Questions around removal of the primary in metastatic treatment
I am VERY new here so I hope this is not a silly question..... I have been diagnosed and one of my first shocks was they were no longer going to remove the primary cancer. I understand they say the data does not indicate significant impact on survival however this data is also questionable on integrity as its so old too. Has anyone also read about the removal of primary and the impacts and has anyone had a doctor willing to consider this? Or even address the conundrum of the data integrity vs the papers being written into this?
Treatment
Hi everyone I don’t know how to start this, I was diagnosed with breast in 2017 when pregnant. My baby and I went through mastectomy, chemo and radiation together because she was still in my belly when I was going through all that, thank God she came out beautifully and strong. She is 20month and a very happy girl. But now unfortunately my cancer has metastasis into my bones and liver. Having chemo again with all that comes with it. I get really stressed and frustrated. The chemo knocks me down so hard I can barely get out of bed sometimes, can’t eat and am losing so much weight.. I feel like this cancer is winning but heal no am not going down without a fight.
Chest looking like it has caved after double mastectomy
hi everyone. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this? for the last few days I have been feeling a "tugging" sore feeling over my mastectomy scar (double mastectomy 18 months ago, no chemo or radio). I checked the chest and I have an area beneath the scar on the chest wall that looks to have sunken. Any ideas what this could be?
deb
Hi everyone, I got breast cancer in 2010. It was a huge shock but you just have to scrape ya jaw from off the floor and deal with it. I had a masectomy and reconstruction of my right breast, sentinel node biopsy, chemo and tamoxifen. My right breast is just as awesome as my left one only it has a party trick where I can flex the lattisimus dorsi muscle and make it wiggle. I also had my nipple tattooed. It has faded a bit but I'm not bothered. I got secondary breast cancer in 2013, even bigger shock cos I thought it was gone but oh well sh$t happens. I have secondaries in my lungs, liver and bones. Still trying to find a med that I can be on for a long time. I am hr+ and her2- and am now on aromasin and affinitor. Some lesions are shrinking but markers are rising so will see onc on Monday to see if I go on Halvelen. I still work full-time just get tired and parts of me hurt but I get lots of help from everyone who loves me. It would be good to chat to people with secondaries and have a good laugh. Laughter and love gets you thru plus I'm as stubborn as a mule and I'm hanging around till the cure. Good job my onc likes me lol. Gotta go now, hope to chat to u all soon. Take care girlfriends xoxo:)
Secondary diagnosis
Hi, I'm very excited I have found this site, as I can talk to people who have the same health issues I do. My original diagnosis was on 27th September 2002, one day after my second granddaughter was born. I call her my little guardian angel as it certainly softened the blow to have a new grand baby while dealing with BC. I had two lumpectomies, auxiliary clearance, radiation and chemotherapy. I also tried to take Tamoxifin but it really made my joints hurt and the menopause symptoms were terrible. Looking back on it now, I wish I had of persevered with the Tamoxifin and I might not be where I am now. Who knows?? It's one thing that I've kicked myself lots over the years for and another is, maybe I should have had a mastectomy back then, but I was going under the guidance of my oncologist and surgeon. I had five good years then was diagnosed again with BC and it was in 16 glands. After having a mastectomy, chemo that almost killed me twice due to having another infection, another type of chemo, (I'm sorry but I can't remember the names any longer.I think at one point I tried to erase it from my mind and didn't write anything down as it made it too real), I also had 8 months of Herceptin, another 30 rounds of radiation, it was then found to have spread into my bones and lungs. I tried some alternative therapy which didn't help and started back on Hormone therapy. I've been on four different types and my body has become used to them all. My last lot of treatment was Afinitor, and Aromisin. Also I'm now having the injection at my GP which takes the place of the Zometa for bone strengthening. The Afinitor stopped working which resulted in a new bone met in my forearm which I'm starting five rounds of radiation on it from today. I'm also waiting on the results of a CT which I had yesterday on my chest/abdo. I get the results of that Friday. I have everything crossed there are no new mets. It looks as though I'll be starting the oral chemo, Xeldo. I really enjoy hearing from other ladies, but I have done this backwards. I've been chatting to people but have only just realised I should have done a blog first. Anyway hopefully it's right now. Cheers and lot of love from Annette Joycie
Helping Mum
Hi Everybody I posted a few weeks ago about my 81 year old mother who had been diagnosed with HER2 positive (hormone negative) breast cancer. She had a left breast mastectomy on 8 January. We have been to the oncologist and after a lot of tests, we were told today that she has secondaries in her lungs. I am gutted. She has gone from an early breast cancer diagnosis to advanced breast cancer in the blink of an eye. He is going to treat her with chemo and Herceptin and is very optomistic that she will respond well to it and will be treating her for "a long time to come". Of course my brain is running away and saying what if she doesn't respond. I know I won't have her forever but would like a few more quality years with her. Has anyone had this type of diagnosis and had success with Herceptin. We are hoping she starts treatment on Tuesday and I know it is going to be a hard road for her. I look at her and can't believe she has cancer as she looks so well. Any comments/suggestions of ways to help her would be appreciated. I am my elderly parents main support system and like most elderly people, they don't want to accept outside help. Thank you in advance
Not What we wanted to hear
Hi all, It's been a while since I last posted. I started 6 months of chemo on April 30. I am about to have a mastectomy Tuesday Oct 22, 2013. After cycles of FEC and Docetaxel, it appears they didn't do what we expected. Minimal change to the tumour - but it also spread to the liver. Oh dear! I started the monthly injection of Zoladex last Friday. I am told this will happen for 2 years. After the mastectomy on Tuesday, I start Tamoxifen. This is to be monitored, but my oncologist is already using words/sentences like hysterectomy and liver surgery and I'm thinking whoa...hang on, I'm still getting over chemo and prepping myself for the mastectomy . Strange as it sounds, I was actually quite blessed during chemo. It wasn;t nearly as harsh as I had anticpated. Up and down times as expected, loss of hair, eyelashes, fingernails and toenails, weight gain, body aches and pains, night sweats and at times some emotional moments. But not brutal. So I find myself feeling overwhelmed again - just like I was when I was first diagnosed. Is there anything I need to do to prepare myself for surgery and pain management for recovery. How do we recover from surgery and try to fit in treatment for secondary and then start 6 weeks of radiation therapy for the original tumour? How do we keep it normal? Kerry x
