Doc still hasn't said Stage IV.

Went to surgeon in May, had lots of coughing, hard to breathe, that sort of thing.  Had right modified mastectomy May 2011 for Stage IIIa, with lymph node involvement (4-9 positive of 18 removed). Did have chemo, 4 rounds of EC, then 2 rounds of Taxotere, then quit.  Can't go back to him, since he is now in prison having pled guilty of using mislabeled medications in his practice from 2006 to 2012 (including Taxotere).  Anyway, surgeon sent me for chest x=ray, came back with multiple bilateral nodules with pleural effusion on the right side, suggestive of metastatic disease.  When I told him I wasn't planning on finding another oncologist or doing any further treatment, his only suggestion was to look into hospice.

Then, when to PCP who did bunchof lab work, and a CT scan of chest (which had been recommended by the x-ray);  Once again, suspicious of metastatic disease but no definitive answer.  CA 29 was elevated, but PCP did not say Stage IV.  I asked her what her gut feeling was and she did say lung mets.  But that does not show up on my medical history. 

Senior Center here (I am 66 and retired) has a program this coming week on Hospice care given by a local Hospice group,will check that out. 

I am not planning on further treatment, and don't see the need for further expensive tests just to confirm the probability of Stage IV. 

PCP started me on an inhaler and gave me samples of Advair, as well as a cough medicine RX.

Will see what Hospice has to say Wednesday, then go back to PCP in a month or so (she didn't make a return appt for me).  Then, see what happens after that. So far, so good/

I live alone, my daughter and her family live 5 hours away.  I have told her some of what I have learned, but not all.  I am doing well.  Just moved to a one bedroom apartment in April/May and did most of the moving myself, so was extremely tired and all that.  Now that I am settled in, will see what energy I have.  Still short of breath after little or no exertion and have several coughing spells every day.  Do practice deepbreathing, to prevent pneumonia, and try to exercise some.  Walking to the mailbox and taking out the trash is about all I do.  Do try to walk more, but don't overdo it, as it causes shortness or breath and coughing fits.

Working on decluttering my apt, and getting things in order.  Have a lot of crocheting projects I would like to  finish and I have a lot of photos that need sorted and marked.  I also have a lot of books I haven't read yet in my library and would like to do that.  I have a good spiritual advisor and a couple of friends I can count on for support and help.

Don't know what the future holds for me, but I am facing it.