Stage II cancer returns as Stage IV

jmears
jmears Member Posts: 266
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi All
It's been some months. Unfortunetly, the stage II cancer that I thought I had whipped in 2001 has returned to my spine ...now classed as stage IV. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone out there? The only way it was found was with the monitoring of the tumor markers. I have no pain or problems at all. But when the markers went up, the DR ordered scans and found the hot spot. I'll get to my question eventually .. so far I changed meds from Tamoxin to Femarra, had my ovaries removed, take Zometa Bone Builder infusion once a month and just had 13 zaps of radiation to my back were this tumor supposedly is. The question...what next? Does anyone have an experience like this that is further down the road than 5 months? Is it presumed it will spread more or can that be it? My DR (who is also a friend) says while it's stage IV "it's obviously not terminal". But everything I read says that it's close to a miracle to cure it at stage IV. Any comments? Even if they are not so encouraging. Thanks

Comments

  • Idalia
    Idalia Member Posts: 76
    #2
    Welcome to the club, Jmears,
    My stage II was diagnosed 2/03 and after getting a clean bill of health 4/04, I developed a stiff back. It bugged me for months, saw drs., chiropractor, physical therapist, etc. 7/04 I was diagnosed with bone mets in spine. My 'hot spot' actually cracked a vertebrae! Was on Femara for about a year; when tumor markers went up, they tried Faslodex injections monthly. Markers climbed so now I am on chemo therapy, taxotere. If you have only one bone met and no pain, I totally envy you! I have been in some bad pain and barely able to walk at times, but doing better now. Just finished radiation on my left hip and started on left arm. I take aredia once a month - I'm sure it has helped prevent any more breaks! Zometa is a quicker IV (1 hr. vs. 3hrs for aredia) but should be as effective. My cancer was pretty aggressive and evidently, my original chemo was not effective. I had a couple of small tumors in one breast, estrogen positive, no outside lymph nodes involved. To date, other breast and lymph nodes are just fine - it's the rest of me that needs help! Beside bone mets, I have involved in my liver and lungs. I can't predict your future, but neither can anyone else! You need to be an advocate for your own health care, ask questions and believe you will get better. Remember, you were cancer free for years; stage IV just means it has moved from the original site. Have you had a bone scan or a pet scan done? Bone scan will detect bone mets for your whole body and pet scan will detect any mets from head to toe. Tell your doc a total stranger on a cancer website insists you have a total body scan done! You need to be proactive and know where else the cancer may have gone before you feel it! I regret they weren't more aggressive in looking for mine before I broke a vertebrae, but my care has been really good otherwise. I have a radiation oncologist, a regular oncologist and an orthopedic surgeon monitoring me regularly. I'm thinking of opening my own medical building! This is not the end of the world, just a thing that happened while you were making other plans. You have to believe you can and will get better. I was given 10 years to live, but new treatments are coming out everyday. Good luck!
  • ktinkey
    ktinkey Member Posts: 170
    #3
    Hi,

    I remember being diagnosed with Stage IV after 9 years from my mastectomy. What a hard pill to swallow, but I am here to tell you that in November it will be 7 years since my Stage IV diagnosis!! I am doing great and as of my last scan, the cancer is gone. Stage IV is very scary, but it does not have to be a death sentence. Focus on your healing and not your diagnosis. Stay as positive as you can. That won't be easy at times, but I pray you have a great support team at home. My husband was my rock. We helped each other cope. I also developed a very strong faith. There are several of us on this site at Stage IV and still hanging in there. Don't give up hope. Each of us handle our situations a little different, but we are here to help and encourage. Remember, you are NOT a statistic! Take charge of yourself and develop a plan for your health. Ultimately, you are in charge. READ and INFORM yourself and then ask lots of questions, and write them down before you see the doctor. I keep a folder with all my reports and questions to ask. My oncologist is super. She always takes the time to make sure I understand why we are doing a certain procedure and she makes sure that I am in complete agreement before we go any further. I will say that most of the time she has done what I have requested, if I have done my homework and know why I want to procede a certain way - if she thinks there is a better way, then she gives me all the reasons to proceed differently and we decide together. It sounds like you may have that relationship already.

    I also switched from tamoxifen to Femara and had my ovaries removed. My cancer came back in my lungs and my chest, so I have no experience with bone mets.

    When you feel like quitting and believe me, some days you will, just remember I did it and God is no respector of persons. What He has done for me, He can do for you.

    God Bless,
    Kathy
  • cmutchler
    cmutchler Member Posts: 1
    #4
    Hi,

    I appreciate your message. I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer 3 years ago. I am fighting off panicky feelins. My last oncogolist visit said my blood count was good. But the previous visit said it was high. My back hurts almost the time. Especially in the spine. I had the shingles 1 and 1/2 years ago and it hurt in the same place that it does now. I thought my cancer had returned at that time. The doctors ran all kinds of tests and didn't find anything. Then finally one of them noticed some blisters on my side and told me I had the shingles. It is good to see that you are surviving and I need that today. THanks again.

    Christina

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