Cancer everywhere how do i treat it??

Oh honey, I know this is terrifying.  I don't have official "mets," but I have had 3 different cancers.  As for chemo, your oncologist should meet with you and tell you what the ideal options should be.  You will find out your receptors (meaning if you are er/pr positive or negative, or if you have the her2neu protein.  You may even be a "triple negative," which is what I am).  These determine the best options for you.  You asked about doing hormonal treatments, so I am guessing you have been told you are er/pr+?  

If the struggle is whether or not you "want" to do chemo, that is really up to you, of course, but I can not encourage you strongly enough to fight like hell.  Cancer is a disgusting disease that will do everything in it's power to try to take over every part of your life.  Please do everything in your power not to let it take over completely. 

I know that many more women will respond to you with suggestions of what chemo is ideal for bone mets (is it Zometa, ladies? I honestly don't know).  You will feel a lot better once you have a treatment plan in place.  That allows you to go into battle mode and focus on fighting the beast. 

Please, come here often.  It doesn't matter the need, we are all here for you.  Someone will have an answer for you without a doubt. 

Much love and prayers, Deb

Princess, I'm in a similar situation. (We all are come to think of it.) I was stage IV from the get go with mets to bone. I am HR+ so I take Arimedex. For the bone mets I get Aredia (the poorer cousin of Zometa--you were right on, Deb. Aredia takes 90 minutes to infuse as compared to 15 minutes, but it supposed to be equally effective). I am HER2+ so I take Herceptin.I get both of these every 3 weeks. I *believe* this is the standard of care before Chemos. My onc said chemo only if these prove to be ineffective, or loose their efficacy over time.  I did not get surgery. I'm going to talk to my onc about that because as Jennifer indicated she got, I would like all the treatment I'd get if I were a stage 1. Unfortunately i'm extremely well endowed :-/ so I'd need a double mx. (or I'm sure I'd fall over). So thats a consideration, too. (I *do* have that Comme Les Garçons blazer that would fit if only....but thats another story)

Like  Jennifer as well, I work full time (more than full time). My side effects are minimal and I feel pretty darn upbeat most of the time. Its been almost 3 months since my diagnosis. Quality of Life is good. PM me, Princess--we can talk. HUGS -- donna

Have you looked at the Block Center in Evanston IL? They believe in building the body up as much as possible before chemo. It is an integrative approach to cancer with the basis that most people who die from cancer, actually die of malnutrition. There is a lot you can do to boost your immune system while you wait for treatments. My tumor actually shrunk 2 cm in the 5 weeks from dx to surgery just because  I ate so well and exercised daily (daily walks that I needed for all the emotional therapy), I also took some supplements. My doctors were surprised that the tumor had shrunk, but I was not. I was feeling so darn well, that I could even believe I had cancer. Check out Dr Ray Strand's book, What Your Doctor Doesn't know about Nutrition may be Killing You. He maintains that proper nutrtion and supplements do not feed tumors as many other doctors do. He feels that boosting the immune system is the best way to combat any illness. He sites some of his patients who came through chemo with great results by follow his healthy lifestyle changes.

Whoopsie-go to blockmd.com

They will send you out a complete information packet for free. I heard of them because of a seminar Dr. Block spoke at. His approach to cancer sounds like the best approach, combining traditional treatments with CAM, which I think is the best of both worlds. This is the route I would take if I ever had to go that path again. In the meantime, I keep up my strict regime of nutrtion and supplements, in the hopes that I won't have to. Good luck to you all!

I was just diagnosed with Metastatic breast cancer which has spread to the lungs, skeleton and not sure where else. I have met with my onc who is waiting for a final result on the pathology to come up with the treatment plan (chemo and/or hormones). My concern is that I am having a minor heart surgery to relieve fluid buildup around the heart before starting treatment. Since I am having the heart surgery this week, that will push cancer treatment out about two weeks. How fast does it spread? I am handling all of this well and want to make the right choices for myself. Any advise?

Thanks

Very scared--I had a CT scan, the results indicated enlarged nodes--right cardiopherenic angle, retroperitoneal and bilateral inguinal nodes. A 3cm right adnexal cyst, possibly ovarian.  My oncologist wants me to have a PET scan and an ultrasonic and wants me to see a gynocolgist. I am currently going through chemo AC. I had stage 2a breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy--NO lymph node involement. If anyone had a similar situation--I would love to hear about it.