Stage 4 - Bone Mets

Welcome Michelle:) Stay strong and stay positive!  There are many great supportive Pinks here that will be there for you.

Best to you,

Patti

New Flower said:

Welcome

Hi Michelle

welcome to our CSN family. I am among those lucky ones with stage IV. I was I initially diagnosed with stage III in 2008 and four years later with stage IV in June 2012. Both times I did Chemo and anti-estrogen therapy. I am not here as often as I used to. It is a good place for support and encouragement 

wishing you the best with your treatment

New Flower

I am so sorry that you have breast cancer --  Sweet Sister~ . As
wonderful as we all are, I think I am not going out on a limb by saying none of
us ever wanted to be HERE~ battling with and talking about Cancer. It has
affected so much of our lives, as you know only too well. And whereas we can be
smart-mouths, and silly, bottom line is, we have all been altered by this
disease.

Wish that I had The Magic for us all....but of course, I do not. I hope that
venting and being so brutally honest was cathartic for you, and I for one am
pleased that you feel the safe haven of this room to do just that. If this place
isn't the true definition of support, I don't know what is. 

Gentle hugs, prayers and positive thoughts going your direction.

Vicki Sam

I too am stage iv. I was diagnosed 1/2 IDC in 2002, went 8 1/2 years with ned.  Was diagnose iv 9/2010.  Have been on 5 different chemos, Xgeva, etc...   everytiime one stops it seems there is another one!  It is not an easy road by any means, but this group is very supportive and encouraging. 

Found keeping a sense of humor helps, as well as a lot of support from whereever I can get it:)) 

Wish you the best!  How old are your children?  I think it is the kids that keep us going...

Hugs,

Carol

Dear MichelleLyn,

I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 1/2+ years ago at the age of 47.  I am ER+ and after the initial treatment with chemotherapy, I went on hormonal drug therapies and used them for 18 years.  I still have one more hormonal drug therapy to use but I am giving those renegade cells a chance to forget them before trying Afinitor and Aromasin.

MBCN (Metastatic Breast Cancer Network) have wonderful stories of women who have lived 10+ years with the disease.  My heroine is Rita Arditti who began her journey at age 39 and lived to the 30 years with metastatic breast cancer.

You can read her story or listen to it.  

Please copy and paste the following (still can't figure out how to make it work with a click)

http://mbcn.org/get-involved/details/my-story-rita-arditti/

You can read the other women stories by copy and pasting the following:

http://mbcn.org/get-involved/category/10-years/

I hope this helps.

Doris

Hi Michelle, 

I was diagnosed at Stage IV (bone only metasitisis) back in 2009.  Maybe what my Dr says will be encouraging.  He keeps reminding me 'bone mets are not life threatening.  Organ mets are dangerous'  They have kept it out of my organs for 4 years now so that's good news. 

Also, everyday you get now is one more day for some researcher somewhere to think up that one combo that finally does the trick and cures this mess.  Pray for them!

This is not a gift by anymeans but realizing the value of time is!  You will see your priorities shift and your loves deepen.  Every minute will mean so much more from now on.  SEIZE THEM!

I'll admit there have been some painful days when I don't want to play anymore.  And I am weary now - sick of having cancer and I'd like to trade it for something else.  But when I think back over the years since my diagnosis, with 2 cruises, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, lots of volunteering at my kids schools, Christmases that didn't seem possible as sick as I was in 2009, there have been SO MANY days and JOYS in those days that I am glad to still be here.

And they are closer to a cure.  It's a bumpy road, but its a road not a dead end so to speak!   

McMarty said:

Hi Michelle, 
I was

Hi Michelle, 

I was diagnosed at Stage IV (bone only metasitisis) back in 2009.  Maybe what my Dr says will be encouraging.  He keeps reminding me 'bone mets are not life threatening.  Organ mets are dangerous'  They have kept it out of my organs for 4 years now so that's good news. 

Also, everyday you get now is one more day for some researcher somewhere to think up that one combo that finally does the trick and cures this mess.  Pray for them!

This is not a gift by anymeans but realizing the value of time is!  You will see your priorities shift and your loves deepen.  Every minute will mean so much more from now on.  SEIZE THEM!

I'll admit there have been some painful days when I don't want to play anymore.  And I am weary now - sick of having cancer and I'd like to trade it for something else.  But when I think back over the years since my diagnosis, with 2 cruises, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, lots of volunteering at my kids schools, Christmases that didn't seem possible as sick as I was in 2009, there have been SO MANY days and JOYS in those days that I am glad to still be here.

And they are closer to a cure.  It's a bumpy road, but its a road not a dead end so to speak!   

 

Your story is every enlightening.  If I may ask, were you HER positive or negative.  My mom was diagnosed 1 year ago with Stage IV mestatic breast cancer (IDC); she is negative.  She had a masectomy and they removed 5 lymph nodes (all tested positive for cancer).  She originally began IV chemo and did great on it; actually gaining weight.  After her masectomy, they put her on afinitor and arom??? (combo drug)--she has lost close to 20 lbs in two weeks; she has no appetite;she's really tires; and has developed some type of acne sores on her neck, back and face.  

I feel like I am falling apart watching her go through this; I know a bit selfish of me because she is the one actually going through it.  As a survivor, which you are, can you give me any advice on how I can help her through this? 

McMarty said:

Hi Michelle, 
I was

Hi Michelle, 

I was diagnosed at Stage IV (bone only metasitisis) back in 2009.  Maybe what my Dr says will be encouraging.  He keeps reminding me 'bone mets are not life threatening.  Organ mets are dangerous'  They have kept it out of my organs for 4 years now so that's good news. 

Also, everyday you get now is one more day for some researcher somewhere to think up that one combo that finally does the trick and cures this mess.  Pray for them!

This is not a gift by anymeans but realizing the value of time is!  You will see your priorities shift and your loves deepen.  Every minute will mean so much more from now on.  SEIZE THEM!

I'll admit there have been some painful days when I don't want to play anymore.  And I am weary now - sick of having cancer and I'd like to trade it for something else.  But when I think back over the years since my diagnosis, with 2 cruises, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, lots of volunteering at my kids schools, Christmases that didn't seem possible as sick as I was in 2009, there have been SO MANY days and JOYS in those days that I am glad to still be here.

And they are closer to a cure.  It's a bumpy road, but its a road not a dead end so to speak!   

 

Your story is every enlightening.  If I may ask, were you HER positive or negative.  My mom was diagnosed 1 year ago with Stage IV mestatic breast cancer (IDC); she is negative.  She had a masectomy and they removed 5 lymph nodes (all tested positive for cancer).  She originally began IV chemo and did great on it; actually gaining weight.  After her masectomy, they put her on afinitor and arom??? (combo drug)--she has lost close to 20 lbs in two weeks; she has no appetite;she's really tires; and has developed some type of acne sores on her neck, back and face.  

I feel like I am falling apart watching her go through this; I know a bit selfish of me because she is the one actually going through it.  As a survivor, which you are, can you give me any advice on how I can help her through this? 

debnbill526@comcast.net said:

Your Story

Your story is every enlightening.  If I may ask, were you HER positive or negative.  My mom was diagnosed 1 year ago with Stage IV mestatic breast cancer (IDC); she is negative.  She had a masectomy and they removed 5 lymph nodes (all tested positive for cancer).  She originally began IV chemo and did great on it; actually gaining weight.  After her masectomy, they put her on afinitor and arom??? (combo drug)--she has lost close to 20 lbs in two weeks; she has no appetite;she's really tires; and has developed some type of acne sores on her neck, back and face.  

I feel like I am falling apart watching her go through this; I know a bit selfish of me because she is the one actually going through it.  As a survivor, which you are, can you give me any advice on how I can help her through this? 

Just being there means so much.  You know your mom, help with what is hard for her and let her do what she can do and likes to do.  If you think 'hey we didn't used to have dust bunnies under the TV' just sweep them up, they are probably bugging her too.  Let her use her energy for things she enjoys.  For me that's what gives me the will to keep fighting.