Just Diagnosed : Liver, Bone Mets and Malignant Pleural Effusion

Hey Emily, I remember you! A fellow Ontarian here. I am so sorry that  you have advanced, that just SUCKS! Please know that you are in my prayers.

Hi Emily - I am also a fellow Ontarian (liver mets). So sorry that you have found yourself back here and at stage iv. You have a lot on your plate even before you start tx. Best of luck with everything. I sure hope that chemo will kick those mets back to nowhere land but leave you with minimal SEs.

You may find more women with similar dx and chemo if you post on the stage iv boards as well.

That does suck Emily. Just curious did you have the Oncotype test? I am IDC Stage II, Grade 1. Had lumpectomy and Rads; currently on Tamoxifen. I know the greatest risk/recurrence chances occur in the first 3-5 years. No guarantees. It's such a crapshoot. Good luck. 

Diane 

Judy, what an amazing tip about sucking on a mint!!! I've been on this forum for over 5 1/2 years and never heard that before. I hope you share it whenever you can. Good luck to you, too!

ladies....just saw the post and wanted to send you all a big hug! There is always so much hope as the years pass, and I hate reading of progression at any level. I am 5 years out from diagnosis, but know with every ache and pain, I'm just an appt away from Stage 4. 

Barbe, good to see you and praying you get the all clear. 

Hi Emily, I, too, have had cancer before and now find myself in tx for mets. I was dx,d in April this year, and immediately put on weekly Taxol to prevent further vision loss in left eye. They figure that the lungs, bones and nodes will respond as well, which from my comparative scan last week, they have. Modestly, but in the right direction. 

My best wishes to you, and the weeks of tests and port placement were really the toughest time for me. Take it really easy and accept all the help offered. It takes time to assimilate the diagnosis, also. I was thinking qbout it all the time in Pril and May, but now only half the time. Improvement!

Em,

Are you having the tooth extractions because they are going to give you a bisphosphonate?  I get a Zometa infusion every 2 months for the bones, but there is some risk associated with it that may cause necrosis of the jaw.  The last 2 weeks I have been having some jaw pain on the right side and I'm hoping it's just TMJ pain. I've been getting Zometa for 3 1/2 years and worry about it. Good luck to you with the extractions and with the port placement. Hopefully, things will begin to settle down once you begin treatment.

(((hugs)))

Diane

Emily, I have had 11 weeks of weekly Taxol, and since its doing some measurable good, will be continuing on it for another few months. Then I expect to start an AI of some kind. There is a thread called Weekly Taxol that you might find interesting. I think weekly is better than the every three week pattern, as the dose is lower and SE,s are more moderate. It took three weeks to begin to feel like I was getting the hang of chemo. I have fatigue that bothers me, but I can rest as needed. Not bad as far as nausea or heartburn goes, as long as I take the meds for those symptoms as needed. Good luck this week. 

Hi Emily........just checking in to see how you are doing after your first treatment. Hope you are feeling okay.  Take care.....try to eat well, and get all the rest that you need.  Thinking of you today........judy

Emily, I started weekly taxol on April 9, was scanned the same week, and again in mid June. Some regression of pleural mets, chest wall mets and lymph nodes was shown. I have the tumor in my left eye measured for changes evey month, also. That has shown some regression as well. I go again tomorrow. Hair loss, a steady shower of hair falling out, I have not buzzed it due to preference, yet did get a pixie cut six weeks back. That has really helped me work with the thinning hair. I wore a wig twice recently, mostly for blending in. Hot, itchy after first few hours. I wear a lightweight hat with a brim sometimes, and have a women's ballcap that looks like an engineer hat a bit. I HATE feeling so unattractive while feeling crummy from tx. Its hard. But I know I am not alone!

Sorry to hear the first treatment was so tough....I guess it has to be to kick that cancer to the curb! Hang in there and I will do the same.  Just had my second treatment today. I will go back in for a neulasta shot tomorrow. The taxotere really knocks my wbc down. I have been losing a lot of hair since last week too, so after this one,  it will be time to get the clippers out soon. Was not looking forward to the hair loss either.    I have to really make myself eat this time...don't seem to have much of an appetite. They sent me home today with some Boost protein drinks....hope they don't taste too bad!  

Take care........judy