats great about your treatment working so well! I am so pleased for you. That is another inspirational story I can take with me on my travels...thank you, Celeste xx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Hi Monica, thanks for your kind words. Yes wouldn't it be an absolute miracle if the lung spots were an inflammatory disease that apparently can be treated with a course of anitbiotics!...I'd have to be the luckiest woman alive if that was the diagnosis....but i 've been told that this would be EXTREMELY unlikely (almost impossible) and to hold no hope that this is the case. You are so right, the positive energy is much more constructive than the negative...unfortunately it just takes time to work through the mountain of emotions felt in this horrible journey..to get to a point where you can see more clearly and think a bit straighter!

Thanks for your belief in my ability to get through this, Celeste xx
Anonymous
15 years ago
Hi Kathy, yes I feel much better now...more calm and ready to take on this challenge! It was very empowering to ask questions and get the answers!

Thank you for helping me through all this, Celeste xx