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Pamelamary · 02-13-2020, 05:28 PM

Just checking in... Given Doctor Google gave me 8 months in 2012, I feel profoundly grateful for the fact that I am still here. That first year was awful, but I have been lucky to have continued stable since.
There are times that I feel absolutely sick of myself and matters medical, where my life is measured out in cycles of treatment and scans. However, by and large I have been able to pursue my interests in books, film and exercise without any limitations. I have managed to have a couple of overseas trips every year, which have been wonderful.
Getting older is proving to be a bit of a pain, quite apart from the cancer. Never imagined seeing 2020! Another thing is survivor guilt - I still volunteer at a Melbourne peer support network and have seen the loss of many beautiful women. The very young are particularly heart breaking.
There is a growing number of us, the long term survivors. Surely somewhere there are clues leading to a cure?
Best wishes to all on this site, which has been a valuable source of information and support.

02-13-2020, 05:28 PM	#1
Pamelamary Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 494	8 year stage 4 cancerversary. Just checking in... Given Doctor Google gave me 8 months in 2012, I feel profoundly grateful for the fact that I am still here. That first year was awful, but I have been lucky to have continued stable since. There are times that I feel absolutely sick of myself and matters medical, where my life is measured out in cycles of treatment and scans. However, by and large I have been able to pursue my interests in books, film and exercise without any limitations. I have managed to have a couple of overseas trips every year, which have been wonderful. Getting older is proving to be a bit of a pain, quite apart from the cancer. Never imagined seeing 2020! Another thing is survivor guilt - I still volunteer at a Melbourne peer support network and have seen the loss of many beautiful women. The very young are particularly heart breaking. There is a growing number of us, the long term survivors. Surely somewhere there are clues leading to a cure? Best wishes to all on this site, which has been a valuable source of information and support. __________________ Diagnosed 2004: Lumpectomy - 2 tumours, both grade 1 infiltrating duct carcinoma, about 12mm. ER+, C-erbB-2 status 3+. Clear margins, no nodal involvement. Radiotherapy, i year Tamoxifen, 4 years Arimidex. Rediagnosed 2012: Multiple bone metastases. 3/12: began on Marianne trial - T-DM1 + Pertuzamab/Placebo. 5/12:Unexpected development of numerous bilateral liver mets. Came off trial. Started Docetaxol/ Herceptin + Zometa. 8/12:Bones stable +major regression in liver (!) 9/12:Can't take any more Docetaxol! Start on Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Cross fingers! Changed to Denosumab. 11/12: Scan shows stable - yay! 11/13: Still stable :-) !!! 1/16: All stable, but lowered calcium, so switched to Zometa 3 monthly. 2/19: Happily still stable on Herceptin, Letrozole and 3 monthly Zometa.