Stage 3b now, fear of future metastasis

Egankeevan
Egankeevan Member Posts: 17
in Breast Cancer #1

I was diagnozed in May 2017 with stage 3b invasive ductal carcinoma. My tumor was large and so I far I know that I have one positive lymph node in my armpit and another possible positive lymph node in my chest wall where they can't biopsy. Chemo seems to be working. The tumor is no longer detectable by breast exam, which is great news. I will have another PET scan in a couple of weeks. I'm hoping it will show that all of the cancer is gone. My oncologist says that if I have a recurrance down the road someday, it's more likely to be somewhere other than my breast. I understand this to mean it would have metastasized to another area of my body (bones, lungs, liver, etc), which means it would be stage 4. I can't really find any good statistics on this. How likely is it that this will happen, and how do I live with this fear? I'm only 43.

Comments

  • JosephK
    JosephK Member Posts: 64
    #2
    Change of Life Style

    There are things you can do to help prevent the spread. You need to change your diet and stay away from processed food. Go organic if possible i.e. fruit and veggies. Take vitamin D-3 which helps boost your immune system and can help fight off cancer. Stay away from garbage food. Try to exercise to keep your weight down. Be you own advocate.

  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #3
    Try not to live in fear

    I was 45 when diagnosed (I'm 57 now) also with an agressive form. During the entire treatment, it was hard not to visit that dark place where you "play" out your funeral. I think being human, it's natural given our circumstance to fear dying from this.

    I can only speak for myself when I say that given statistics based on my type of tumor, some of the research was scary. To better fight this, I decided (again for me), not to delve into statistics but to just fight this thing. That was my mode I chose, this is an unwelcomed guest that needs to get out. After all treatments and surgeries, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was very conscientious of that "5 year" mark. But along the way, and upon the advice of my oncologist, I just needed to live life with the new me. Despite some obstacles, FIND that normalcy.

    Time does diminish that fear that hides in the corner. When I am reminded of it, especially when you hear about someone you know or a famous person having a reoccurrance, I really try hard to 1) whisper a prayer for that person and b) be thankful for every day. I don't want to live in a state of over worry. But it takes time and effort to not dwell.

    I'm praying for you. We all understand that worry and fear. 

    Best wishes,

    Sea60 (Silvia)

     

  • Egankeevan
    Egankeevan Member Posts: 17
    #4
    JosephK said:

    Change of Life Style

    There are things you can do to help prevent the spread. You need to change your diet and stay away from processed food. Go organic if possible i.e. fruit and veggies. Take vitamin D-3 which helps boost your immune system and can help fight off cancer. Stay away from garbage food. Try to exercise to keep your weight down. Be you own advocate.

    Is there a book that you

    Is there a book that you would recommend that covers this information? I have one book, but it doesn't seem to be very well written so I'm not sure I trust it.

  • Egankeevan
    Egankeevan Member Posts: 17
    #5
    sea60 said:

    Try not to live in fear

    I was 45 when diagnosed (I'm 57 now) also with an agressive form. During the entire treatment, it was hard not to visit that dark place where you "play" out your funeral. I think being human, it's natural given our circumstance to fear dying from this.

    I can only speak for myself when I say that given statistics based on my type of tumor, some of the research was scary. To better fight this, I decided (again for me), not to delve into statistics but to just fight this thing. That was my mode I chose, this is an unwelcomed guest that needs to get out. After all treatments and surgeries, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was very conscientious of that "5 year" mark. But along the way, and upon the advice of my oncologist, I just needed to live life with the new me. Despite some obstacles, FIND that normalcy.

    Time does diminish that fear that hides in the corner. When I am reminded of it, especially when you hear about someone you know or a famous person having a reoccurrance, I really try hard to 1) whisper a prayer for that person and b) be thankful for every day. I don't want to live in a state of over worry. But it takes time and effort to not dwell.

    I'm praying for you. We all understand that worry and fear. 

    Best wishes,

    Sea60 (Silvia)

     

    Thank you for the encouraging

    Thank you for the encouraging words. Good luck to you!

  • Beepositive
    Beepositive Member Posts: 259 Member
    edited October 2017 #6
    yes Get busy LIVING

    I AGREE WILL YOU ALL!!  I have changed my diet and exercise and trying to drop some more weight also. but mine over matter is HUGE..ITS HARD SOMETIMES but think positive and keep busy pay it forward and find something positive to focus on.. family grand kids ..friends  and get busy living..we may out live our doctors..only God knows...  so enjoy life and dont focus on what if ..focus on your new Normal...you will be fine.

    hug and prayer for ALL

     

    Beepositive   Smile

  • Egankeevan
    Egankeevan Member Posts: 17
    #7
    JosephK said:

    Change of Life Style

    There are things you can do to help prevent the spread. You need to change your diet and stay away from processed food. Go organic if possible i.e. fruit and veggies. Take vitamin D-3 which helps boost your immune system and can help fight off cancer. Stay away from garbage food. Try to exercise to keep your weight down. Be you own advocate.

    What about whole grains/carbs

    What about whole grains/carbs? I've been following a naturally gluten free diet for about a year and was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 months ago. A friend gave me a book called "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" and it says you need to eat whole grains. Am I hurting myself by leaving these out? Gluten gives me migraines, but I can add rice and quinoa back in if its important.

     

  • JosephK
    JosephK Member Posts: 64
    #8
    No Books, just investigating

    I have just investigated and talked to health care providers. Internet studies. Nothing farfetched like "Tree Root". But natural foods like fruit, organic food, lay off the processed sugar if possible. Natural Sweetners are good like Honey. I stress Vitamin D-3. Google it and read about it.

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #9
    I don't believe we have a

    I don't believe we have a choice when it comes back where'd that will be. I was a stage 1 by 1 doctor and arage 2 by my oncologist. When it came back 8years later I was stage 4.  I have gotten 7 xtra years and for the most part 5 1/2 years of the 7 were ok.  But now it is changing and not many good days.  But I am thankful for the good ones.  I think only 1 pperson or being, God, for meknows what each day holds.  So many stage 3 have never had a recurrence.  So I just pray that my sister and niece never get a recurrence.i wish you the best which is no recurrance.

    Camul

  • tufi000
    tufi000 Member Posts: 745 Member
    #10
    camul said:

    I don't believe we have a

    I don't believe we have a choice when it comes back where'd that will be. I was a stage 1 by 1 doctor and arage 2 by my oncologist. When it came back 8years later I was stage 4.  I have gotten 7 xtra years and for the most part 5 1/2 years of the 7 were ok.  But now it is changing and not many good days.  But I am thankful for the good ones.  I think only 1 pperson or being, God, for meknows what each day holds.  So many stage 3 have never had a recurrence.  So I just pray that my sister and niece never get a recurrence.i wish you the best which is no recurrance.

    Camul

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

    Have a good night teach

     

    XXXX

  • Apaugh
    Apaugh Member Posts: 850 Member
    #11
    camul said:

    I don't believe we have a

    I don't believe we have a choice when it comes back where'd that will be. I was a stage 1 by 1 doctor and arage 2 by my oncologist. When it came back 8years later I was stage 4.  I have gotten 7 xtra years and for the most part 5 1/2 years of the 7 were ok.  But now it is changing and not many good days.  But I am thankful for the good ones.  I think only 1 pperson or being, God, for meknows what each day holds.  So many stage 3 have never had a recurrence.  So I just pray that my sister and niece never get a recurrence.i wish you the best which is no recurrance.

    Camul

    wonderful Carol

    Great wise words of encouragement. 

  • TeamofHope
    TeamofHope Member Posts: 9
    #12
    sea60 said:

    Try not to live in fear

    I was 45 when diagnosed (I'm 57 now) also with an agressive form. During the entire treatment, it was hard not to visit that dark place where you "play" out your funeral. I think being human, it's natural given our circumstance to fear dying from this.

    I can only speak for myself when I say that given statistics based on my type of tumor, some of the research was scary. To better fight this, I decided (again for me), not to delve into statistics but to just fight this thing. That was my mode I chose, this is an unwelcomed guest that needs to get out. After all treatments and surgeries, I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was very conscientious of that "5 year" mark. But along the way, and upon the advice of my oncologist, I just needed to live life with the new me. Despite some obstacles, FIND that normalcy.

    Time does diminish that fear that hides in the corner. When I am reminded of it, especially when you hear about someone you know or a famous person having a reoccurrance, I really try hard to 1) whisper a prayer for that person and b) be thankful for every day. I don't want to live in a state of over worry. But it takes time and effort to not dwell.

    I'm praying for you. We all understand that worry and fear. 

    Best wishes,

    Sea60 (Silvia)

     

    Try not to live in fear

    Thank you, sea60 for your very realistic, yet very hopeful post! I'm currently in 2nd cycle of chemo, then I'll have radiation. Prayer from many friedns and family and trust in God is what is getting me through this with much peace. I hope you are doing well.

     

  • TeamofHope
    TeamofHope Member Posts: 9
    #13
    Beepositive said:

    yes Get busy LIVING

    I AGREE WILL YOU ALL!!  I have changed my diet and exercise and trying to drop some more weight also. but mine over matter is HUGE..ITS HARD SOMETIMES but think positive and keep busy pay it forward and find something positive to focus on.. family grand kids ..friends  and get busy living..we may out live our doctors..only God knows...  so enjoy life and dont focus on what if ..focus on your new Normal...you will be fine.

    hug and prayer for ALL

     

    Beepositive   Smile

    Great post and I love your

    Great post and I love your user name, beepositive- too cute!! Yes, our length of days is in God's Hands, it's not over till He says it's time.

     

  • TeamofHope
    TeamofHope Member Posts: 9
    #14
    camul said:

    I don't believe we have a

    I don't believe we have a choice when it comes back where'd that will be. I was a stage 1 by 1 doctor and arage 2 by my oncologist. When it came back 8years later I was stage 4.  I have gotten 7 xtra years and for the most part 5 1/2 years of the 7 were ok.  But now it is changing and not many good days.  But I am thankful for the good ones.  I think only 1 pperson or being, God, for meknows what each day holds.  So many stage 3 have never had a recurrence.  So I just pray that my sister and niece never get a recurrence.i wish you the best which is no recurrance.

    Camul

    Thank you for your openness,

    Thank you for your openness, Camul. Sounds like you have been through alot, bless your heart! Hang in there- God is in control and as you have realized, I sure and will help you live one day at a time!

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #15
    JosephK said:

    Change of Life Style

    There are things you can do to help prevent the spread. You need to change your diet and stay away from processed food. Go organic if possible i.e. fruit and veggies. Take vitamin D-3 which helps boost your immune system and can help fight off cancer. Stay away from garbage food. Try to exercise to keep your weight down. Be you own advocate.

    Changes to lifestyle.

    josephk, that is great advice!  There are studies that show women who exercise 30 minutes amday cut theirmrisk of recurrence and that a plant based diet is cancer preventing. Still, some refuse to believe and eat whatever they want. Diet has become as controversial as politics. We need more studies and education on diet. 

  • HapB
    HapB Member Posts: 527
    #16
    Egankeevan said:

    What about whole grains/carbs

    What about whole grains/carbs? I've been following a naturally gluten free diet for about a year and was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 months ago. A friend gave me a book called "Beating Cancer with Nutrition" and it says you need to eat whole grains. Am I hurting myself by leaving these out? Gluten gives me migraines, but I can add rice and quinoa back in if its important.

     

    Whole grains

    The verdict is out on whole grains, but some say organic unprocessed whole grains are fine as long as you don’t have celiac or allergies to wheat.  Introduce one grain at a time and see how your body reacts. 

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