Stage 1 hormone sensitive to Stage IV
Diagnosed last week with stage 1, hormone sensitive BC in my left breast after I came across a lump. I am 41 with 2 little sons, 4 & 6- it was a massive shock. After CT, bone scans & MRIs this week, my diagnosis has now changed to stage IV oligometastatic BC after finding it had spread to one vertebrae. To say I’m devastated is an understatement going from a curable stage 1 cancer to this. I am beside myself with worry on what this means for my kids- not being there for them, the battle ahead, continuing to work/pay mortgage & health bills and what being diagnosed with stage IV really means, particularly in regards to life expectancy. I don’t even know how I am going to cope/function with this news. I am meeting with my oncologist tomorrow to discuss what’s next- perhaps this will help. I did have surgery planned for mid April but this may change now. I would love to hear any suggestions on coping with your diagnosis, esp those with metastatic breast cancer. How do you stay positive to get through it? Thanks so much x
Metastatic Breast Cancer
I have just been diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer & trying to come to terms with everything. Starting my first round of Chemo this coming Wednesday & feeling overwhelmed. Hopping to hear positive feedback from others who have been or are going through the same experience.
Metastatic Breast Cancer found just by accident
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.
Metastatic de novo diagnosed 20 July
Hello, I was diagnosed on 20 July with grade 2 stage 4 De novo BC. As many of the ladies on this forum have mentioned regarding their own experiences , it’s been a wild roller coaster ride. The diagnosis of BC was confronting in itself, to find out it had already spread to my hip, well I was just gobsmacked. I’m 58 and keep very fit by running and going to the gym. I run around 40km per week and just couldn’t believe I had it in my hip. I’ve absolutely no pain, and ran in a 10km race the day before my diagnosis. Well, I could deny it all I wanted, the fact is, it’s in my hip. The next complete shock was to be told there is no cure. In the interval between the original BC diagnosis and the PET scan(which showed the hip lesion) I’d been reading and researching everything I could on the various treatments etc. and preparing myself mentally for surgery, chemo etc. to then be told that none of it was for me, as it’s metastatic, well that was just devastating. However, I’ve now received some good news. My health team has recommended an aggressive approach to treatment. Since the hip lesion is small and is the only evidence of BC outside of my breast, and I’m young (😂) and fit with no other health issues, they are going to try for cure by starting with hip replacement surgery and radiation, Two weeks post surgery I will start on Chemo for 5 - 6 months and will then undergo a mastectomy. It’s terrifying, but also gives me hope. It’s been 3 weeks now since diagnosis and I just want to get on with it. I see the orthopaedic surgeon on Monday and hopefully have surgery the following week. I’ve found the comments and discussions on this forum to be such a help, inspirational really, so a big thanks to everyone.
Newly diagnosed
Hi I’m 44 and have just been diagnosed with triple negative metastic breast cancer. It has spread to my liver. First time cancer and extremely scary. After first finding out it was cancer it took nearly 3 weeks to get oncologist appointment and then had a pet scan. They have referred me for a clinical trial at the PA but everything seems to take so long. Meanwhile I’m scared it’s spreading more. Finally got a phone call yesterday to go in tomorrow to have all this pre screening tests done. Let’s hope I meet the criteria. I’ve been just trying to live life normal and trying to be very positive but is so frustrating.