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Colleen007 · 11-02-2009, 11:00 AM

Hi Angela,

This is a personal decision for you, but when you ask yourself the question you have posed, what is your answer?

For me, I was diagnosed when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had already tied up loose ends at work since I knew that I would be gone on an extended maternity leave to address the cancer after I gave birth. After my lumpectomy and subsequent Stage IV diagnosis, I asked myself the same question. My answer was to go out on long-term disability (I still get partial pay and health insurance through my employer so I am very lucky). This has given me the chance to travel and engage in "memory making opportunities" with my family (in between my ongoing Navelbine/Herceptin treatments).

Sherry's response hit the nail on the head...especially the last sentence.

Good luck in making the decision that will be best for you.

Colleen

11-02-2009, 11:00 AM	#18
Colleen007 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Franklin, MA Posts: 131	Re: Need Advice Hi Angela, This is a personal decision for you, but when you ask yourself the question you have posed, what is your answer? For me, I was diagnosed when I was pregnant with my daughter. I had already tied up loose ends at work since I knew that I would be gone on an extended maternity leave to address the cancer after I gave birth. After my lumpectomy and subsequent Stage IV diagnosis, I asked myself the same question. My answer was to go out on long-term disability (I still get partial pay and health insurance through my employer so I am very lucky). This has given me the chance to travel and engage in "memory making opportunities" with my family (in between my ongoing Navelbine/Herceptin treatments). Sherry's response hit the nail on the head...especially the last sentence. Good luck in making the decision that will be best for you. Colleen __________________ Diagnosed 10-03-2005 (34 wks pregnant, 38 yrs old) Lumpectomy Nov-2005. 10/18 Lymph Nodes impacted Mets to liver, spine & femurs (thus being stage IV right from the get-go) ER-, PR-, HER2+ Taxol/Herceptin/Zometa started Dec-2005. 11 cycles of Taxol. Sept-2006: PET/CT scan of mets to liver, spine and femurs - Stable. Activity in R breast & mediastinum (not seen in prior scans). Navelbine (3 wks on/1 wk off) as of Oct--2006 & continued Herceptin (every 3 wks) & Zometa (every 6 wks) Jan-2007: PET/CT Scan - Stable. Continued Nav. through March-2007, then Herc./Zom. only after that. June-2007: PET/CT Scan - activity in mediastinum. Back on Navelbine as of July-2007. Scanned Quarterly since Oct-2007 - a few small scares, but otherwise stable due to continuing weekly Navelbine, Herceptin and Quarterly Zometa.