Trying to stay positive is hard.....
…when the news just keeps getting worse. I found out today that my cancer is Stage IV. I have metastasis to the bone. One rib. I've had pain in that rib for a month now and just isn't going away. It has improved. I thought I had just pulled a muscle because it hurt fiercely for about two weeks but then subsided to just pain when I breath. Because. it has an idiopathic fracture in it. They need to biopsy it to be certain that it is cancer but it's the only spot that showed up on my bone scan. They. are pretty sure it's cancer without the biopsy because I cannot recall an event that caused the fracture: no falls, no bumping in to anything, etc. Of course, now the focus or treatment goal is control instead of curative, which is depressing. They even said they don't normally even consider a mastectomy at this stage, but due to my age and overall good health, they would consider it, if their board is agreeable. I can't help but feel defeated, like I have been. handed a death sentence. I'm still waiting for my port to start treatment. I'll get that next Friday if things don't change because of the diagnosis.
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Dovesong,
So sorry to hear about your new battle. I had a similar situation in May of this year. I had had pain in my sternum off and on since January, but I thought it was possibly costochondritis due to a chronic cough I had been dealing with for some time. Anyway, in May it was so painful (in my upper sternum and radiating to the right side) that my PCP ordered a chest CT that was "highly suspicious for metastatic breast disease". (I first had breast cancer—stage 1—15 years ago). So, I definitely know where you are coming from. After many tests and a bone biopsy I was diagnosed with MBC: HR+ and HER2+. Fifteen years ago I was HER2—.
Do you have pathology yet?
I did want to let you know that since I only had that one spot of cancer and it was HER2+, I chose to forego chemo and just do the HP (Herceptin/Perjeta) protocol and anastrozole. After 4 infusion I had another PET scan. NED! So…. there is hope! Don't give up. I wish you all the best and feel free to PM me. I know everyone on this site is praying for you and cheering you on.
Hugs,
Pam
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@dovesong I’m sorry you are going through this during the holiday season. You don’t have to stay positive. It’s OK to be upset, angry, whatever. Maybe radiation to that rib would help relieve the pain. On the other hand (so to speak), with a fracture there already perhaps it needs time to heal.
A PET scan would be a good way of looking for other metastatic sites like liver or lung in order to know what else might be present at this point. People have remained stable for years with just bone involvement. IV bisphosphonate treatment is something to ask about. Having a port is a nice option for protecting your veins.
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