Newly diagnosed/Scared

WorkingMom10

I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer on 1 Nov following a hip fracture. I had DCIS back in 2011 and had a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. My doctor told me at the time that there was a less than 1% chance of the cancer coming back because it was stage 0 and I did not need any further treatment. I was stunned to find out that the hip fracture was due to my bones being weak due to bone mets. A bone scan showed lesions in both hips and 2 spots in my spine and one in my rib. I had a rod put in my left femur and a nail in my left hip to stabilize it after the fracture. My oncologist also said there was mets in my lymph nodes. I just finished my 5th treatment of weekly taxol and am also getting monthly zometa infusions. I'll be re-scanned in January to see if the taxol is working. I think I am scheduled for 12 treatments depending on the January scan results

I'm 49 years old, married for 24 years and have a 16 year old son. I hope that God will allow me to be here to see my son get married and have children. Reading the posts from everyone that has survived many years following a stage 4 diagnosis has given me a lot of hope. Any advice on what to expect from here would be greatly appreciated!

Christine

Kandy

Christine, so sorry you are joining this elite group. You will find really good advice here, plus we are always here to just have a shoulder to lean on. That stinks that you went from stage 0 to 4. I always say statistics really mean nothing. There is 100 % that something will happen or 100% chance it won't. I hope your treatment kicks those nasty cells back to the curb and you are here for a very long time. Wishing you the best

pajim

Christine, welcome! So sorry you have to be here. Hang in there until the January scan results. I would guess that if those are favorable your doctor will switch you to the hormonal medications (Femara or Arimidex, with out without Ibrance).

The hormonal meds are much easier to take and won't tether you to the cancer center the way taxol does.

Best of luck to you and Happy which-ever-holidays-you-celebrate!

zarovka

Christine - I am sorry you are dealing with this and that you have been through so much; however, you have so many options for treatments and bone mets are among the slower moving manifestations of this beast. Introduce yourself on the bone mets thread, make it a favorite and check in periodically. the bone mets ladies have seen it all and know what to do.

>Z<

WorkingMom10

Thank you all so much for your tips and advice! I'm really hoping that the taxol does its job. I forgot to mention that I also had 10 radiation treatments on my right hip and five treatments on my left hip for bone lesions. I still have some pain in both hips which makes me nervous. I have pain meds that do help. The left hip is still healing from my surgery

I also made the decision to shave my hair today. That was difficult, but my husband supported my decision and shaved it for me. He did a great job and got me through it. I wore one of my wigs to church and got a ton of complements on it.

Hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and joyous holiday season!

artistatheart

WorkingMom, Kandy is right stats are just stats. And Z is correct that the bones are a slower moving manifestation. Many women here have been going for years with bone mets. Check in often as the support and information you can get here helps sooooo much with the mental stress of this disease.

DivineMrsM

WorkingMom, do you mind if I say that really sucks that you had a recurrence from dcis in 2011 to stage iv this November. I am sorry to hear it. I always think, why the hell does that happen.

Others have given you good advice and insight. What I would add is, although I do not believe stress "causes" bc, I do believe eliminating stress helps in healing. Try to find ways to lighten your load, at home and at work. If you are involved in things you are unhappy with, make changes and stop the things that do not add anything to your life at this time. You and your body are really going thru a lot. Be good to yourself. Try to take it a day at a time and not project yourself so far into the future.

Also, antidepressants or antianxiety meds can help if this is something you do not currently take.

Best wishes to you as you navigate these new waters and as Kandy said, we are here to lend an ear

208sandy

So sorry that you are joining us Christine but we're here for you and one another - Divine is right (as usual) - get the stress out of your life and take care of you first - anti-anxiety drugs are a must have for the short term at least - sounds like your husband is what I like to call "a keeper" - I've been Stage 4 for three plus years now and taking life one day at a time is the best advice.