HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Metastatic Breast Cancer and Nancy Brinker

Trish · 10-19-2011, 12:23 AM

RACHELHMD
Don't apologise to me for using "yet" after not being stage IV. I read it as a gracious way of saying "There but for the grace of God go I"-I was brought up a Catholic and some things stay with you! You actually made me feel less stigmatised so I am grateful to you for your consideration of those of us with Stage IV disease.
I don't think your use of "yet' has made it at all more likely you will get mets. I am very hopeful that you will stay cancer-free but I very much appreciate your grace and support.
Amy, I thought your contribution was very measured and open minded.People do die from this disease even when they take advantage of every treatment that is available to them. I don't really see the point of using high profile people as role models either as inspiration or as cautionary tales. Breast Cancer is heterogenous and even those of us with very similar tumour profiles (on the features that we currently know about and can be characterised) vary in our response to treatments. I believe we all deal with this disease in the best way we can, and it isn't always the same way. While we are probably nowhere near a cure there are a lot of hopeful treatments on the horizon. Bring 'em on!
Trish

10-19-2011, 12:23 AM	#22
Trish Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 434	Re: Metastatic Breast Cancer and Nancy Brinker RACHELHMD Don't apologise to me for using "yet" after not being stage IV. I read it as a gracious way of saying "There but for the grace of God go I"-I was brought up a Catholic and some things stay with you! You actually made me feel less stigmatised so I am grateful to you for your consideration of those of us with Stage IV disease. I don't think your use of "yet' has made it at all more likely you will get mets. I am very hopeful that you will stay cancer-free but I very much appreciate your grace and support. Amy, I thought your contribution was very measured and open minded.People do die from this disease even when they take advantage of every treatment that is available to them. I don't really see the point of using high profile people as role models either as inspiration or as cautionary tales. Breast Cancer is heterogenous and even those of us with very similar tumour profiles (on the features that we currently know about and can be characterised) vary in our response to treatments. I believe we all deal with this disease in the best way we can, and it isn't always the same way. While we are probably nowhere near a cure there are a lot of hopeful treatments on the horizon. Bring 'em on! Trish __________________ 5/2004 (R) 30mm bre gr3 infiltrating ductal ca 16/18nodes er (2+) pr (3+) HER2 (3+) 6/2004 6 cycles(FEC), Oct 40 rads, Tamoxifen 5/2006 oopherectomy, Arimedex 12/2006 liver mets largest 9cm 1/2007 Herceptin, 3/2007 Taxol + Herc 1/2008 Herc alone 4/2008 Multiple bone mets,Zometa 7/2008 Herc + Gemcitabine 8/2008 Herc+Navelbine/vinoralbine 10/2008 Herc+Carboplatin+Taxol 12/2008 Tykerb+Xeloda 2/2010 Herceptin + trial drug 5/2010 Herceptin+Tykerb 8/2010 Tykerb+Abraxane 9/2010 Abraxane 12/2010 Abraxane+Tyk+Herc 4/2011 Tyk+Herc+Femara 6/2011 Liver and bone mets prog.Abraxane continue Herceptin,Tykerb,Femara and Zometa 8/2011 Probable liver progression and increased neuropathy. Xeloda with Tyk+Herc. Zometa 6 weekly. 9/2011 Liver progression,TM +++. Cyclophosphamide and Methotrexate metro Herc Zometa 10/2011 liver mets prog.Herc, 3 Tykerb +2mg decodron daily,Zometa