Best Of
Re: Life does not end with a stage IV diagnosis (really!)
Thank you so much🫶 Let the journey begin!
xsuzx
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
We are booking PR for next week. To save $500 or more we’ll be flying out of Fort Lauderdale - an hour and a half from home.
In addition to $ savings, Fort Myers has no direct flights either, we’d need to fly way north and add 4-8 hours on to a short trip.
Hotels charging up to 22% for resort fees, some hotels are next to the airport to boot, or landlocked near the major highway.
SO trying to work deals on points etc… I’m done, just book something on the beach.
Martyccrn, sorry you had to join the group. We chatter on just about everything under the sun. Ask away and one of us may know the answers. Some of these ladies were nurses too.
Reader, the desserts looked great.
Betrayal, the luminaries sound great. Post a picture once they’re up if you can.
Chris, it sounds very cold where you are! Keep warm.
Bloodwork was easy, the tech was very good. I ate my Cliff bar and sipped my seltzer as I left. No results yet. It was 53 and felt 43 this morning as I left.
I’m heading back outside to get some sun and read my book. Enjoy your day ladies!
cindyny
Re: Bone Mets Thread
Hi everyone I have an update and some concerns that I would like input. The good news is that I am continuing now to be stable. Many lesions according to my last scan which was done in June 2025. Prior to that I was getting scan every 3 to 4 months plus MRIs when things popped up. My tumor markers are now in the normal range and thus far have been accurate. My oncologist is not doing any scans she said now until I have symptoms or my tumor markers rise. I am upset about this. She said that data is showing that it is not good to get to many PET scans . I literally begged her for one. She said no and then said if needed she would not hesitate. Unlike some other patients or even perhaps some of you here I would not mind getting scanned everyday. LOL. Is this normal when one is stable not to get scanned as much. I don't want anything to be missed. Remember they found my METs by accident. I went to ER for something else and CT scanned showed it. She has not in the past hesitated to order something but I want to stay ahead of everything. She just says tumor markers are good,blood work is good,and unless I have a new symptom she will not order one,or if my tumor markers start to rise. Please for those of you who are stable how many times do you get scanned. Is this new?
jen1
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Wishing everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving! I've been MIA for awhile now, as have been having a lot of ups and downs and still don't know exactly what's going on. I'm not caught up with everyone at all, but hope to scroll and read a lot over the weekend. Just wish everyone a wonderful holiday weekend.
Re: November had lumpectomy just had first chemo
Hi @hcharn
I just rejoined this community myself a few days ago, welcome and sorry that you have to go thru this.
Just hang in there and take care of yourself, I saw a comment you made about your hair and cutting it off. I had my friend cut mine short so I didn't have to see it in the shower every time! You do what makes you feel best, there is no right or wrong answer. I went and got myself a nice wig the first time 30 years ago and there are a lot more options now then in 1995 but not everyone want to wear a wig so you do you!!
I know it is overwhelming to be starting this journey but you will get lots of support here and invaluable information from all the experts.
I am starting my chemo next Tuesday in pill form and I am a little apprehensive about the side effects but also glad to get it started and move one. I always look at chemo as little pack men going around and destroying all the bad guys!!
Hang in there! You got this!
Jill 😉
bigred62
November had lumpectomy just had first chemo
I am a retired registered nurse. I have two younger sisters who have had breast cancer,
I am just realizing my journey.
hcharn
Re: In Honor of Louisa, my sister
Dear Alishar,
What a lovely way to commemorate your sister, Louisa, by sharing with us not just her passing, but the confidence you gleaned from her medical care. It sounds like you both were very close, and I'm sure re-living some of your experiences with her during her illness is bittersweet. I'm sorry you lost her to cancer, she being only 48 years old.
I always light a candle when I hear of a passing from cancer and I will do one for Louisa.
Please do know I will think of you as you start your chemotherapy next Monday, and will check the "Going through Chemotherapy" thread for news from you.
I'm sure Teddy will bring you much release these next weeks, as hopefully we here at Breastcancer.org discussion boards may too.
Tender
CyberCandle link: www.greatfulness.org
Has Anyone Tried These Immunotherapy Options for Stage IV Breast Cancer?
Hi everyone,
I’m Ralph , and I hope it’s okay that I jump in here. I’ve been reading the forum quietly for a while, but this is my first time actually posting.
I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer last year it spread to a couple of bones, so things have been a bit up and down ever since. Right now I’m on hormonal therapy + a targeted drug, and overall I’m tolerating it okay. Some days are heavier than others, but I’m doing my best to stay steady. I had a scan a few weeks ago that showed a tiny bit of progression, and it honestly shook me more than I expected. I’ve been trying to keep my head clear and look into anything that might help me keep things under control.
A few days ago I stumbled across this article about cancer immunotherapy im just wondering is this is true ? 😕
They talk about things like dendritic cell therapy, hyperthermia, LITT, TACE, and different types of immunotherapy that aren’t usually included in standard treatment. I don’t know… something about the way they described it made me feel a bit hopeful, even though I’m trying really hard not to fall into the “miracle treatment” trap. The idea of boosting the immune system or targeting the tumor more precisely instead of flooding my whole body with harsh meds it just sounds so appealing when you’re already exhausted by everything.
But at the same time, I’m very aware that stage IV isn’t something you fix with a magic button, and clinics love to make everything sound more promising than it really is. So I guess I’m just a bit torn.
I wanted to ask - has anyone here ever tried any of these more experimental approaches?
Things like dendritic cell therapy, or hyperthermia, or even TACE?
Did you feel like it helped at all? Did your oncologist support the idea or think it was pointless? And if you traveled for it, was the whole experience worth the stress and cost?
Even small impressions or honest stories would help. I’m not looking for false hope - I just want to understand if these things are actually helpful for real people, not just in articles.
Thanks for reading this. And honestly… sending love to everyone fighting their own version of this disease. It really helps to know we’re not alone.
My regards ,
Ralph
Re: Life does not end with a stage IV diagnosis (really!)
@eleonora-Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm hoping to get back on it when I see my new primary care doc in August.
Re: Can we have a forum for "older" people with bc?
hi friends. I (60f) guess I’m not “official” yet, but after several false alarms, biopsies, diagnostic ultrasounds where I was waved away …
this time, I got the “sad voice/head tilt” you have a concerning mass conversation with the radiologist.
My referring primary gave me the name of a good breast surgeon “just in case” wink wink when I asked for the referral and she examined me.
BIRADS 4c - 3cm, rim enhancing, homogenous solid mass, with irregular margins, growing against the grain of the breast. If showed up out of nowhere.
But I work as a nurse, in endoscopy - I know what the head tilt/sad voice/anxious caregivers means. Sometimes you biopsy on the off chance it could be cancer. Sometimes you biopsy because you know it’s cancer and you just need the info to begin treatment. They are completely different conversations.
So I’m waiting for the initial biopsy results and I’m glad to have found the other old women to hang out with.