Onto the lungs

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Sattipearl
Sattipearl Member Posts: 98
edited August 2016 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

hello,

Thank goodness you are here.

Diagnosed with Stage IV in 2012 with mets to bones only. Had taxol weekly for 9 months. Switched to Aromasin.

July 2015 scans showed mets to liver and lymph nodes in my chest. Had Doxil for 2 months but didn't tolerate well. Switched to Afinitor and Aromasin and developed pneumonitis within 2 months. Healed that, and now have mets to my left lung.

Started Gemzar carbo last week and tolerated the first dose along with Granix day 2.

Couldn't sleep last night and read lots of posts.

Just had my 64th birthday.

Thank goodness you are here.

Patti

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  • Iwrite
    Iwrite Member Posts: 870
    edited July 2016

    Hi Sattipearl,

    Sorry to hear things have been so difficult. Hoping the new treatment plan is effective and gives you some good quality of life and lots of quality time

    This is certainly different than the plan we had for 64, and I agree...I'm so grateful for all the women and the wisdom on these boards.

    New week and the sun is out. Small joys to celebrate. Sending healing thoughts to you.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited July 2016

    Patti,

    Thank goodness for you as well :) We're so sorry to hear of your progression as well, but hoping your new treatments will get you stable. We're all here for you. Thanks for posting. We're sending our good thoughts your way!

    (((Big Hugs)))

    --The Mods

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  • Bestbird
    Bestbird Member Posts: 2,818
    edited July 2016

    Sattipearl, I am glad you have found this site although I am sorry for the circumstances that brought you here.

    I noticed that your cancer is HER2+. In that case, one might wonder why you are not on a HER2 targeted drug such as Herceptin. It may be worthwhile seeking a second and possibly even a third professional opinion about your treatment.

    I hope you do well on your next therapy, and wish you all the best!

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited July 2016

    Sattipearl, welcome! You'll find a wealth of information here. If I have a question about a treatment or side-effect there's a woman here with more experience who has been through it and knows the answer.

    Feel free to ask the questions you need and I hope your new treatment kicks those cancer cells to the curb.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited July 2016

    sati, we were unlucky to receive a stage iv diagnosis yet fortunate enough to have this forum as a support and to connect with others in our shoes. I hope your new treatment serves you well for a long time. I am glad you are finding your way around here

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  • Sattipearl
    Sattipearl Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2016

    thank you all very much for your responses. I just awoke from 3 hours of deep sleep. A different perspective is nowavailable.

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited July 2016

    Just want to say hello Satti and I'm so sorry to hear of the hard time you are having. Please visit and update often as this is an amazing and supportive group.

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  • Sattipearl
    Sattipearl Member Posts: 98
    edited July 2016

    good morning....and it is good....I've had 2 infusions and while day 2+3 post infusion are energy-less days, overall I feel good. It's 2 weeks on, 1 week off so no chemo this week. I've had no other side effects except the profound fatigue for 2 days. Grateful....

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  • Sattipearl
    Sattipearl Member Posts: 98
    edited August 2016

    almost a month later...so I thought I'd check in.

    The Gemzar carbo treatment appears to have slowed the progression of the cancer, as seen on X-ray. I've had 3 doses. Will have one more and will do a CT scan for a more high resolution view, and we will go from there.

    I gave notice at work this week, to go on disability as of 8/31. The fatigue & shortness of breath are difficult to deal with even though I sit most of the day and talk on the phone. Work is being really great about it, as they have consistently been throughout the 4 years I've been dealing with this. I should say "we've" been dealing with this cuz it takes a village...and I have an awesome, mostly non-blood family village.

    While I got my affairs in order when I was initially diagnosed, I will get the fine tuning done in the near future, check out the hospice facility that's been recommended, and start the ball rolling to get the meds allowed in our newly enacted law in CA, compassionate end of life option.

    I don't mean to sound morose....and there are things to take care of.

    Love to you all,

    Patti

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited August 2016

    Patti - I was diagnosed 8 months ago and I have spent much of that organizing my families circumstances so they can thrive without me. I have some more work to do as well; however, it feels incredibly freeing to be pretty much ready to die tomorrow. Now that that is done, I plan to enjoy every minute of a long life and I wish the same for you.

    Introduce yourself on the TNBC thread and find out what those ladies are doing. Get a second opinion at a major center with access to clinical trials. TNBC has caught some breaks lately as far as treatment options but it takes a while for them to trickle down to local oncs.

    If you feel like fighting, it really is a reasonable thing to do. Your biggest risk is depression. You may need to enlist those who care about you to do the research and help you find treatment options as it can be too much. Consider counseling and medication. The disease plays with our heads as much as our organs.

    We are fighting MBC in a changing landscape and there is hope. Here is an article about drug that was only recently given breakthrough drug status by the FDA for treatment of TNBC.

    >Z<

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited August 2016

    Z, You are brilliant and amazing. What a great response to Patti.....

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited August 2016

    artist - what a nice note to wake up to this morning! now i am ready to take on the world even with a horrible toothache from an extraction on Monday. let's pray Patti finds the strength to get out of bed and fight, too. it can be hard to even hope to get better sometimes.

    >Z<

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