Stage IV survivors

Pinky2011

Hi,

My mom was diagnosed with BC stage 2B in 2003.  She went under surgery, chemo and radiation.  She was on Tamoxifen for 4years.  And then they switched her to Arimidex.  In 2009, she did hysterectomy.  Late 2009, her tumor marker started going up slowly. Since then we started to do the check ups every 4 months. In 2009 and 2010, she did pet scan, abdominal MRI, bone scan and MRI ....all came negative...In 2011, her tumor market was at 358.  This time the pet can showed mets to spine and liver. She is 56 years old.  We will have her spine surgery next week, and other tretments....like to hear your stories with the similar situation

nannyjulia

Hi Pinky2011, sending you love, light, positive healing thoughts and prayers for your journey. It is a journey of all journeys and one that is ooh so different for each of us.  The variables are so great one can only gleen the information and similarities that are somehere close to our own path. 

Question why the surgery on spine?

1994 was not my year at all - well mabe my year of challenges just to test my grit.

A typical cervical cancer cells - hysterectomy - kept ovaries - maybe keeping my ovaries was not the best decision my Gyno made but then hyndsight is always insightful if only we could know what we need to know when we need to know it.   Went for two major interviews regarding my future career - under normal circumstances I would have walked the position in but my aneasthetic head and aching, stooped body was not going to get me past go this time. Hence I was sick ,sore and angry taking many months to even look like getting stronger. Went back to work the normal 2 months -  bad move - June 1994 got tyhe worst flu ever  by October 1994  in hospital with double pneumonia for over two weeks then home to recouperate - went to the Breast Screening Van for a check mamogram while I was off wok     -   and you guessed it -  recall  - more mamograms - yep straight to hospital Nov.4th    home 2-3 weeks  massive infection in breast and nodes surgery areas -breast surgery burst open in the shower frightened the hell out of me as I was alone . The burst spurted out about 2 - 3 feet up the wall and bath everywhere - grabbed a towel to hold/stopp the flow   -   back in hospital re open surgery wounds drain clean salt baths daily - got to go home christmas eve - great.

I was diagnosed in November 1994 BC left breast invasive ductual carcenoma 2.5cm ER/PR+  FER-    had lumpectomy Stage 2B  9/10 nodes mets 45 days radiotherapy then went on 2yr Zoladex trial - gozerelin drug - needle in tummy every four weeks for 2yrs.  luckily into remission for 17years to the day Now again - 8cm tumour and 1.5cm Mastectomy and  24 nodes - PET scan revealed cancer mets L3 spine, 2nd Rib and another node on the left side chest - possible pelvis?? not sure maybe rehumatoid arthritis??  Pain level some days max 8 out of 10.  Not much can be done  says my oncologist - on Femera (Letrozole). Was going to throw it away but the infor from this blog changed my mind.  My onco says surgery and radiation will be used to prevent pain in the latter stages. Well - stats are stats and I'm not one of the stats so prognosis went in one ear and out the other - I plan on being here for at least another 20 - 30 years yet.  I'm a young 60yr old nanny julia to six beautiful grandchildren and two beautiful children and their spouses - they are my life. My husband (my children's dad and grandad) died in 2001 after fighting brain tumour for 2yrs.   Sadness, will to fight, coping and learning we are all on this journey.  I am going to stay on the Femera  will have another PET scan in January 2012 to see whats happening in there.  Planning to have Hyperbaric Oxygen thereapy - planning to take hydrogen peroxide 35% food grade therapy  planning on healthy fresh organic greens along with cottage cheese and flax oil therapy.   I believe these natural alternatives will get me through. I refuse to have any toxic chemo radio or any other form of cancer treatment.    To everyone I encourage you to read and assess the alternative methods as I believe that building our immune system up, depriving cancer cells of oxygen and eating only the best organic fresh greens and vegs will be the answer along with lots of faith hope and believf in the power of your own body to mend itself. love peace harmony relaxation meditation and healthy nutritious food with the spirit within is our power.  love to all  nanny julia   Keep looking forward always.