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Terri001
Terri001 Member Posts: 29
edited January 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I have it in my supraclavicle lymph node and right lung according to PET scan. Just completed my first dose of abraxane. Has anyone had experience with this med? I am 3 weeks on, one off. How long can you live with stage 4? I always seen it as a terminal dx. A death certificate. Please someone give me some hope.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited January 2017

    Terri001,

    Not stage IV, but if you look on Page 4 of the Active Topics, there's a very hopeful post by Denny123, who has just made it to 15 years as a Stage IV patient! We also used to have a wonderful member, longtermsurvivor, who lived for about 25 years at Stage IV.

    ((Hugs))

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited January 2017

    Terri -

    No one's printing out your death certificate at this time.

    Many ladies who are HER2+ hang out on the lung mets thread because I believe it is a common site of metastasis for HER2+. You will find them very much alive. HER2+ has turned out to be fertile target for cancer drugs recently. The miracle HER2+ drug is Herceptin/Perjeta and you will find ladies doing very well on this combo on the Herceptin/Perjeta thread.

    They seem to be able to target HER2+ cancer with vaccines, should you get your tumor load down with other treatments. Here is a thread discussing one of the trials.

    It's not a walk in the park, but if you connect with the HER2+ ladies, you will see you have a fighting chance and an increasing number of treatment options. Educate yourself.

    >Z<

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2017

    Terri001 - I've had breast cancer for 4 1/2 years, and my initial treatments took me to No Evidence of Disease which lasted for 45 months. I was on arimidex. I've recently had a lymph node show cancer again, but we are doing a change of meds and hope to get back to NED. We know that we found it quickly. During the last 4 years, I've traveled all over the world and really enjoyed life. Give yourself time to get used to everything, but you do develop over time a new normal. Just allow yourself those moments when you need them, and look at the stage IV board. There are many women living with this disease for a significant amount of time.

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  • Terri001
    Terri001 Member Posts: 29
    edited January 2017

    Thank you ladies. I am sorry to have sounded so negative. This is just taking awhile longer to accept and understand than I hoped. My anxiety is pretty high right now. I have read some testimonials from long term warriors and feel a little more confident. I appreciate everyone's responses. :)

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  • pajim
    pajim Member Posts: 2,785
    edited January 2017

    Terri, you are in what we call the "shock and awe" period. Everyone, and I mean everyone, goes through this. Hang in there it will get better.

    Meantime, welcome! Check out the threads that pertain to the type of cancer you have and the treatment you are going to start. If you need sleeping meds or anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs, ask your doctors for them. It won't be forever, just to get you over the hump. I took sleeping pills for the first three months.

    And as my oncologist told me almost four years ago, "don't give away your stuff". You do not have a use by date.

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited January 2017

    Terri I have been on Weekly Taxol which is the same as Abraxene just a different delivery agent for over 3 years now and my widespread mets have been reduced and kept under control all that time.

    The first months are the hardest then the new normal kicks in.

    Lots of really great advice here. Best of luck

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited January 2017

    Terri, I second the many great comments above. No need to apologize for being "negative". Normal, human response. We understand. You will get through the initial shock, anxiety, and grief. You won't always feel as bad as you do now. Seek support and take care of yourself.

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  • artistatheart
    artistatheart Member Posts: 2,176
    edited January 2017

    Terri, I agree with everything said above. Even after you get used to the "new normal" there will still be times when you feel the anxiety or sadness but you learn how to get past it sooner. Pam, I wish my Onc had told me that at first because I miss some of the stuff I gave away! Hahahaha!

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  • Sherriw
    Sherriw Member Posts: 47
    edited January 2017

    hi Terri,

    I'm on a clinical trial that includes abraxane 3 weeks on, one week off. It's not too bad. On the whole the se are manageable. The worst for me is the peripheral neuropathy. I'm starting cycle 7 this week.

    Please feel free to ask or pm if you have questions

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  • kayrnic
    kayrnic Member Posts: 1,708
    edited January 2017

    Terri there is so much hope! We all felt like we had been handed a death sentence when first diagnosed. I was a wreck for a couple of months! But here I am 5 years later surviving and thriving! I still work full time, travel, etc. Life is a lot different, but it's still good!

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