People older then60 with stage 4 breast cancer

Wiegp22

how are people over 60 doing with stage4 breast cance

exbrnxgrl

I'm doing quite well. I still work full time and do most anything I want. I'll be 61 at the end of this month

MTDeborah

Hi Wie...,

Cancer cells are as different as human beings. Some cancer cells are extremely aggressive and create new cells very quickly. Some cancer cells are not aggressive (best kind to have) and create new cells s.l.o.w.l.y.

Since you have Er+ PR+ BC, ask your oncologist if they sent a sample out for Oncotype Scoring (1-100)? There are a couple other companies which genetically analyze cancer cells (not all types yet, but soon). This tells you and your oncologist how AGGRESSIVE the cells are and how fast they reproduce. That's huge when it comes to how one feels and how fast cells are spreading.

One person may have cancer which is very slow growing and that person could live a very long life. Another person could have very aggressive and fast growing/spreading cancer which will likely take their life quickly.

Many ladies don't realize that all cancers are different in so many ways, not just ductal, lobular, ER, PR, HER (- or +'s), etc. It's always about spread and how fast (aggression) they make more of themselves.

Sorry for what you are going through. Ask your oncologist some questions.

Medications: Aromatase inhibitor's, etc. Post to the ladies about what medications you are taking and your side effects. Don't let anyone force you to become the "cheery breast cancer patient." That's bologna! Societal bologna. Ever see a happy colorectal cancer patient? All theatre... Just be real as you have a right to be.

cive

I don't work although I would work part time if I could find and appropriate job.  I'm doing pretty good, 2 years since my met diagnosis.  Although I get fatigued more than I use too,  But then I am 68.

Wiegp22

cive what type of ca do you have Abe and hat is your treatment?

Paula.

Kicks

This was not posted in the Stage IV Forum but the over 60 so I will reply.

MTDeborah - BC is not only ILC or IDC but for a few of us we are IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer). Granted, it is rare (1-4% of all DXd BC). It is very aggressive with not a 'great' prognosis. There are other with even rarer types of BC also.

"cheery" - I've never been a "cheery" 'anything'. But I am a woman who has always chosen to live in the 'sunshine' and live every minute I have been/am blessed with to the utmost possible. I refuse to dwell in the darkness of despair. I am as active at 71 as I was when DXd at 63 - 8 yrs ago. Have even taken up a couple of new outdoor hobbies.

The OP was asking about other who are Stage IV - according to hour Profile you are Stage IB - I'm Stage IIIC.

cive

I am not actually stage IV, just iiB as originally diagnosed.   But I have metastases to lungs, bones, and liver, which means it's terminal because they can't fix that.  So, when the discomfort of fighting the disease becomes as bad or worse than living with it, I will probably concede.  It's about quality of life, not quantity.

AmyQ

I qualify at 65 years with Stage IV diagnosed de novo in Feb 2013.. Had IV chemo, which got me to NED for about 2+ years, on hormonal for a about 18 months, then Ibrance which put me in the hospital twice, missing out on two pilgrimages with my church to Israel and Rome - missed em both due to blood infections, then progression to liver last fall - waited until DD2 got married in December last year before trying a new treatment, Xeloda. Been on it since mid-December 2016, scanned in March 2017 which finds me again at NED.

My quality of life is good. I'm at a good weight, had to have my hip replaced due to arthritis last fall but have made a complete recovery. Now I'm active and enjoying life with grown children, 4 of whom live near by, 2 out East and 8 grandchildren.

COVID has curtailed all volunteering at church.

I hope I'm not nearing the end of my treatments. I just started Taxol which I receive every three weeks with a 1 wee break. Sometime in Dec 2020 I will receive a scan and if there isn't enough improvement, then I have to make the decision to take Adriamycin. I will take it for my children and grandchildren for as long as possible. (edited 10/20)

Amy

Maire67

diagnosed with stage IV 12 years after stage 3b ILC. First bout I was 56. Now I'm 69. I worked for many years and retired 4 years ago. I'm sorry to say I am not as active now as I was a year ago. In fact I retired to have enough energy to travel and enjoy my retirement. I am very lucky to have enjoyed all these years. I am on Stage 4 threads but feel guilty when I see these younger women struggling so hard. I try to be upbeat with my family esp children and grands. But I am feeling likE now I am slowing down so quickly. I babysit my grands and I am afraid I won't be able to keep it up . It's my favorite part of my week. it's a 12 hour day but just one day a week.

I can honestly say I knew the beast would come back eventually but somehow I had stopped worrying. Then this hit me like a brick. Thanks for listening. Mair

Longtail

71. Not sue yet as I don't start treatment for a few weeks....am thinking of opting out of Pergeta and just doing the chemo and herception, etc.....the stats for quality of the extra year it gives you don't seem worth the side effects....first diagnosis two weeks ago, stage 4 Mets, (bone). No symptoms, mammos were fine. Only symptom is a swollen left arm (something pressing on Lymph nodes...)very scared & anxious, though!

Maire67

Sorry you are joining this group. But lots of good information on these boards that help me form questions to ask my doctors. Did you consider an MRI . I had ILC. Only showed up on MRI but that was years ago. Technology is better now. Scared and anxious at various times and days. I've been at it for 4 months now. It levels off but honestly stays with you. I get relief when I play with my granddaugters

cive

Longtail I can't help you much since I know you are HER+, but don't know if you are triple positive like Maire67.  For the triple positives it adds ammunition to your arsenal since you can use hormonal treatment as well as HER+ treatment.

Leapfrog

Hi all, I haven't posted on this thread before because I don't normally think of myself as "older" but perhaps it's time I faced facts and, like Maire (Hi Maire!) I feel sorry for younger women with children on other threads. I'm on the Letrozole/Ibrance thread and the bones met thread quite often.

My tumour marker has always been high, at between 390 at its lowest and 640 at its highest. It was 900 when I started treatment and quickly fell about 120 to 150 points each cycle until it reached 390 but then it jumped up to 400 plus and has slowly been working its way up, albeit in a zigzag fashion until it was 640 at my second last cycle and 600 at my last one. My pain has increased and I know my MO is keeping a watchful eye on me. A lot of my pain is muscular, I know that, but it's protecting 3 areas where I have my worst tumours. I have extensive bone mets. I know that at least 2 ribs have stress fractures again so I'm assuming the disease is quite active in some areas. It has never stopped being active but lately it feels more so.

I was very optimistic and positive. I still am but I'm getting very tired because of the relentless pain and the opioid medications which are not controlling it fully. I'm giving the pain another week to see if the increased Fentanyl dose starts to control the pain and, if not, I'll call my trial nurse and I'm guessing my MO will want another scan.

Thanks for letting me spill.......