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azs40
azs40 Member Posts: 99
edited December 2017 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hi everyone. I recently learned that I am now stage 4, 9 years after my original diagnosis. I have an 11 year old daughter who I desperately want to see through high school - at least. My mom was a 15 year stage 4 ovarian cancer survivor, so I know that we're not all statisticsand numbers. Still, I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around all of this. I'm sure you all know the feeling. I'm starting Ibrance/Faslodex this week...though I'm not entirely thrilled with the 10-month progression free lease on life it affords. I want, say, 7 years of progression free survival followed by a new treatment that offers another 7 years, and so on.

My mets are in my bones, with a couple of lymph nodes thrown in for good measure. Right now, it feels like every muscle in my back is sore or spasm-ing and I wonder if anyone else had this.

I've been lurking for years and have to say that so many of your stories give me hope. I'll need to hang on to them tightly in the weeks and months ahead.

God bless all of you

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  • Jaylea
    Jaylea Member Posts: 478
    edited November 2017

    Azs, I'm a relative newbie myself but can attest to the strength and support you will get here. I'm starting my 5th cycle of Ibrance/Femara and recently got scan results that shows the disease is stable. I was 10 years out from my original dx, really thought the cancer thing was in my rear view mirror. My MO says the longer you are out, the better your prognosis. It sounds very cliché, but there are new drugs coming down the pike. Ibrance has only been on the market a couple of years.

    There is a good thread for Ibrance/Femara, there may be one for Ibrance/Faslodex as well. Good luck and God bless.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited November 2017

    Dear newbies, wishing all the best for you. When staring at an mbc diagnosis, I learned to live more in the moment and live the fullness of one day and then go on to the next. This diagnosis is a true shock to the system and your life is forever altered and colored by the disease. Many of us chose to see ourselves living with mbc and not dying from it.

    I am soon to be seven years and counting since finding the lump and being diagnosed stage iv from the start with a long stretch of stable. Have packed in a lot of wonderful exeriences during this time. Take some deep breaths. You can do this.


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

    Azs40 - Everyone is different, and we never know how our bodies will respond to a treatment. I got 10 months out of Faslodex & Ibrance, and I choose to look at that length of time as a positive especially as we changed for minimal progression. I had few to no side effects on the combo; so, remember that the people doing well may not post as much but they are out there. Many people do very well on faslodex alone; so, that can give more hope as well. I have a friend in South Dakota that I met at a metastatic breast cancer conference who achieved NEAD on faslodex alone when told she didn't have much time, and she is still NEAD 8 years later. I have another friend with bone mets who has gone through multiple treatments but passed the 10 year mark this summer.

    It does take time to get there, but I echo DivineMrsM that I choose to truly live each day and that has helped me a lot.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited November 2017

    nbnotes, love hearing about the other women with mbc you have come to know who are having long stretches of stability!


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  • Tina2
    Tina2 Member Posts: 2,943
    edited November 2017

    Azs40,

    Chiming in to say that I have been on one treatment--Faslodex--since being diagnosed with lung mets in 2011. I hope the same good luck for you and us all!

    Tina

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  • azs40
    azs40 Member Posts: 99
    edited November 2017

    Thanks everyone. I appreciate the support - and the great stories. I want to be one of those! xo

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  • bigbhome
    bigbhome Member Posts: 840
    edited November 2017

    Azs, You will get through this. The initial shock is tough, but then you will find a new normal. You will also to remember to live each day to its fullest! I went 3 1/2 years on Faslodex alone, and have gone another 26 months on Ibrance/Letrzole. I have gotten to see the birth of my first and my second grandsons! The first will be starting school next September. I would imagine you will get to see your 11 year old through quite a few more years. Also, as many others have said, there are great strides being made right now in MBC and I expect many more in the future! I'm just hanging in there, waiting for the cure or to die from old age, whichever comes first! As you will see, there are lots of great stories out there.

    Hugs and prayers.

    Claudia

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  • Goodie16
    Goodie16 Member Posts: 446
    edited November 2017

    Hang in there Azs (and other newbies. The first days and weeks after diagnosis are the worst. ONce you have a treatment plan, you'll feel much better. I have been NED for 2.5 years after a solitary brain met. My only treatment (aside from surgery) has been the hormonals. I started with tamoxifen, had trouble with the SEs and after a hyster switched to Armidex. So far, so good.

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  • elbafh
    elbafh Member Posts: 1
    edited December 2017

    My mother has been cancer free for 13 years. She was first diagnosed in 2004. June 2016 she was diagnosed with stage four metastatic to bone. She was on hormone therapy and oral chemo. Four months in she had a catscan and lesion she on Liver were deteteced. She had a catscan and more lesions were detected. Her oncologist I said reccomanding infusion chemotherapy. Would My mom get better

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