Best Of
Re: Stage IV MBC Fitness
10-28-2025
As a dog owner who walks their dog regularly when I can, (daughter lives nextdoor to me and shares in this) we always have Crumbles on leash; so that kind of stuff annoys us. And if he's needing to burn off energy, we take him 10 miles away to the next big town, to the dog run. Or else let him run in a defunct tennis court. If that area is that big, @chicagoan surely the dog owners could organize to enclose a dog run , or dog park. Anyhow, I know your concern. I'm old now, :-)) and my condition is needing building back up, if it's in God's Will, (I have pleural effusion) so I really want to start walking a whole lot more, and sure hope to not have a problem of trying to take a simple walk. Take care!
Nice to meet you all.
Re: Bone Mets Thread
Dear @cure-ious
thank you for your reply.
I have done the Guardant tests, as well as ESR1 and PIK3CA mutation testing, and also the genetic tests — none of them showed any problem.
You’re right — I’m now searching through one area of the body after another to find out what’s causing the tumor markers to rise this way.
I’ll also keep you updated on my case, so that others who experience the same issue may benefit from what happened with me.
Re: Bone Mets Thread
Thank you, dear @tougholdcrow
I know that the marker number is very high, and that’s what frightens me so much.
Since the last PET scan, my doctor and I have been searching for the cause, but I’m not convinced by his approach.
He asked me to do MRI scans of two areas in the spine, twice in a row, but found nothing,
even though he knows that MRI is like hell for me because I suffer from severe claustrophobia,
and I must be sedated to complete the scan.
Now I’m wondering — why didn’t he ask for an abdominal or internal organ scan
instead of repeating the same area twice just because he suspected something in one vertebra?
Now, more than four months after my last PET scan, the doctor has asked me to do separate MRI scans for different parts of the body to find out exactly where the problem is.
He said we’d start with the pelvis and abdomen, then move on to the brain, and finally the bones.
But I recently discovered there’s a test called “Whole-body MRI with Cancer Diffusion Weighting”,
which scans the entire body at once using a special technique and takes only about an hour.
I’m currently searching for a hospital that can perform this scan under sedation,
(I’ve been looking for four days now.)
Re: Stage IV MBC Fitness
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I do exactly the same thing and try to shrug off pain and symptoms.
This episode began in June and the first GI doc just kept re-ordering augmentin. After 4 weekend trips to the emergency room I went to a new GI who referred me to an infectious disease specialist. I now have a midline port in my arm and am halfway through 14 infusions of a very powerful antibiotic. Only side effect is fatigue, so I'm napping a lot. If this doesn't work I will probably need surgery.
eleanora
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@eleanora In your pocket, fingers crossed on Thursday.
@mkestrel What a beautiful serene picture, I can only imagine how nice the hot springs were. Glad you're able to breathe a little sigh of relief. May your plan be successful, fingers crossed for PET
@mara51506 Well glad you were able to test using the walker and get home safely. With your determination I know you will find the best safe method to get around. I always loved Honey-Nut Cheerios, haven't had it in years.Seems like it would be a good combo but maybe more of a snack.
@shanagirl Ugh that darn cough!! I'm sorry to hear you have to postpone your trip, cancer stinks! I like your Ortho/Onc's positive thinking we all wish the same for you.
@chicagoan Wow so happy you're making great progress!
@irishlove Oh Irish I'm sure you are exhausted! Anyone would be tired after all you have been going through. Wishing for better days soon, sending hugs and healing.
Hi to all you lovely ladies here, wishing you all a good week . Hope all appt and treatments go smoothly this week
cookie54
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
Cindy - interesting pictures. Our botanical garden and zoo all do special Christmas lights but like you, I've been there, done that.
Golf course opened this week but will be extra walking for a few weeks. I've really been lazy since it's been closed so it could be a very interesting morning. Weather is perfect however so I will give it a try. Mutz goes to the vet in the afternoon. Always a challenge although we have a wonderful, gentle vet.
This week's question for the Storybook is about our mothers - Ken's Mom and I were definitely on different wave lengths so I will really have to think about this. Sadly, DD wasn't close to either of her grandmothers. I blame them. They definitely showed preference for their biological grandchildren over their adopted ones.
Ken's watching the series. He's with you, CanaryCat.
1946taco
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@shanagirl Thanks for your update. Always a relief when we hear from someone who hasn't posted in a while.
@mkestrel and others. I appreciate you posting what your doctor is thinking. It helps all of us to try and figure out what the best next course of action is. Your nature photos are always so healing.
@mara51506 Good for you for trying the outdoor walk with your walker. At least you made it home safely and now you know it isn't the best mobility device for you.
I kind of overdid it with two fairly long walks on Thursday and Friday (2 miles 2 weeks after my hip replacement). I was wiped out on Saturday so now I am not pushing myself so much. I did take public transit and walk last night to make it to a concert. Today I just focused on PT exercises. I'm pretty amazed at how quick the recovery is from the anterior hip replacement. I'm no longer even using a cane in the house. It hasn't been a picnic but the agonizing pain I had walking before the surgery seems to be gone. Now my leg just hurts at night after I've been sleeping. Relieved that I got clearance to resume Ibrance today. I don't know what the change in treatment will be but for now I'm still on Ibrance/Letrozole. My MO set up a telehealth appt for the end of Nov so I guess she isn't too concerned. In the meantime I'll be consulting with a radiologist.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@shanagirl hug to you, sorry you had to cancel your trip. I hope you improve enough to go soon.
Doc wants a PET scan to see if the new liver lesion lights up before deciding to change treatment. Also since the other two were smaller and nothing new on bone scan, might not change. Maybe consider ablation procedure or radiation target option too depending on location etc. yippee yahoo sigh
mkestrel
Re: STEAM ROOM FOR ANGER
klrtts3p so sorry you are going through this and reach out for support and there are others going in treatment right now who can help as well with side effects and best things that can help. Walking and friends to walk with can also be good as well and good support as well. Do things to support mental health as well. Cancer can play a number on both body and mind.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Well, the force was with me on a terrible walk. I did use the walker, it was as bad as I remember, kept hitting right foot on the wheel then at time, it got away from me until I put breaks on. I did make it there and picked up the prescription, I did down a whole large bottle of water and did take rest breaks BUT once I got close to home, I was feeling the faint feeling. Got to my steps, folded the walker but was super tired at that point, neighbour helped me get walker to my place but I had to hold onto the railing to feel balanced. I think if my place had elevators, that part would have been easier to get the walker in but have to carry it up and when already feeling a bit faint, does not work.
I am no longer going to worry about walking with a walker, I don't like not seeing my feet, cane will suffice and get steps in the house. As said walker kept wandering off ahead, I found it difficult to keep my feet in that space, seat was nice but I almost lost balance getting up. If I had to, would take the bus places, bus stops are not that far away and feel more sure on my feet.
Also, even though it is only around 50 F, my face is bright red too so that may be an issue. As far as outdoor walking, that is no longer an option, indoor on treadmill will be fine, walk on the spot etc, shoot, sit my butt down and march my legs or lift legs in bed and march. One thing I will say is that all the PT on ankles and hips and such did come in handy to keep me up when a stumble could have happened. I also got 9000 steps round trip so guess that is good too.
Not getting rid of walker but tucked it out back instead.
Now getting something to eat, nice not to have fallen but will continue with my cane instead. Keep this experience to myself vs SIL, she has enough to deal with herself, wish she would tell me but have to wait til I see her. Not sure if epilepsy is getting worse or what. Again sit on my hands until we see each other. Once I have an appointment at the other hospital with my neurosurgeon, she comes for that and I will ask.
In the end, it is good to sort of add up the good and bad, good was no fall, almost stumbled but could catch myself. Did manage the walker most of the time except when it felt like it was moving ahead. Handled that well. Sitting along the way was good too.
The one thing I cannot do anything about is my thermoregulation even in cooler weather. My face was bright red, lets me know that it is not necessary to walk an hour outdoors but keep the legs strong in the house, walk around with a cane. Make sure walking to a bus stop if need be
I did not getMcdonalds after all, had my new snack of choice, putting Honeynut Cheerios into a peanut butter container, I must say that taste combo is really good and filling though may have to make an egg a little later.
