If you are not Stage IV but have questions, you may post here
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persistent non productive cough which I felt was not coming from the throat . No pain or discomfort with it whatsoever otherwise - you know , like when you feel some rattle in your chest or burning sensation on coughing a lot. Spontaneous and every time in deep breath. Feeling as if I could not fill my lungs with air properly- not tightness or pain, just as if it was not getting to the bottom of the vessel where it should. Tachycardia- I checked my pulse at rest and it was almost 90 ! To compensate for underdelivery of oxygen I guess. I was getting breathless on exertion- could not finish a game of squash.
If it is getting worse I doubt it is cancer. Good luck with your tests .
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Thank you for your response. Why do you say of it seems worse it probably isn't mets? I see MO in the morning so I guess we will see what he thinks.
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Because it would imply that it is something quickly changing ?.. which cancer would not be ...
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I just finished treatment for my Stage 1 breast cancer at the end of May. I felt like things were starting to get back to normal, and even went to Mexico for 4 days with my husband. But since I've been back (about 2 weeks) I've had horrible headaches, been way more tired, and just generally out of sorts. I feel like I shouldn't worry about metastases so soon, or maybe at all because I was only Stage 1 with no node involvement, but I can't seem to help it. Should I be worried, or write it off as stress?
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why should anyone ever be worried ?
Make a plan of action (change lifestyle, see doctors or whatever else) , stick to it and do not worry in the meantime.
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Anyone stage 4 on regular Medicare? Wondering what the coverage is for pills and iv. If it doesn't cover some chemo meds, what do you do? Are you hosed?
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Hi Twinklemom, You didn't have your history typed in. Are you on Tamoxifen or Letrozole? Did you have chemo or radiation? You might just be still recovering or feeling the side effects of the meds. Everyone worries from time to time. Exercise does help. Good luck to you.
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Sorry, flashlight, I didn't get the info put into until after I posted the question. I'm on Tamoxifen and I had 16 rounds of chemo. I've felt better and thought most of the side effects were clearing up, but I guess it could just be a really crappy setback.
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Update,
Mom got results and it was Bone Mets. Although I feel like I’ve already prepared for this news. I find myself extremely anxious. She sounds very optimistic and high in spirits and that give me hope. But it’s definitely hard being away from home, in college and working full time; and not being there with her. I’ve with through this entire process before when she was initially diagnosed with breast cancer- the therapy, not stressing about the thought of losing her. Now I find myself doing it yet again. Anyone with bone mets with any advice on what I should expect
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bone mets alone has a fairly good prognosis....treatment depends on her hormone and HER2 status...plus she will get a bone strengthener, either Xgeva or Zometa. Radiation can be done if there is pain, or large tumors, or sometimes is done to treat a single met.
It is very manageable for many of us. For me, my life is going on as before except for those visits to the cancer center. Stay hopeful...I am sure your mom wants you to focus on your studies and to live your life.
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Hi Mallory, take a deep breath, let it out slowly. Try to stress a little less if you can.
My dx is bone Mets only and I was given a prognosis of 2 years, that was in 2009........roll on 10 years and I'm still bone Mets only and living a pretty normal life doing all the things I have always enjoyed doing.
I know each of us is different but I just wanted to let you know that there are a lot of us bone mets only girls still here for a long time after dx.
There are so many treatments available now compared to even ten years ago that help with living with metastatic cancer rather than dying from metastatic cancer.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi Everyone,
It's been 01/31/2017 that I finished treatment for cancer. I've been diagnosed with bone loss in 2018, been taking Anastrozole since 11/2016. Also, I had DX degenerative disk for 20 years. I try to exercise and take calcium, Vitamin D but recently, I felt the tissue along my spine in upper back feeling knotted. At the same time my hips feeling weird, not pain. Could this be results of bone loss or bone Mets. Is there anyway to help with bone loss? Thanks for your inputs.
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Hi Houston, it is possible that what you are feeling could likely be related to bone loss due to taking Anastrozole and having a history . Anastrozole can also cause bone loss. Taking Vit D is great added to your exercise but I think I would be approaching my doc and asking for a bone scan to rule out Mets and a DEXA scan to get exactly what your bone loss is. Once these are done you would know for sure and your doc would probably add Xgeva (Denosomab) an injection or Zometa, an infusion. Both these drugs are prescribed for bone density.
Good luck.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Hi Houston,
Asking for a bone scan is a good suggestion. I had 3 bone mets (ribs, hip, and lower back). I had no pain, only aches once in awhile.
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Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'm scheduled to see the spine Dr and want to do spine, hip and lower back MRI. My onco did order bone scan but I'm hesitate due to radiation. Is the MRI more clear and pick up other diseases as well better than bone scan? Thanks again.
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Houston, glad to hear you have an appointment and an MRI scheduled. I know radiation is high with a bone scan but having one as a base line is recommended and they are excellent at picking up bone Mets.
Good luck with it all and please let us know your results. I'll keep everything crossed that all is well.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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Can fractures from bone mets heal without treatment? I had been having really bad pain in my left side (opposite of my initial bc), so I had an x-ray (nothing showed up) and a CT scan. The CT scan showed a fracture on my left third rib AND fractures on my right first and second rib. I have not had any trauma; not had any kind of coughing, etc., that might break a rib. I had a CT scan in February, and there was a suspicious spot in my right first rib that was too small to diagnose - but now, just months later, the CT scan report says it shows progression.
So, this is where it gets weird(er): I next had a pet scan that indicated some uptake of the tracer (2.4) but not at a rate that would confirm mets (3.0). And, the pain in my left rib is much milder. But still, how in the world could it be anything other than mets? [Note: my MO wants to wait two months and scan again, and in the meantime, I'm getting a second opinion at OHSU in Portland.] Also, I'm still in my 40s and recently had a bone density scan that was fine, so I don't think it's osteoporosis.
Any ideas or similar experiences would be great! Thanks so much.
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Hi PNWBooklover. It is possible for Mets to ribs to spontaneously break if the met has broken through the bone surface and it does take any trauma to do that......just the action of getting out of bed will be enough. Yes, the pain level will be enough to tell you of the break but ribs do heal. You would need some rads to those particular ribs in order to lessen the cancer load in order for that to happen.
What treatment are you on right now and for how long? That's an important part of your present puzzle. Also, have you had a DEXA scan which will show your bone density. Also, have you had any bone strengthening treatment? Also another part of your puzzle.
I know it's really difficult to have to wait two more months for another scan but hopefully that will give a bit more of a definitive answer.
Please let me know how you get on.
Love n hugs. Chrissy
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hi all, this is my first post since my diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma on11/22...I still have so much unknown...pathology is not back...have an apt 12/5 with Oncologist where I will have more answers...I had ct scans, bone scans, genetic testing and am waiting for breast MRI. I felt a lump on my right breast in the shower 10/14 and the rest has just been a blur. I feel like I am a bystander in this thing called life and this is just starting. I am trying to stay positive but I have been experiencing bad shoulder pain, now lower back pain and a recent cracked tooth. I am 34 yrs I have about and have a 7 yr old daughter. Everyone keeps saying I caught it early burn with all these aches I’m feeling some hopelessness🙏 Reaching out for support0
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Maryjv...I was 38 and had idc and dcis. It was in my lymph nodes. They gave me 3 months to live. That was November of 2009. Have hope! Have faith! You have a wealth of knowledge in the ladies on this site. And you have soooooo much support here too. Please try to just think about today. I know. It’s hard. But worrying about it is taking so much good energy from you that you could be investing in your 7 year old. I promise, you’ll be ok. There are ladies on here who are survivors 20+ years! Hold on to the end of that rope! And know...you are not alone!! Welcome
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!
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thank you for your encouraging words, I do try to stay positive and I know I am in Gods hands🙏 Happy Thanksgiving getting ready to enjoy this day with family
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Happy thanksgiving to you all as well. Maryjv we are happy you found us. We're all here for you!
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Hi all, I'm posting because I'm trying to find the link to a study or thread that someone posted somewhere on the forum earlier this year. It was an article about the different way that gastrointestinal lesions appear with ILC. I have a colonoscopy coming up and would like to print it out so I can be prepared to "educate" the doctor if needed. I've been searching but cannot find it, though I clearly remember someone posting about it, possibly in a stage IV thread.
If you know what I'm talking about, could you kindly direct me? I'm learning that we have to be on our toes as far ILC is concerned.
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My question is, what is "Stage V"? I was in conversation with someone this week who said her mom had been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and then it turned to "stage V." Also there is a topic in the Stage IV forum about stage V something.
What is meant by that?
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Hi MountainMia, in breast cancer there is no stage V......after Stage IV there is only death.
Each cancer type has it's own way of numbering stages so perhaps there is a stage V in lung cancer, I don't really know.
Hi Whatjusthappened, have you check out the topic on the main site of BCO?
Love n hugs to you both. Chrissy
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Whatjusthappened, was it EV11’s July 17 post here in the stage iv Clinical Trial thread that you are trying to remember?
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/868597?page=16
MountainMia, there is a thread in the stage iv forum called Stage V MBC Fitness, but the OP (original poster) used the term to mean, in her words, “We’re doing fine, ready to live with this beast.” Personally, the term made me think stage V=death. But it is a great thread nonetheless.
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ShetlandPony, thank you so much for the redirect. That does sound like what I'm looking for, though I don't remember lurking on that particular thread, lol. Might be that it was mentioned elsewhere as well. I'll have to PM EV11 and see if she'd be willing to share.
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Maybe a retreat or camp for children whose parents have passed? I wish my ex brother in law had done that for my nephew.0
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Has anyone with Lung METs had PET Scans and/or Chest CTs that show Ground Glass Opacities in BOTH lungs and increasing/spreading between scans?
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