stage four

carkris said:

Hugs. I met a woman in the
Hugs. I met a woman in the store who was stage 4 had aggressive chemo and is ned currently.

MJ
I am also Stage IV. My mets are to many lymph nodes, my liver, bones, and skin. The difference is that mine is not a recurrence, I was first diagnosed on February 10 with breast cancer and lymph node involvement. It only took another week of diagnostics to find out just how devastating it was.
Like you, no possible surgery and no radiation either. I've now had 23 consecutive weeks of treatments. It began with Taxol, Herceptin, and Zometa. This regimen continued for 10 weeks, since then it's just Herceptin weekly with Zometa every 4 weeks.

There's nothing easy about it but for me it's do-able. The message I want to send is that Stage IV is not an immediate death sentence. I live with a lot of HOPE. My head is not stuck in the sand, I'm very aware that it can take a bad turn at any moment.

When I looked at my second scan (I didn't look at the first) and saw the numerous tumors in my liver, it really scared me and I couldn't get it out of my mind (fear) for about 2 days - then I finally came to terms with it and set forth to fight as hard and as long as I can. I've since had another scan and the GOOD NEWS is that those same tumors continue to shrink in size.

I'm wishing the same success for you, regardless what the treatment plan is. Please stay strong both mentally and physically. I would send the same message to your husband along with my sympathy for his already having been through this. Four words mean more to me now than they ever did before, they are FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, and COURAGE.

God bless us all! MM

prayers
I am new to this, just diagnosed in May, and had a bilateral mastectomy July 10, don't know my full plan of attack yet, but please know that you and your husband will continually in my prayers.

Kris

I have stage 4 (mets to
I have stage 4 (mets to ribs), diagnosed April 2009. Finished radiation in 2009. Been doing well on zometa and arimidex. My tumor was ER+.

I am so sorry for what you are going through. Support and prayers are heading your way! Please hang in there as many can survive for years and years with stage 4.

Hello MJ
Sorry to hear your news. Remember we are all here for you. Sending prayers your way for you and your husband.

m_azingrace said:

Stage IV
I have stage IV with mets to bone, diagnosed July 2009. The tumor that concerns the doctors the most is my upper left humorous. I had been taking Femara, and a monthly infusion of Zometa. Comparing last year's MRI and CT scan with ones taken in July show that the cancer may be becoming resistant to the Femara, so the oncologist changed my prescription to Aromasin. I'll continue getting the Zometa treatments. I'll also be having radiation to the upper arm very soon. On August 13th I'm scheduled to meet with the radiologist.

Even with all this going on, I'm really doing fine right now. The PET scan I had last week shows a couple new "hot spots" on my spine, but there is no evidence of disease in my organs. Also, I have no pain except for the upper arm, and that's not really pain but some sort of peculiar niggling feeling I can't describe other than to say something in there is definately not right. MRI and Xrays give no clue what is going on. But the doctors agree that it's cancer-related, so that's the reason for the radiation.

I hope all goes well for you, MJ. I wish I had some useful advice to add to what has already been said. Please keep us posted on your progress. Hugs Gracie

I am so sad to read that you
I am so sad to read that you have breast cancer again. Praying for you and your husband!


I hope you find strength and encouragement from this great board of survivors!


Hugs, Leeza

Marsha Mulvey said:

MJ
I am also Stage IV. My mets are to many lymph nodes, my liver, bones, and skin. The difference is that mine is not a recurrence, I was first diagnosed on February 10 with breast cancer and lymph node involvement. It only took another week of diagnostics to find out just how devastating it was.
Like you, no possible surgery and no radiation either. I've now had 23 consecutive weeks of treatments. It began with Taxol, Herceptin, and Zometa. This regimen continued for 10 weeks, since then it's just Herceptin weekly with Zometa every 4 weeks.

There's nothing easy about it but for me it's do-able. The message I want to send is that Stage IV is not an immediate death sentence. I live with a lot of HOPE. My head is not stuck in the sand, I'm very aware that it can take a bad turn at any moment.

When I looked at my second scan (I didn't look at the first) and saw the numerous tumors in my liver, it really scared me and I couldn't get it out of my mind (fear) for about 2 days - then I finally came to terms with it and set forth to fight as hard and as long as I can. I've since had another scan and the GOOD NEWS is that those same tumors continue to shrink in size.

I'm wishing the same success for you, regardless what the treatment plan is. Please stay strong both mentally and physically. I would send the same message to your husband along with my sympathy for his already having been through this. Four words mean more to me now than they ever did before, they are FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, and COURAGE.

God bless us all! MM

The more I read
on these posts the more scared I get. I was dx with bc in May 2010 from biopsy done in oncology surgeon's office. Then had breast MRI to find out how large the bc was. Also had stereostatic biopsy of other breast. I had bilateral mastectomy June 22. This week I had a needle biopsy of my thyroid and an abdominal ultrasound of liver, pancreas, gallbladder and kidneys. What scan did you have done and what prompted your dr to order it????
Char

I'm so sorry mj
What can anyone say except we are all here for you and praying. I'm so sorry that you have to comfort your hubby as well as yourself, but God must have put you two together for a reason. I know that you fought this fight before and I know you can do it again. I am not Stage 4 so I can't give you any advise but I'm sure our gals in pink that are will respond.
Best of luck and love from one who cares.
Wanda

cahjah75 said:

The more I read
on these posts the more scared I get. I was dx with bc in May 2010 from biopsy done in oncology surgeon's office. Then had breast MRI to find out how large the bc was. Also had stereostatic biopsy of other breast. I had bilateral mastectomy June 22. This week I had a needle biopsy of my thyroid and an abdominal ultrasound of liver, pancreas, gallbladder and kidneys. What scan did you have done and what prompted your dr to order it????
Char

Char, I was wondering which
Char, I was wondering which test too. It is quite scary.

toniannp said:

stage 4
I will be praying for you. I am asking for prayer for myself also. I was told that i had breast cancer in 98. did the chemo rads thing. was in remission for 10 years. '08 was told cancer is back. three rounds of chemo later cancer now stage 4 and aggressive. I am a single mom of 2 teens. lost my husband to cancer in '07. he had leukemia. Please pray for me and my girls. and as i always say never give up hope.

My heart goes out to you.
Please keep the faith. You've been through so much. I hope there are others that you and your children can talk to. Sending cyber {[hugs}}.
Char

survivorbc09 said:

I also am very sorry about
I also am very sorry about your recurrence. It seems like so many have this summer on this board. Sending you support and prayers!


Hugs, Jan

MJ, Char, and Wanda
MJ, thinking of you and wondering how your appointment went on Thursday. Do you know yet what your treatment is going to be? Please let us know how things are going.

Char and Wanda, I assume you were asking me about the scans. To answer your questions, after the mammogram, ultra sound, and two needle biopsies, they scheduled me for an MRI. When those results came in, it indicated "suspicious" areas in the liver. It was those findings that prompted my oncologist to order a Pet Scan that would give a much better view of the liver and the bones. Then after 2 1/2 months of chemo, I had another scan but this time a CT for the abdomen and pelvic area. Just one month ago I had another CT Scan.

TO ALL, if my posts upset anyone, I'm terribly sorry. I read this site quite often but only post when I feel I have pertinant information to share. When I share my experience about such things as my scans, it's not to frighten but rather to give encouragement and hope. For a short time after watching the scan with my doctor on his computer I was upset because all I knew was that I had "numerous tumors" in my liver. When I saw the actual pictures I wondered how I had even survived. Then when you see and compare the most recent scan and how things are so much better, it fills you with optimism and hope. THAT'S the message I want to convey to others. If I can do this, so can you!

God Bless Us All. MM