Do not pass Go - do not collect $200 - - Page 2

tousled1 · 11-28-2007, 04:40 PM

Hermiracles,

I'm absolutely speechless! How can a doctor determine your life cylce. Please do not give up the fight as there are many treatment options available to you. You have two beautiful miracles to fight for. I will keep you in my prayers.

Sherryg683 · 11-28-2007, 07:25 PM

I will be 2 years out in December with original diagnosis with mets to the lung. I have been NED ever since treatment of Taxotere, Xeloda and Herceptin. Hopefully, I will continue that way for many more years. I can't believe your Oncologist told you that you had 18 months to live, he must not be confident in his ability. I think I would look for a more optimistic doctor who will fight for you...sherryg

Vanessa · 11-28-2007, 08:07 PM

My doctor initially told me that I had 2-3 years, (I am a stage 4er), but later admitted that those were statistics were pre-Herceptin. Now she just tells me that this will be a chronic illness. There are so many treatment combinations. You have come to the right place for support, these sisters have helped me through some dark times and we will do the same for you. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

chrisy · 12-06-2007, 02:45 PM

Boy can I relate to the shock you must be feeling. I went from Stage 0 to Stage IV! From club NED to club DEAD. That will definitely give you a twisted sense of humor. My oncologist and surgeon were in complete denial!

That was a bit over 3 years ago. I was fortunate to have a 2 great oncologists who never gave me an expiration date.

I dearly loved my original oncologist and somehow always felt like (after having told me I was "cured" 2 years prior) he was particularly invested in me living a long life. I called him "Dr. Cautiously Optimistic". He dropped dead of a heart attack at 42...I'd secretly planned to outlive him, but was thinking more of me being 86 and him 78.

My 2nd opinion doctor, "Dr. Hope", gave us just that - hope that I might respond well and for a long time to the numerous new therapies coming down the pipe for Her2+ ladies. She used the "chronic" analogy that others have mentioned. She told me that women are living longer with this disease and managing it for many years.

I guess what I'm saying is, I'm SO sorry that you are now on a different road than you had expected. But neither you nor your doctor can say how long that road will be.

Do not lose heart, it is not over - you can and will gear up and continue the fight. Keep the faith. Keep the fight. For yourself and those beautiful BB's.

We're all pulling for you.

Much love
chris

hutchibk · 12-06-2007, 05:17 PM

Chrisy - you crack me up and I think we were separated at birth! I love my onc, too - he has never talked about expiration dates or long or short term prognosis, and he doesn't ever intend to. He does tell me stories about patients who have come to him after a previous onc has told them there is nothing else they can do, and that was 3, 4, 5 years ago.... He tells me exactly the same things yours tells you. Let's get you around every next corner, because there is so much new stuff that will be ready and waiting to help us conquer the next hurdle. We just keep jumping the hurdles. He just makes me promise to do my part to stay as healthy as possible in all other ways so that I can handle what ever he needs to throw at me.

TriciaK · 12-06-2007, 09:02 PM

You have received such wonderful responses I can hardly add much, but I want to add my prayers and good wishes to all these others. I have survived---and thrived---for 22 years of fighting BC, the last 3 and a half after her2 lung mets. My onc gave me 3 months before I started herceptin, then a year. When I laughed at him and told him he was wrong and I would be around at least 5 years, he apologised and agreed, and said that my attitude would make the difference. I have actually been stage 4 for 18 years now. There is so much available now to fight with, and cancer is becoming more a chronic treatable illness than the death sentence it used to be considered. Many oncologists are still stuck in the old statistics. We are now creating new statistics! There are so many great survivor stories here---Please let us know how you are doing. I pray that you will have a great survivor story to tell as you go along! Hugs, Tricia

hermiracles · 12-07-2007, 05:44 AM

Thank you ladies so much for your wonderful loving - and inspiring responses. Sometimes I find it hard to resist my negative thinking - and Im not sure that the Onc's words are helping! (and my latest allergic reaction to my 1st dose of Herceptin hasn't helped either!)

Still I am off to get a 2nd opinion on treatment which some friends have arranged the appointment for me - so Im feeling a bit more hopeful today and it certainly helps to come here and read all of your responses! Thank you.

Blessings all
Hermiracles