Newly diagnosed Stage 4 need some help please

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Karina121293
Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
edited October 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

I have been reading Sage 4 posts and finally decided to join you girls.

I was diagnosed four weeks ago as I had been having lower back pain and shortness of breath for couple of months. Because of being on a long holiday could not go to doctors earlier.

The chest xray showed pleural effusion and further CT and MRI showed mets to spine, several places, possible liver mets and metastatic PE after they tested the liquid. I had 3 litters of water drained and had pleurodesis with talc. I am still short of breath and on top of all I have chest infection. Taking antibiotics .

I am seeing my oncology nurse tomorrow and starting Xeloda, two weeks in one week off and Xgeva for bone strengthening.

As you can imagine I am scared, lost, depressed, angry, etc. However my biggest concern is will I ever feel physically well. The only place I feel comfortable is my bed and I struggle to walk from the pain in mt leg joint and sob. I get tired so quickly and cant manage simple things without help. I am so scared I wont ''stand up'' again.

I read on the forum, that many of you wonderful ladies have pretty much normal life. Do you think I will feel better again and when or this is the end??

Please help.

Thanks

Karina xx

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Comments

  • SandiBeach57
    SandiBeach57 Member Posts: 1,617
    edited October 2017

    Oh Karina. I don't know how to comfort you other than to say you will be stronger and be able to get your life back.

    I felt just like you. Eventually the chemo started to kill cancer and I got up. One step at a time..from bed to wheelchair to walker to now exercising and lifting weights.

    Let yourself feel the sorrow-you will be different. Maybe you will sleep more, work less hours, walk instead of running, volunteer less hours. But you will live and realize life can still be good to you.

    Palliative care can help, too. They are not Hospice. These professionals can guide you to good antidepressants and pain relief meds. You can talk about your fears and cry with them.

    Keep in contact with us. We understand.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2017

    Hi Karina,

    We're so sorry to hear of your new diagnosis, and the extreme discomfort you're going through. You've come to the best place for support though -- you're sure to meet many others here who have managed the initial shock and have gone on to live fulfilling years after a metastatic diagnosis. We hope others will be by soon to share how they alleviated their pain and fatigue, so you can start feeling a little better. Hopefully once you start your treatment you'll start feeling better too.

    Big, gentle hugs to you and we hope you feel better soon!

    --The Mods

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  • Henrietta405
    Henrietta405 Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2017

    Hi Karina,

    I’m relatively new to BC and Stage 4, but I wanted to reply. I also felt badly before I was diagnosed — shortness of breath, night sweats, fatigue, no appetite. I had pulmonary embolisms and tumors in my lungs and liver. I started to feel better after my first chemo treatment. It helps me to remember that the treatments are killing all those cancer cells that were making me feel crappy. I hope your symptoms start to improve quickly

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

    Karina, welcome. So sorry to meet you. You're in what I like to call the 'shock and awe' period. You've been dropped into a black hole! It's very very scary. And on top of your physical issues!

    I promise you it will get better. Once you start treatment the drugs will kill those little suckers and the physical symptoms should ameliorate. In the meantime, ask for help. Pain meds, sleep meds, anti-depressants, physical therapy, everything you need. It won't be forever, just enough to get you over the hump.

    Can I reiterate that you do not need to be in pain? Please, ask for, insist on pain control. And take the pain meds they give you.

    They can do some radiation to the bone lesions to help with pain if it becomes necessary, but if Xeloda chomps on the lesions the pain will go away on it's own.

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  • Kandy
    Kandy Member Posts: 1,461
    edited October 2017

    Karina, I sure hate to welcome you to this elite group, but you will find that this is a great group that will stand with you through the good and bad. Like others have said, you will get to feeling better after treatment begins and mentally you start to accept what you have been told. I strongly recommend antidepressants and anxiety drugs. Your mental state affects your physical state. Be kind to yourself right now, take one day at a time. Thinking and praying for you.

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited October 2017

    With the infection on top of the cancer, I can see why you feel like crap. You will feel better once the antibiotics start working and even better once cancer treatment starts working. At this stage your body needs rest. Pain or anxiety meds may be the ticket to help you get rest.

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  • Karina121293
    Karina121293 Member Posts: 370
    edited October 2017

    Thank you for the encouraging words Sandi, Henrietta , pajim, Kandy , Heidihill and mods.

    When i was in hospital a pain management team nurse came up with a combo of painkllers that is vey effective, but for some reason the pain in my right leg joint is very stubborn and causes a lot of pain when walking.

    I have been taking the antibiotics for three weeks, temperature has gone down but no improvement with sob and i find it hard to cope. Woner how long will it take to improve. Ahhh

    Taking xeloda from the nurse today and start the course tomorrow. I really hope it will be kind to me and work for a long time.

    I know there is a thread about xeloda but would apprciate to know those who took only x how long it worked for you.

    Thank you everyone for contributing to the forum.

    Much love

    Karina


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