So I promised a little story about myself, here goes. (apologies that it isn't little!!!!)
I was first diagnosed with BC in 2011. I found a lump myself in the shower. As a 34 year old mum of 3, I casually booked a doctors appointment to have it checked. During the ultrasound the tech found my lump and a second lump. 2 core samples and fast forward a week, my GP spoke those few words, "I'm sorry but you have breast cancer". I was diagnosed with triple negative BC.
Mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, breast reconstruction. It was a tough time with a young family. But I dealt with it and got back into life!
Fast forward to 2015, life was pretty awesome. Great husband, 3 awesome kids, fantastic job and I was living my life! I was experiencing some back pain which I was having chiropractic care for. I really though it was just a rib muscle out, and so did he. I was fit and healthy and had recently participated in my first 10km fun run! When the chiro care wasn't doing anything I went back to my GP who requested a bone scan. A week later she called me asking to see me ASAP. That cold fear returned. I went straight from work at 5pm to my GP's office. Again I heard those words, "I'm so sorry it's cancer".
That night I learned my BC had metastasized and I had a reoccurrence in my spine. I cried, and cried some more when I got home to my husband.
I was referred back to my radiologist who sent me to Melbourne for steriotactic rads to my T8. It was after this treatment that we learned I had extensive boney mets. Which meant I was sent back to my oncologist. This was a horrible time as we thought we were dealing with ONE met not MULTIPLE mets.
My onc wanted best treatment options for me so referrred me to a breast cancer trials professor at Peter Mac. Here I signed up for an immunotherapy drug trial at PM. For the next 6 months I travelled the 400km round trip to PM for treatment every week. My anxiety levels increased! Under the trial I learned I was dealing with numerous boney mets and multiple liver mets. Early on I had a port inserted (thanks to previous chemo causing grief to my veins!), and I also had a bone biopsy from my hip (never want to experience that again. Had my poor bare ass exposed to the world!). Even with chemo and the trial drug (blinded trial, however I had an infusion reaction so we were confident I was getting the real deal!) I had progression.
The trial allowed me to have tumor sampling done in the USA. So I sucked it up and had multiple samples taken from my liver. Again not the most pleasant experience but staff and my dad helped me get through.
I was booted off trial. With much love and support from my professor (who I still see) and my trial nurse. Unfortunately due to disease progression and learning (through the liver biopsy) that my disease had morphed from triple negative BC to hormone + disease! The trial was specifically for triple neg BC.
I was in shock! I went from a woman who was triple neg to hormone +. My professor immediately ordered a zoladex implant and a new chemotherapy regime.
Fast forward to 2017!!!!! I have been in continuous treatment since 2015. But since leaving the clinical trial, I have had chemo in my home town which is awesome. I live in country Victoria and our local hospital is amazing. I just love the chemo ward girls!
With a chemo regime of carboplatin/gemcitobine and zolodex implants and zometa infusions, my latest scans indicate that boney mets are stable, and liver mets are decreasing hugely!!
So that is me in a nutshell, medically.!
Outside of my breast cancer Im a mum to 3 boys who are 9,12 and 14. My time is consumed getting kids to and from their sporting commitments. My eldest shoots clay targets competitively with school and on weekends. My middle boy is passionate about basketball and AFL! He plays all over Victoria with basketball! My baby is a free spirit who just goes with the flow!
My husband made a life change last year and we are currently managing a large dairy farm. We live life to the fullest, and my disease is NOT an excuse in life.
xx Christie.
