Maxine

Hi Mary

My heart goes out to you - your story sounds very similar to mine and like you I feel that I too must be nearing the end of a long line of chemo treatments.  It is now 21 years since my original diagnosis treated with mastectomy, node clearance (7/18 involved) then chemo, radio, Tamoxifen until 10 years later a secondary diagnosis with a tumour in my spine.  Surgery, followed by 10 radiotherapy treatments.  Six years later small tumours were seen in my liver but I needed a total hysterectomy because of suspicious-looking ovaries (all clear).  Chemo wasn't started until June 2010 - 9 months after the initial diagnosis of lesions in my liver, it took me a long time to recover from the hysterectomy.  Since June 2010, apart from one 6 month break I have been constantly on chemo of one sort or another.

Presently I've had 4x3wkly cycles of CMF (Cyclophosmamide, Methotrexate, 5FU).  Since the 4th cycle I've had quite a lot of discomfort in my liver which is worrying.  I'm seeing my onc next Tuesday and I'm guessing he'll order scans.  I've kept this info to myself so it's good to unload here.  My Onc has always said there are more treatments out there.  He has recently attended the World Conference of Oncologists in America and has indicated that he has more up his sleeve.  No doubt all will be revealed soon!!!!

Mary, my Adv Breast Cancer Support Group which has kept me going and which the Govt will cease funding at the end of 2015 - why???  call ourselves "Dragonfly Sisters".  Do you know the story of the "Dragonfly"?  A wonderful metaphor for women in our situation and which has also been adopted in some measure by BCNA.

The sharing of each other's experiences with our disease and knowing we are not alone and the empathy we gain from each other who are the only ones who truly know what we go through are a wonderful aid to the acceptance of living with this disease. 

I will now step down from my soapbox but send much love and hugs to you Mary.

Maggie xoxoxoxo

Hi Mary

My heart goes out to you - your story sounds very similar to mine and like you I feel that I too must be nearing the end of a long line of chemo treatments.  It is now 21 years since my original diagnosis treated with mastectomy, node clearance (7/18 involved) then chemo, radio, Tamoxifen until 10 years later a secondary diagnosis with a tumour in my spine.  Surgery, followed by 10 radiotherapy treatments.  Six years later small tumours were seen in my liver but I needed a total hysterectomy because of suspicious-looking ovaries (all clear).  Chemo wasn't started until June 2010 - 9 months after the initial diagnosis of lesions in my liver, it took me a long time to recover from the hysterectomy.  Since June 2010, apart from one 6 month break I have been constantly on chemo of one sort or another.

Presently I've had 4x3wkly cycles of CMF (Cyclophosmamide, Methotrexate, 5FU).  Since the 4th cycle I've had quite a lot of discomfort in my liver which is worrying.  I'm seeing my onc next Tuesday and I'm guessing he'll order scans.  I've kept this info to myself so it's good to unload here.  My Onc has always said there are more treatments out there.  He has recently attended the World Conference of Oncologists in America and has indicated that he has more up his sleeve.  No doubt all will be revealed soon!!!!

Mary, my Adv Breast Cancer Support Group which has kept me going and which the Govt will cease funding at the end of 2015 - why???  call ourselves "Dragonfly Sisters".  Do you know the story of the "Dragonfly"?  A wonderful metaphor for women in our situation and which has also been adopted in some measure by BCNA.

The sharing of each other's experiences with our disease and knowing we are not alone and the empathy we gain from each other who are the only ones who truly know what we go through are a wonderful aid to the acceptance of living with this disease. 

I will now step down from my soapbox but send much love and hugs to you Mary.

Maggie xoxoxoxo

Hi Annette,

I hope you are going north of Perth as the weather to the south is very cold as well at the moment.  You will enjoy it over there after Victoria.  I lived in Perth for 2 years and enjoyed it while there.  Plenty of places to see. Sounds as tho you both need the break, and I hope your husbands onc gives the ok.  You mentioned going back on Afinitor, will it be 5 or 10 mg this time?.....Sue:-) 

I was 8 years between and started off with lung, bones, nodes and ovaries..  It is such a shock to discover it so long after the first EBC..  I am sending you huge hugs and have my fingers and toes crossed that your latest Oncology expedition will find the 50% that is good and helpful..

xoxoxoxox  Sharon

You are in !!!  Welcome to the ABC group :)

I have been reading all these positive thoughts and all the different treatments lots of you have been involved with. I usually just read all the comments and soak up the care you all show, but now I feel the need to add my story.  I had PBC in 2000 followed by the usual regime of chemo, radiation and tamoxifen.  Ten years went by and in 2010 I was diagnosed with secondaries in liver, lymph, bones, lungs.  Whamie x 4!  Over the past four years I've been subjected to various chemotherapies both oral and IV with small breaks inbetween so my body can recover a llittle.  Recently my CT scans showed my liver had blown out of control and my oncologist had very little left in his box of tricks to keep me going.  I think I am now about to embark on my last chemo with 50/50 chance it will do any good at all.

I am not looking for sympathy, rather empathy and support.  I have a wonderful husband with 45 years of marriage together, two adult children and 5 and 2/3 grandchildren!   

I had a wonderful 10 years between primary & secondary and a challenging time over the last 4 years.  I am so grateful to my family and true friends.

As my father always said 'keep on keeping on'