Just diagnosed- twice!

Jinxiepie13

I hope I am in the correct forum. In 12/15 I was diagnosed in right breast invasive ductal carcinoma with HER2+ER6%+PR-.Had lumpectomy and they found DCIS AS well. More surgery to excise margins. MRI showed lesion on sternum. This and close by right side breast tissue was biopsied. Found HER2-, ER 100%+, PR 100%+ in breast. Lumpectomy done. DISC found. Had to take part of chest muscle. PET/CT scan showed metastatic cancer in sternum with same receptors as right breast and in both Iliac bones. I have just started 12 weeks of chemo with Herceptin and Taxol. I am 70 yrs old. My sister died of triple negative breast cancer. My mom died after her breast cancer went to her bones. 2 sisters have had lumpectomy and radiation and doing well. I did the genetic testing and came back negative. I am so scared. Is the treatment aggressive enough to attack the bone tumors? I know the Herceptin is the miracle drug for HER2+. Is the pill I will take later enough for the other types or is Taxol helping there, too? Anything to help my anxiety would be most appreciated!

Molly50

Hi jinxiepie, welcome to BCO. I am very sorry for your diagnosis. I just wanted to give you a hug and point you in the direction of the stage lV forum. There are wonderful women in that forum as well as the other forums. Stage lV forum

fifthyear

Since you're stage IV, I think posting (or moving your post) to Stage IV forum would yield many responses since the ladies in that forum are very responsive and helpful. Sorry you have to deal with this, hope your treatment is working.

Rosevalley

Jinxiepie- welcome to the club no one wants to belong to! Your family history sounds a lot like mine. My Grandmother had IBC, Mother's Sister Ductal and a Great Aunt with premenopausal breast cancer who 20 years later died of ovarian cancer. I have estrogen positive lobular breast cancer. Like you we came back no genetic markers. You have lots to choose from for treatments so I would think you have potentially a very long time to live before the cancer has the upper hand. You might die of other causes before the cancer kills you. Folks can live with bone mets for years and years. Good luck with your treatment and spend your time healing from surgery. Welcome again and take care!!

50sgirl

Jixipie,

Welcome to the stage IV forum. I am sorry you qualify to join us. You will meet many wonderful and supportive people here. As Rosevalley said, people with mets only to the bones can live for many, many years. You will find people here who have been living with bone mets for a long time, and some of them are now NED (no evidence of disease). Please pop into the Bone Mets Thread when you can. Lots of people there can help.

I know the concept of stage IV bc can be overwhelming. It is normal to feel scared, especially during the first several months. When I was diagnosed last year, my DH and I cried as I said that I would never see another Christmas. Well, guess what, I am still here, and I plan to live through many more Christmases. My onc told me to expect to live a long time. So here I am, living and breathing, leading a pretty normal life, feeling good, and making plans and for the the future. As Rosevalley pointed out, there are many treatment options available. Great developments have happened in the treatment of HER2+ bc. Your onc will give you the treatment that is best suited to your dx.

I am sure others will post soon with advice and help. Let us know if you have any specific questions. Things will get better.

In the meantime, here is a big (((hug))) from me to you. Remember, you are not alone in this.

Lynne