Its back and I have a 5 month old baby

paxton

Its back and I have a 5 month old baby

paxton

Sooo, I'm 36 years old with a 5 month old baby and just got rediagnosed.  I was first dx in '07, had lumpectomy, chemo and rads.  Passed my first round of tests after that.   Then got very unexpectedly pregnant (my first, too).  I couldn't have my next round of routine testing until after the baby came.  The mammo and blood work came back clear so I thought things were fine.  My onc decided I should bet an mri, too, just to be sure and of course something showed up.  I had a biopsy and it was cancer in the same spot.  Then my ct scan came back showing a spot on my liver.  I went in to see if they could biopsy it today, but they can't see it well enough and its in a spot that could bleed so they won't do it.  Thursday I'm having a PET scan.  If it shows cancer, then I have mets, if it comes back clear that doesn't mean I'm cleared.  So I'm going to be starting aggressive chemo next week and having the db mast after if all goes as planned.  If it is mets, the onc said stats are about less than 2 years for survival.  I know stats are just stats but at 36 with a new baby, I'm just stunned and horrified. 

I just know I'm glad for this site.  There isn't much formal support where I live and this is really scary.  Its comforting connecting with others going through similar things.  I felt that way, too, when I went through the first time, but now with recurrance and possible mets, it will be a different group of people I need to connect with.  It was hard enough going through this the first time knowing I was in an early stage and was going to be cancer free after tx.  The prospect of going through tx knowing its more along the maintenance lines would be a tough pill. 

• So if the pet scan comes back clear at least I still have hope to see my boy grow up.  It really hurts thinking my baby won't remember me if I die while he's little.   

konakat

Awww Paxton, I'm so sorry.  AND, forget about that 2 years crap if you have mets!!!!  Many, many of us have had mets for years and are doing well.  This spring it will be 3 years with liver mets (bone mets gone) and I am here, very much alive.

For now, focus on dealing with the recurrance, cross the mets bridge if and when you have to.  Hit the cancer hard, with all you have.  You're a stong, young woman.  And what a sweet little baby!!!

Other Moms will come to support you (I'm not a Mom so I don't have that special wisdom).  You will get through this.  Hugs for you and your dear little boy.

Elizabeth

xox

chainsawz

I am so sorry :<  I agree with Elizabeth - there are many women who outlive that expiration date by years.  I think those statistics are old!  I hope your PET is clear and your doctor will give you hope and fight for you!!  The statistics for me aren't good, but there are women alive after 7 years with brain mets....there is always hope.  I let all my doctors know that I was going to fight with every fiber of my being, and that I expected nothing less from them!   Best to you!!  lisa

baywatcher

Paxton-

I am so sorry that you are dealing with a recurrence. I hate cancer.

I don't know if you believe that diet has anything to do with cancer or not but there is a book that I would like to suggest to you. It is called "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell. I read this book after I was diagnosed the second time and it makes total sense to me. After my first diagnosis, I didn't change anything in my life. The second time was a wake up call for me. I knew I had to do something. So I follow the guidelines in the book. You could ask for the book as a Christmas gift maybe.

I hope your PET scan comes out clear.

Good luck to you.

pastapesto

Paxton, I am so sorry.  My kids were 2 and 6 when I was first diagnosed, treated like you.  Now 10 years later, I'm in recurrence.  Those years in between were the greatest gift, and my hopefulness continues.  I see you're in MN, where is your treatment happening?

Blessings, PP

ElaineD

So  very sorry to hear your news-it's not surprising that you're devastated. Really hoping that you don't have mets-but, as the girls have said, there are many treatments available if you do, so let's hope that you find one which works well for you. I'm so sad for you-you've had no time to move on from your original diagnosis before facing yet more problems.Please try to avoid statistics-you are an individual, not a number and there's no way of knowing how well you may respond. Once treatment has begun, you'll feel a little more in control. Can I suggest too, that you accept as much help as is offered? If you do have mets, then you will be on some form of treatment for life-and it is incredibly tiring. Good luck to you and your family.

paxton

Thanks for the support. 

PP, I'm going down to Mayo next week, but I will most likely carry out treatment in Alexandria.  R u in the cities?  I just got back from the Jane Braaten Breast Cancer Center last week. 

Anonymous

Paxton, is your ER/PR status the same as your first bout with this disease?  Another gal on here had it recur in the opposite breast but it turned out to be ER+ rather than ER-. 

I had a spot on my liver and adrenal glad with my first dx. I had a PET/CT scan and it turned out to be negative.  Praying yours will too.

Shirley

JennD1117

Hi Elizabeth...You have a positive attitude and that's what I have also. I see you wrote bone mets gone. I was diagnosed with Estrogen/Progesterone + HER2NU2 + breast cancer and now 2 hotspots showed on my PET scan one on my sternum and the other on my hip bone. I had a bone biopsy on Friday...awaiting results. This is very nerve wracking. How did you get rid of your bone mets? I'm only 31 years old with the most supportive husband in the world and we have a 6 month old daughter...I have to fight this and win, there's no other choice! Please fill me in...Thanks so much!

RobinWendy

Do not... I repeat... do NOT allow ANY doctor to give you an expiration date.  I had IDC on one side, then got DCIS a year later on the other side, did a double mastectomy and as I was finally recovered and ready to move on... BOOM, mets to lung (and now liver).  

That Stage IV dx was just over SIX years ago.  Not only am I still here, but I have been completely asymptomatic the entire time, although only reached NED during the first 3 years.  I'm not saying that everyone will have the same experience as me, but no one knows.

I had a consultation at Sloan-Kettering and after the exam and discussion, I asked a question about the proper order of treatment (and if there even was a proper order).  Instead of answering my question, the doctor said, "it really doesn't matter.  You're not going to live five years"  I didn't ASK for a prognosis and it was very damaging to hear.

And the kicker is... SHE WAS WRONG!!  I celebrated my SIX year Stage IV "cancerversary" on December 1st and I feel absolutely fine even though the mets are also in my liver.  I'm not saying that being Stage IV is a walk in the park 'cause it isn't.  But new things are coming out of clinical trials all the time and you should set a goal of staying alive until the next big thing comes along that will beat the beast to the curb.

I wish you the best and hope that the PET comes back "dark".

Robin 

Jellydonut

Paxton,

It's my belief that as soon a doctor begins to spout off "days to death", he/she should get lockjaw, lol.

I have had two recurrences (the last one was three years ago) and also a liver spot was found on a PET which turned out to be a hemangioma.  Also, I was told I had a 2 cm. metastatic lesion on my thyroid (read by an incompetent radiologist) that a biopsy proved to be benign.

Take one step at a time and wait for conclusive pathology results.  I DO understand how distressing (an understatement) all of this is and how one's mind easily goes into "death" mode when hearing such things.

We're waiting with you - holding your hand and wishing  the chemo produces the "all clear"  for many decades to come.

This entire cancer thing sux big time, but please do not lose sight of that four letter word.............H O P E.

Blessings to you and your beautiful baby.

Jelly

shejoh

Hi paxton

I am not yet diagnosed with mets...but suspecious about a mass which is seen on the phophylactic reconstruction breast.....tests are going on..

I met a 80 yrs old lady at the lab last month..she had come for a follow up blood work..she had a mastectomy 20 yrs ago, had chemo, radiation and all...2 yrs ago she had liver mets about 9 tumours in liver..she took chemo, radiation, and hormonal treatment...she said all her liver lesions disappeared....she is quite healthy..I was so surprised...i thought once you get mets, life spirals down from there...that's not true...every individual is different..doctors cannot make a generalised statement about the time of survival..they make these assumptions looking at people who did not do well...and forget that there are so many women who are living well after loong time of their mets diagnosis...cancer is a living cell whose brain got whacky..it can go whacky as long as it is living...we got to do everything possible to kill it...and good luck and prayers coming your way.... 

candie1971

Paxton,

I do not have much to offer at this point except my prayers. Do NOT listen to that Dr that is givng you an expiration date. Girls on here will tell you that!! You will get great help here and support. I will keep you in my prayers. Praying for B9 for you. Praying for a long and happy life with your son.

hugs and prayers,

Candie