Hi Grannax2.

I hope I didn't say too much or the wrong thing. I'm pretty flat footed by nature, particularly in a forum like this which seems to welcome that personal and straight forward approach. But I do tend to ramble, sorry. It sounds like we had similar mets. It was so shocking, definitely. One doctor who stopped by the hospital while I was there said she was the one whose appointment I cancelled due to having been admitted. Then she went over to the computer terminal and began typing away over there. At one point she said, "you're a tough cookie." I said I'm really not. Like you, I couldn't imagine being as sick as they all told me. I didn't feel that bad. Just couldn't breath very well.

When it comes to the mets I have to go back to the test results from May in order to answer correctly, and even then I might not get it right. I would love to share my chart info with you if possible, A lot to ask, certainly not a requirement! Anyway, the cancer originated in my left breast. Per the mammogram and biopsy "Pathology: Invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2." The MRI says "probable hepatic mets" ....liver, yes? I believe the fluid in the right side pleural effusion originates in my liver. MRI also says "widespread osseous metastatic disease along the thoracic and upper lumbar spine." The nuclear bone scan refers to the spine and also, " additional areas of uptake in the pelvis, sternum and ribs, likely metastatic disease. There is uptake in both shoulders. This is a common site for degenerative change, but there are lytic lesions near the shoulders on the recent thoracic CT. Metastatic disease may also be present here." The CT says, "probable metastatic lesion in the liver and left adrenal gland. There are small pulmonary nodules in the left lung also suspicious for metastatic disease." I don't know if my thyroid issues are related to it or not frankly. Since being released from the hospital I spent quite a while googling medical terms trying to make sense of all of it. But a visual would really help me. See this spot here? That's cancer. And here, and here. Ha ha.

I do think the Ibrance is working. It has been over a month since my last thora and it doesn't feel like I'm overdue, not struggling quite as much. That is a huge change. How wonderful that little pill is doing such good work for you and the others! Gonna keep on taking it! Thanks for the kind response.

I can totally relate to the needle phobia blainejennifer! I don't watch! So I can't imagine giving myself injections. How long did it take you to be able to do that? I had a old male cat years ago who needed fluid injections under his skin pretty regularly as he got older. The Vet set me up with the fluids and syringes after allowing me to practice on their "office cat" but I just never felt comfortable doing it. My cat was pretty ok with it, but I thought about hurting him the whole time and wound up squirting the fluids across the room!

One of the doctors at the hospital offered to give me something for the 2nd MRI anxiety but I turned it down, big baby. In the end it allowed me to do them open sided which works much better for me! Not so claustrophobic feeling!

Hmmmm wonder if your doctor had to get a locksmith to get home after your liver biopsy! And how many times has he had to do that! I've only had one biopsy on my breast. It didn't take so long and I just had to look away, didn't want to watch. The nurse reached over and held my hand though it all. How kind.

Hi blainejennifer.

I would take injections over a stroke as well, and will remember Ativan for the future. I'm not much of a drinker and never spent much time experimenting with drugs so the concept of getting chemical assistance to relieve anxiety doesn't thrill me. But neither does fainting and barfing! Definitely not! So thank you for the info. Wow, 6 years! That is wonderful! You are a fighter alright in spite of the fainting and barfing. Fear is a good motivator for me too.

Gotta tell you the most "compliant" feeling thing I've had to do so far was back in May, in the hospital. I was having a tough time falling asleep the first night but finally dozed off around 11 pm or so. I looked at the clock so I know it was midnight when a gal woke me up. She asked me to get out of bed and stand on a big scale she had rolled in so she could get my weight. Out of a sound sleep I needed to be weighed. I told her I felt sorry for her, because it wouldn't be hard to imagine other patients really hating being disturbed for that. You expect to have vitals taken, but is my weight so vital that it couldn't wait til dawn? I was compliant, but couldn't go back to sleep. It did take my mind off cancer though! Hope I don't have to spend too much time in the hospital.....

Hi Sadiesservant.

You have certainly been on a cancer journey for a long time and been through a lot in that time. The strength and fortitude written in each of the comments and posts on this forum are an inspiration to me and to many more people, no doubt. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with me.

I think the flu fools a lot of people. I don't usually bother with flu shots even. But I thought I probably should have gotten one once I started struggling just to breathe this past winter. Guess it wouldn't have helped! Wow, your effusion situation was very severe. It is terrific that the catheter they installed made the multiple thoras easier on you. So many of them. What a relief for you once they were finished and you could breathe again. I had 2 done during the 3 days in the hospital in May when I was first diagnosed. Each time one liter was tapped out of me. Since then I've had 3 more done, one liter tapped from the first of them and 850 cc's from each of the other two. The last one was over a month ago now. A couple days ago the ONC said it's a bit hard to hear me breathing at the bottom of my lung so there may be some residual fluid left in there. But I can take much deeper breaths. I'm feeling both more relaxed and more energized. So the meds are doing their stuff. I see you are taking Ibrance too. I feel pretty confident about the effectiveness of it now that I can see the reduced number of the tumor marker CA 27.29. I hope it is doing the same or better for you when it comes to your widespread mets. Such a little pill having to do such a lot of work.

I'm not working, haven't since May. I was only doing a part time job, about 16 - 18 hours per week. Once I went in the hospital, my position was filled by someone else. Makes sense. Now that my breathing has improved, for me the next challenge is my legs, so swollen. I'll be taking diuretics for two weeks now. With any luck they will begin to look less like tree stumps and won't be so tight, won't feel so much like lead. That will certainly improve my mobility. Recently I've been using one of those rolling walkers. It is a bit embarrassing. But heck, all winter I rolled a metal shopping cart across the parking lot so I would have something to lean on when I suddenly couldn't breathe. This walker rolls much better, has brakes, and comes with a seat just in case. I have no pain with the bone mets. But I will definitely remember to ask for radiation if it starts. I've read that in several places. But big time fatigue. I fall asleep a lot now even if it's just for an hour or 2. But much more often. Gotta get up and get going more, get the heart pumping more. I've never been an athletic person. But the jobs I've had kept me moving. Finding a job at my age and skill level is not the easiest. But I did it once before and I should be able to do it again. If not working, at least I could volunteer somewhere. So Ibrance, keep doing your stuff. I'm only 3 months into this journey! Gotta keep on trucking! It is so wild that you used that phrase. Back in the 70's I traveled to Ireland with my best friend from high school. We both carried back packs, of course, and mine had a keep on trucking patch attached that I picked in a head shop. Those were the days! On we all go!

Gotta ask, is Sadie the gorgeous collie in the picture? How beautiful! Take care and thank you for the kind words.

The docs haven't quite decided yet what is causing the swelling, Grannax2. A couple days ago the ONC said it probably isn't lymphedema which is what the primary suspected it was. Both doctors thought maybe the thyroid med should be increased. That was done, no change. Twice now checked for blood clots, aok. I am not on blood thinners, never have been. In the last 6 or 8 months I've been sleeping sitting up with my legs on an ottoman instead of laying down most of the time. Originally the point was to make it easier to breath. When I was flat in the bed breathing became really difficult so sleeping was impossible. But now I'm sort of used to falling asleep in the chair. Well maybe my bod needs to be flatter. I've started doing that again. Two weeks worth of diuretics just started yesterday so time will tell. I have my Mom's varicose veins. Before menopause my legs would get puffy every month. Not this puffy though. I do have circulatory problems, even had one leg ulcer. It still looks ugly but isn't an open sore any more. It developed when I was "transitioned" from a (disappearing) desk job to one that required me to go up and down stairs picking orders at a company I had worked for since 1995. That was how I was eventually "transitioned" to the unemployment line! LOLO!!! Anyway, I used to wrap at least one of my legs but they never got this funny looking. Certainly my size, weight and lack of activity is involved. Gotta get moving more now that I do feel stronger. The walker is probably more of a mental than physical crutch. I hated feeling like I couldn't get any air so having something to lean on allowed me some time to slow my breathing down. I stand up straighter when I roll that thing along. Eventually I'll do without. But for now if it helps I'm using it, no matter the stigma attached to it. I'm a mixed (old) bag of symptoms. Oh well.

Thanks for the tip Muddling Through! I will mention it to the ONC. Yeah, I have been wearing my older sneakers because they were always a bit too big. Now they come in handy!