Best Of
Re: Stage IV MBC Fitness
@gailmary - I am indeed hoping that this is just an adjustment period and that things will settle down. I just get so very tired. I just cannot imagine not being able to get out for even a short walk since October. I bet you are thrilled to be able to get out now. It's not even spring yet, but the signs are sure showing up and making time outside just wonderful. Enjoy it!
@soldanella - You are so right about how good this is for morale. It's helpful to know how well you are doing on the same dose. My oncologist said that if the response looks especially good at 3 months, he would consider lowering it. I'm fine with everything the way it is now except for being so very tired. I feel lucky to have so far not experienced any digestive or hand/foot problems. I hope you keep up your good work with Xeloda too!
@chicagoan - Thanks so much for the good wishes re the Xeloda. I hope your walk today is really nice. I just got back from a walk. Because of the fatigue that Xeloda is causing, I only went for half an hour, and on mostly flat terrain and sidewalk. I usually go for an hour on hilly and varied terrain with little sidewalked areas, but... something is definitely better than nothing, and my walk was fabulous in spite of being exhausting. We are just having an exceptionally beautiful day here; sunny and cold, but showing very inspirational signs and feelings of spring being just around the corner. Wishing you a wonderful walk too!
Re: Is a chest wall recurrence inevitably stage 4?
I wanted to follow up here in case it's helpful for anyone else in a similar "gray area" after a chest wall recurrence.
When I'm stressed, my go-to strategy is research. So I've been devouring academic articles and re-reading my path report closely.
I found these definitions helpful (from this site: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/locoregional-rec...) (emphasis mine):
"local recurrence only" defined as development of tumor in breast or chest wall/mastectomy site previously affected by cancer without involvement of the regional lymph nodes
locoregional recurrence associated with distant metastases is considered a metastatic recurrence
A lot of the studies I read that had really dismal prognoses for chest wall recurrences were lumping together (no pun intended) local and regional types of chest wall lesions, and those dismal studies were also 20 years old. There are more recent studies that are teasing out characteristics of chest wall recurrences that are associated with better and worse prognoses.
Upon re-reading my path report I found the pathological staging of my lesion: rpT1b NX. I had somehow missed that before, but it tracks what I had thought the tumor was - stage 1b. I understand it's more complicated than that given that it's a recurrence and I opted not to remove more nodes, but I also understand why my MO hadn't used the stage 4 language with me.
Re: What topics/experts would you like to see on The Breastcancer.org Podcast?
@jamie_bco_senioreditor
I am so excited to read your response to GB about the podcast for those of us who can't tolerate AIs or tamoxifen. I hope it's posted before I see my new (hopefully better) oncologist in May. The old one didn't even speak to me after my last failed attempt.
missymoo
Re: All about Xeloda
@threetree I started out at 2,000. But I was taken off Xeloda for 7 weeks because my toe was badly infected, before I realized that I was eating too much of the high-folic foods. During those 7 weeks, I developed a spot in my liver, so I asked to go up to 2,500 a week.
I have postprandial hypotension, which I figured out myself (when none of my doctors knew what was wrong). I have to now eat smaller meals every 3 hours. Otherwise, my BP can go way too high before I eat! (I am weird). And you do have a point since I never noticed this before I started on Xeloda….. And I am also on Herceptin, which can also mess with our BP. You'd better see a cardiologist about your BP. I have and my heart is fine, but I am on BP meds.
Denise
denny123
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@micmel So happy to hear Gabby is on the path to healing! You have all been through so much and I look forward to the day you post she is totally finished after reconstruction. You had the supermom strength to walk beside her each step of the way. I wish you all mental and physical healing from this, hugs.
@goldensrbest Fingers crossed that the stimulator gives you the relief you deserve.
@mara51506 Hope your appt and transit goes smoothly for you.
@shanagirl Well I hope your not extra sore today after PT and you get relief soon. Agree, this damp dreary weather goes right through your bones!
@intolight Hope your feeling well today and enjoyed a delicious birthday lunch yesterday.
@irishlove In your pocket for Friday…do we ever actually feel mental relief…sigh…it's tough! Sending positivity your way.
@threetree Thinking of you and hoping and hoping your fatigue is lifting
Hi to all here and hope you have a good day. Damp and drearies again here but I'm loving the extra daylight hours🌞
cookie54
Re: Bone Mets Thread
@norah2024 This is such good news that this was a little blip on the radar and that it's treatable. Here's to the return of appetite, I hope soon!
Re: Bone Mets Thread
Hi all,
This is an update
I went to the doctor yesterday for my appointment after receiving my blood test results.
My liver enzymes have started to go down after the doctor reduced the dose, which is good. The rest of the tests are either within the normal range or unchanged. There have always been some values — especially in the red and white blood cells — that are slightly higher or lower than usual, but the doctor has never been concerned about them.
The tumor markers have also decreased compared to the previous value.
I told the doctor that my main problem is the persistent cough and loss of appetite. Whenever I eat anything cooked, I keep coughing and then end up vomiting the food. He examined my chest with a stethoscope and confirmed there is an infection in my right lung. He prescribed antibiotics for 7 days and said that the severe loss of appetite is due to the infection, not the medication Afinitor.
I started the antibiotics yesterday, and I hope my condition improves so I can go back to eating, even a little.
As for the Afinitor dose, the doctor decided to keep it at the current 5 mg.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hi @moderators , ‼️ it’s always nice when we see you pop in. Thank you for thinking of visiting Mel’s livingroom today hi. 🩵🌷 I was just visiting the bone Mets thread and didn’t want to miss you all her in @micmel ’s livingroom. Sooooo………..
I just popped in myself to say hi to @cookie54 @candy-678 @brutersmom @threetree @tanya_djamila @tougholdcrow @norah2024 @intolight @irishlove @illimae @eleanora @emac877 @goldensrbest @going2beatthis @gailmary @jen1 @micmel @mara51506 @chicagoan @xsuzx @seeq @sf-cakes @malebreastc and anyone else I’ve missed. Didnt really read on along here. Today is a yucky day today. They really worked me in PT yesterday do I’m sore in my muscles but wow today the bone pain really sucks. Lot’s of arthritis in joints and shoulders, wrists, thumb,, ankles and also pain in my Accetabulum where I went for Palliative radiation in November. I think this horrible weather and expected rain storm coming tomorrow is affecting all my bones today. So I’ll check in tomorrow after PT. Have a relaxing and painfree day all 🩵🥰
Re: Bone Mets Thread
I think when the tumor markers are up whatever its that’s causing this result, is already there and shows up on the scans.
@threetree and @norah2024 . I know you ar both dealing with so many new struggles i just want to send you lot’s of gentle hugs 🤗
