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Oh Shana - I so feel for you! Mine is spine, neck, ribs, shoulders, and sometimes hips, knees, and ankles. I too have weakness and unsteady feet, and occasional tinnitus and headaches. Also get occasional nausea and less so the big D. I think most of it is side effects from the drugs - especially since you and I have some similar stuff going on. Mine does get a little better at times, then a little worse, etc., but there is always something there. If I miss a day or two of Verzenio I feel much better. I always feel worse the first week or so after the faslodex shots (like now), and feel really, really bad after the Zometa. Tylenol helps some but I'm rather afraid of the other alternatives for pain, e.g. nsaids, opiates, etc. I guess I'll just keep trying to put up with it, because I'm not sure there is really anything out there that would work better for the cancer at this point. How are your electrolytes? I have had a low sodium/low potassium problem ever since I started cancer treatments. They used to give me IV's fairly often. I've managed to keep the potassium up with a bottle of coconut water and a banana every day, but I have not yet conquered the low sodium. I have gotten the sodium up a bit though, and I have to say, it does seem to make a difference with some of the aches, weakness, and headaches. If my sodium is up higher, that stuff is noticeably better, but not gone. Just a thought, that you might want to monitor what your electrolytes are like when they do your labs.

@exbrnxgrl thank you for those words. I need to save them somewhere and read them repeatedly, especially when I’m feeling not very hopeful. And you’re right - no one knows how it’s going to play out for any of us….cancer diagnosis or not.

I’m going to say one thing on “Why bother, I have mbc…” issue. The thing is, neither you nor your mo knows how your mbc will unfold over time. When I was dx’ed, over 12 years ago, could I or anyone have imagined that I’d still be chugging along 12+ years later? No, of course not but I’m sure glad I didn’t put my life on hold. While I am not typical, neither am I unique.

Letting you all know that tomorrow (Friday may 31) at 12noon, ET we're hosting a special meetup on Questions around Palliative Care with Dr. Joe Straton, a specialist. If you would like to join, register here:

https://breastcancer-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvc-CoqjwrHNL4jnVXMjOjAer-KDlYte1M