March 2011 Rads

GirlFriday

There is so much I don't understand about BC and mets...how do you go from stage one to mets without lymph involvement?  I'm chosing to think it's just some anomaly ShelMel.  I just refuse to believe that you're going down this road again so soon.  I'm dumping you into the healing circle tonight with my meditation group...if you feel a swoosh and are a bit dizzy, that's just me giving you a good dose! 

ShelMel

msjag and GirlFriday - thank you so much for the prayers AND especially for refusing to believe it's mets. I'm counting on feeling the swoosh and dizziness, girlfriday. Bring it on!!

Here's what I posted to my friends and family today because they had so many questions. This is what I understand (which could be wrong) about mets and what's going on with me.

I want to take the time to answer some questions that people have been asking. Right now, they're not 100% positive that it's cancer. They're 99% sure. I'm not sure how exactly they "know" it's cancer. I assume because of what it looks like and my history. There is a tiny percent chance that it's benign (not cancer) but the original prognosis is not good.

I had a bone scan (clear! YAY) and a CT chest scan last Friday because I've been having pain that is gradually getting worse in my sternum and now ribs.The CT scan from Friday is what found the lung lesions.

Onc said that normally lung cancer does not cause pain, but that I may have lesions in the lining of the lung that attaches to my sternum, which could be causing the pain.

I had a chest CT about 6 months ago and it was perfectly fine.

Dr. Mullins is very concerned because my last chest CT was clear 6 months ago and now it's not. The fact that 20-30 lesions have shown up so fast, is another indication that it's cancer and a very aggressive cancer.

I am having a PET CT scan from upper neck to knees tomorrow morning (Friday) to see if they find any spread anywhere else (liver, kidneys, etc). Also, they want to see if they can find a good spot to do a lung biopsy. My onc said that they didn't see any good spots with the CT scan I had done last Friday. He wants to do the lung biopsy next week, but I am sure it will all depend on what the PET scan shows. Also, a PET scan can show the difference between benign and malignancy because it looks at cells on a molecular level. Also, this PET CT scan will determine the type of lung biopsy procedure I'll have to have.

I had IDC breast cancer (Invasive Ductile Carcinoma) and it is an aggressive and reoccurring type of cancer. I had an onco-type test initially to try to "predict" whether or not the probability of my cancer could return. The high number being 50. I was 25. Smack dab in the middle. That was part of the reasons I had both chemo and radiation for my breast cancer.

Dr. Mullins told me that getting a mastectomy and staying on my cancer meds will ONLY help the chances of not getting breast cancer again. He said that I could do all the right things, eat right, exercise, not smoke, live life completely healthy and if I was going to get metastatic cancer, I'm going to get it. It's already coded into my genes. Nothing I can do about it. The breast cancer could have been a precursor to metastatic cancer. There's just no way of knowing ahead of time. This applies to everyone. Not just me.

Even though they didn't initially find the breast cancer in my lymph nodes (and that's a statistical gamble test by testing a few of the lymphs closest to the tumor) they did find that my breast cancer was vascular. It was traveling through my boodstream already.

I really truly want people to be educated about cancer - all types. There's just so much to know and every cancer for every person is different.I hope this helps answer some questions you guys have. Thank you all for your prayers, love and support. YOu have no idea how much I feel them washing over me. I am so blessed.

Scottiee1

ShelMel.....thank you so much for sharing your information......as so many women here have said "cancer is a crap shoot" my hopes and prayers will be with you daily.

msjag

Shel, like I said in my other post, my onc said someone has to fall into the "good" percentages, praying that its you Shel.  We are hear for you.  Again, your amazing for thinking of others when you have so much on your plate.  Feel those prayers and good vibes coming at you.

GirlFriday

I believe in you ShelMel...Mets Schmets!  You will beat this!

msjag

Anyone heard from Shel?  Hope everyone is doing well.

msjag

Two years since the start of rads!! can you believe it???  Hope you are all doing well!  Done with snow in NE...Girl Friday..get those beaches ready for us!!! Especically OOB!!!!

GirlFriday

Three years have come and gone March 2011 Rads Gals!  Today is the anniversary of my last rads session.  I had a mammo today, NED! I still feel exhausted and weepy.  Seems like they get harder to do, the further I get away from treatment.  Hope everyone is happy and healthy!

Rocket

Yay doing the happy dance for you GirlFriday! I no longer get mammograms because I had a bi-lateral mastectomy along with chemo and rads, but I do know what you mean when you say it gets harder the further out you are from treatment. I struggle every time I have a bone scan to check for mets due to pain somewhere. They do seem to be worse each time and I think it's because I am worried that the longer it's been since treatment the more likely I am to have a recurrence. I know that is contrary to the statistics, but it's also psychologically understandable.

GirlFriday

Hello Everyone!  I'm sorry to say that cmbear passed away May 21.    Apparently she was dx'd with mets in Oct 2013.  If you want a link to her obit, PM me.

Love to you all. Marcy

msjag

Such sad news GF, ugh, so sorry for her family and friends.

msjag

Not sure who may pop in once in awhile, but wanted to wish you all a happy 5 years since the start of radiation/this group!! hope everyone is doing well. Happy Easter to all those who celebrate.

GirlFriday

Hey msjag! I was just thinking about you and the other gals on this post, so I popped in.  5 years! What a milestone!  We did it!  I just scanned this entire topic...because I'm at work, and over tired from last week and Easter.   My brain is just not cooperating and I feel a bit bluesy.  My heart aches for those we've lost along the way.  My heart sings for all of us that have survived, moved forward, and moved on.  I want to cry for all of the pain we've shared, and laugh for all the ridiculous moments and lessons learned.  Here's to hoping we're checking in here again in another 5 years!  Much love to everyone! 

msjag

HeyGF!!!!! Great to hear from you!! I think we all just pop in every couple of months which is good news for most of us. I feel the same way for those we lost on our way to 5 years. We had such comfort and support from all. Heading to Maine this summer, and I will toast you GF and think of you as my toes hit that OOB sand and water!!! God bless us all!!

GirlFriday

Hey msjag! I'm trying to make time to walk the beach this year...park at Pine Point and head to OOB. Maybe we'll bump into one another! Much love to you and yours!

msjag

That sounds great GF, I will contact you when I head there, would be great to meet!! have a wonderful summer!!

msjag

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone. Hard to believe we are heading into six years since rads!!! And for some us, six years since chemo. I hope you are all doing well. You will always be a part of my heart for the support, friendship, info we shared with each other. I wish you all great health, peace and happiness. If you do stop in, drop a line to let us know how things are going.

xoxoxox to all!

msjag

Came back to check on everyone!!! 6 years for most of us since we ended chemo/started rads. Hope everyone is doing well. Hoping for this snow to go away in New England, and let us start spring!!! We had a few spring days in Feb!!! Wishing you all the best!!!

Anonymous

Hello all!

I'm back on the boards getting updated information due to a 41-year old niece recently diagnosed stage IV Thought I'd drop in to say hello while I was here. Hope everyone is well 6 years out! I'm good other than the damn hot flashes and the extra weight from menopause + Tamoxifen!

Glad it finally stopped raining on California! Happy summer to you all!

Anonymous

Wrong thread! I was a May 2011 Rads baby! Hope you March people are doing well!

msjag

Hello all!!! checking on my sisters from March 2011 Rads!!! 8 years ago, can you believe it!! Hope everyone is doing well. Happy Spring/Summer to all!!