Hi,I’m 58 years old & was in pretty good health when I sustained a massive bruise after just a small amount of pressure in my pelvic area. I showed a friend (nurse) who told me to go to the doctor sooner rather than later. From there my journey began. After ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI’s & about 25 vials of blood it was found I had cancer in my lever. It was only after a biopsy on my liver & mammogram that my breast cancer was diagnosed. It’s been 8 weeks since that bruise & here I am now trying to come to terms with the diagnosis. I’m off this morning for a biopsy on my breast where a large tumor as become obvious over the past 3 weeks, an Echo after that then a PET scan on Wednesday. My chemo & cocktail will start in a week or so. My family & friends a very, very supportive but everyone has a story to tell & not all of them positive. I hope & pray I can keep up the strength I know I’m going to need to continue on the emotional rollercoaster I’ve found myself on.

Dear @Enaid I am sorry to hear of your diagnosis but as the lovely ladies who have responded to you have said, you have come to the right place for support - day and night - and some very good suggestions.There is a private group that you can join if you wish to 'Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer' that I joined and have found invaluable.Best wishes and hugs, you will get through this <3 <3

@Enaid And just like that your life is turned upside down. :( I'm sending you hugs and positive thoughts.

It’s an awful ride. Your whole world up ended in a heartbeat. Sending best wishes and some comfort that we have world class breast cancer treatments in this country. Xx

@Enaid What a distressing situation 😕. Difficult to say the least. You have friends here on the forum so check in whenever you need. And please, do NOT listen to those stories. I seriously don’t understand what’s wrong with people sometimes. I heard stories too before I was even diagnosed. I’m staying away from those people, or just don’t talk about the cancer so they don’t have an opportunity to share more 🙄. It’s better to get advice and help from people who have experienced it, and that’s us here. So I can tell you it will be hard, but that you definitely have the strength. Definitely. Just please take it one step at a time. Otherwise you will exacerbate your anxiety unnecessarily. It’s a long process so do what needs to be done at the moment, and in the meantime still try to find fun and pleasurable things to do, as much as it’s possible. Don’t wait till it’s all over to enjoy yourself. You should do something good for yourself every day.Good luck and keep in touch 🍀♥️

Advice I received from a Counsellor on day of diagnosis was to appoint someone as the gatekeeper, in my case Hubby, so that circle of friends and family and unrelenting stories are controlled. Sometimes we just don't need to know how Mrs What's-her-name from down the street had the same as you but in actual fact didn't!We are all different in how we react to treatment and hopefully you are in the category of someone who can sail through with very few side effects!It's a so and so but I am sure once all the biopsies are complete and a plan in place you will feel like you are having a little more control on where you are atBest wishes and take careBTW the website is full of lots of information to guide you, here's a couple of links to help you alongFact sheet: Breast cancer pathology | Breast Cancer Network Australia (bcna.org.au)Types of breast cancer (bcna.org.au)

Metastatic Breast Cancer found just by accident

33 Replies

arpie
Member
5 years ago
Haha @Enaid ... Fuckity Fuck was the popular response back when I was diagnosed, 3 years ago! I don’t know what it is about that specific term .... it just makes me smile and laugh too! It is hard to take offense at it! LOL

Fantastic news that the PET scan and biopsy was clear! YAY!

Keep that sense of humour going .... I reckon it was my strongest ally.

You’ll be noticing a pattern with your treatment and side effects now ... so keep those drugs going and do what you have to do to get them it. Hubby used to go to bed on about day 4 after his chemo, for 2 days .... just sleeping it off.

take care xxx
FLClover
Member
5 years ago
@Enaid You definitely are 💪🏻😊♥️
Locksley
Member
5 years ago
@Enaid well done on getting through your chemo session. That's great news your pet scan didn't show anything else. Take time to rest up and go easy on yourself. My sense if humour is a little wicked and that helps me so don't change that. The ladies here are so wonderful to chat with. Glad I made you laugh. Sending love xxx
Enaid
Member
5 years ago
@Locksley Had chemo this arvo so feeling shitty, then I read this & had to not just smile but laugh 😆 So thank you.
My PET scan & biopsy didn’t show anything further than the breast & the liver, thank God so planned treatment went ahead as planned.
My 1st treatment went for 6 hours but thank goodness didn’t have too many unpleasant side effects, nothing I couldn’t handle with plenty of drugs, creams & a good sense of humor anyway! Today’s was done in 3.5 hours & went well. I’m now geared up with everything I need to attack any bloody gremlin that tries to take over my body in the next few weeks....hmmm at least I hope I am 🤪
Locksley
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Enaid I was pretty happy when I read someone had said fucketity fuck. Hope this pic makes you smile.
Cath62
Member
5 years ago
Hi @Enaid

Sending love and support to you. I just confirm all the other comments. Please let us all know how you go over the coming weeks. Sending love
Abbydog
Member
5 years ago
Dear Not_good_63_57,
You seem to have lovely positive attitude. You haven't shared your situation eg age, family etc. I hope that whoever you have in your life are supportive. Don't forget many people, including myself, are not aware of how your situation is managed and they may ask awkward questions, and mean no harm. Just interested and caring. Hopefully the oral drugs don't cause too much trouble for you. I'm taking Letrazole with no issues as yet. Wishing you all the very best.
Not_good_63_57
Member
5 years ago
Hey thank you for ur kind words
yes this is all knew to me still getting head round it but not as stressed as wat I first was and that’s what I’m going to do is get on with life not dwell on it ... I call it a chronic disease now
Kattykit
Member
5 years ago
@Not_good_63_57, its pretty much standard procedure with denovo, i.e. cancer when first found has already metastasised to bones or organs, the aim is to prolong our lives as long as possible as it unfortunately incurable, I do agree that she should have explained it better for you though,. McGrath nurses àre available all over Australia although you do need to find one who specialises in Stage 4 cancer. Best of luck with your treatment, I also started out on pills only with a monthly denosumab injection for my bones as I was already osteoporotic. I've been on this road for 3 yrs now and am doing quite well at the moment and I still haven't had to have iv chemo. Just take everything one day at a time for now and try not to dwell on what ifs as they may never happen. xxxx
Not_good_63_57
Member
5 years ago
Hey thank you
yeh I go to next appointment next week start tablets they are Letrozole and Palbociclib plus get bone injection and also nausea medication as read up on tablets just bit unsure of them causing sickness but suppose I will get there
I don’t look at it terminal I look at it as chronic disease as you live longer than years ago but wish they would promote metastatic cancer lot more as think people would b more aware of it
but yeh I’m goin to transfer to my hospital near me I can’t deal with rude people or think that there is no hope for you that is so wrong