Stage 4 breast cancer

Hi Gerry2​ 

First I want to say I am so sorry for your stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis and the shock you have been in since December. I am so glad you are moving forward with treatments and I do understand your grief as I have stage 4 TBNC inflammatory.  I call these " down" times " slumps" because I find I normally come back from them over time. Generally, I slump when something new comes up, or a test has come back indicating a change or I dont' feel well or the fatigue has been a lot. I was diagnosed in May 2025 so it has not been a year yet, and it was regionally advanced so also in Hilar and Mediastinum and I believe a node in oesophagus and bones. I had radiation therapy to bones which cleared these lesions, and started on Nab Paclitaxel and immunotherapy. I had a rare side effect to the immunotherapy and was started on Cortisone and its been paused for now. I had a lung biopsy as the side effect caused issues in the lungs and to check it wasn't cancer. I was very unwell after the procedure and the Cortisone that I'm on for 6 months has totally distorted the way I look - moon face, extra fat deposits, and double chin !!!! I'm 66 years, and like you carried on with life - but off work on HESTA income protection thankfully. I know that down feeling, but as I have 7 grandchildren with 3 being teens and 4 being infants, I wanted to stick around a bit longer - as its inflammatory and TBNC at first the oncologist gave me 23 months - now its unknown - so I just carry on!!

I haven't cried really, I have these low slumps, and sometimes I mope around, I get a bit homebound as I get tired in the afternoons, but I exercise everyday which helps me and I try to do something in my day at least. I was already enrolled in a Masters degree and would you believe I am studying this year!! It certainly is a distraction - but not sure if I need this!!! :)

I am sorry you have been down, try calling it a slump - then you know it must end. I have an arthritic knee injury with a stress fracture that is causing far more issues lately than the actual issues related to stage 4 LOL - so annoying. Keep going - you've got this- I know of one lady who was put on Trodelvy with her TBNC and its resolved her lung lesion- on her last PET. She was very anxious too - so there is hope, it does not mean its the end - if its in the lungs! and she has surpassed her 18 months life expectancy time she was given.

Keep posting here - try the metastatic group as well.

Take care

Sue