New to Group - Stage IV delayed

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maryfsz
maryfsz Member Posts: 31
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hello group. I have been wanting to get into a support group. I was diagnosed 10/00 with stage IV, but responded well to chemo and radiation. Have had fracture of femur as result of radiation to right hip, but have now found "ortho oncologist" who has replaced my hip and femur. Doing very well 9 weeks after surgery.
I want to tell anyone who needs to know that there are about 200 of these ortho-oncologists throughout the country who can help others in a similar situation. Seems that very often bones that have been radiated are essentially dead and do not grow back together (called "non-union). Wish I had known about this fairly new medical specialty before my two previous surgeries (and a year of my life) that did not work to fix my broken leg.
Oh well, it is working pretty well now and I have returned to exercising and hit the links.
Hope I can contribute to other survivors.
Mary

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  • vjc5199
    vjc5199 Member Posts: 101
    #2
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    hiya, Mary,
    i'm not a stage 4 but a stage 3A. my tumor was the size of a small lemon when we found it last Dec. (the week of my birthday!!) i had chemo and rads. so far so good. i have 5 more to go and i'll be through with my treatments. i'll be sooooo glad to be a homebody once again. God bless. Vicki :)
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #3
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    Hi Mary
    I am stage IV and a 21 year survivor with lung & bone mets. I have had a lot of radiation & have discovered that radiated bones do not repair well. I have a tumour in nearly every vertebrae from large ones to little ones & in my pelvis & femurs. I have compression fractures in many of them. So far I have had 3 types of hormone treatment, Adriamycin, Taxotere & now on another course of Adriamycin as tumour markers are rising again. Any information is gladly shared on this site. I would love to play golf again but can't as the back is too weak & painful.
    Love & hugs

    Pam
  • maryfsz
    maryfsz Member Posts: 31
    #4
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    pamtriggs said:

    Hi Mary
    I am stage IV and a 21 year survivor with lung & bone mets. I have had a lot of radiation & have discovered that radiated bones do not repair well. I have a tumour in nearly every vertebrae from large ones to little ones & in my pelvis & femurs. I have compression fractures in many of them. So far I have had 3 types of hormone treatment, Adriamycin, Taxotere & now on another course of Adriamycin as tumour markers are rising again. Any information is gladly shared on this site. I would love to play golf again but can't as the back is too weak & painful.
    Love & hugs

    Pam

    Hello Pam
    Thanks for the reply. Good grief lady...what an inspiration! You have certainly gone down this road before me and it is great to talk to someone like yourself. According to my oncologist (who is a part of our CTRC - a very large practice) he doesn't have any other patients like me--in my same boat. And here you are!
    And--I am taking up golf again. I just got started when my leg broke the first time well over a year ago, and am now just getting back into the swing of things.
    God bless you, Pam. He obviously already has and you are a pillar of strength.
    I would be happy to share any treatment info.
    Look up my webpage if you haven't done so already. I put info about my treatments. I am taking Aridia every month, are you?
    Spreading as much love as I can,
    Mary
  • maryfsz
    maryfsz Member Posts: 31
    #5
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    vjc5199 said:

    hiya, Mary,
    i'm not a stage 4 but a stage 3A. my tumor was the size of a small lemon when we found it last Dec. (the week of my birthday!!) i had chemo and rads. so far so good. i have 5 more to go and i'll be through with my treatments. i'll be sooooo glad to be a homebody once again. God bless. Vicki :)

    Dear Vicki;
    Thanks for responding to me. I need to be in some sort of support group and this is one I can do anytime of the day or night. I looked at your website and you seem to be just the kind of woman who can survive all of this. You are right...you MUST have a positive attitude and not dwell on the cancer. I think if you dwell on it, you give it more power. And--we know the only real power, huh? And it is NOT CANCER!
    Take care of yourself and your family.
    Spread as much love as you can.
    Love,
    Mary

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