Calling all stage iv sisters - Page 19

Colleen · 03-13-2016, 07:20 PM

In general or physically I am doing well. I have a scan next tuesday, ct with contrast. Previously I always had pet scans so this is a new first. I understand the radiation exposure is less but I feel like what's the big deal? I am stage IV, how can it get any worse? Just feeling like I am so "over this"! It's into year three and I read other peoples' posts of ten years of herceptin, that's a minimum of 180 doctor appointments, a minimum of $8,000,000 in treatment not including inflation or increased drug costs or other medical needs; just targeted treatment and I think what for? Why? Is it all worth it?

Jackie07 · 03-14-2016, 12:13 AM

Thanks, Carol Ann and Colleen.

Took just one dose of pain pills today. (Not that I didn't feel any pain during later half of the day) Felt good enough to cook a bundt cake with spice cake mix plus one can of apple pie fillings, one cup of apple, one cup of raisins, one cup of walnuts and 1/4 cup of water. Turned out O.K. even though I couldn't remember the exact temperature setting!

Now that's a philosophical question Colleen has here. Why are we here? What's our purpose in life? Where does all these lead to ...

Everyone, (breast) cancer patient or not, asks these questions during certain stages in his/her life. Teenagers especially struggle with these while they are heading toward the 'unknown' adulthood.

I had the good fortune to have met the late Fr. Robert Ronald, SJ. just before I left for the U.S. to further my study in Library Science. He went to Taiwan in his mid 20s as a missionary and contracted polio during the epidemic. He went back to California to get treatment and returned to Taiwan in a wheelchair. There was no vocational rehabilitation for polio patients in Taiwan back then, so he returned to the States and received a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation. He worked as a vocational rehabilitation consultant in the General VA Hospital in Taipei and was buried in Taiwan when he passed in his mid 70's. (A 'Consultant' means he's not entitled to any employee benefit ...)

When I was in the wheel chair during rehab following a 23-hour brain (tumor) surgery (in 1990), I recalled the words in Fr. Ronald's book of collected speeches from his lecture tour arranged by the Social Welfare Bureau in Taipei: "Even if you can not move your limbs, you can find something interesting to think about."

"There are always people in far worse shape than us. The dignity of being a human being does not diminish a bit due to our disability."

I always thought it was not a coincidence that I had met Fr. Bob right before starting my adventure in a 'foreign land'. We all get depressed sometimes. And that's why we are here - to support each other.

Sending you good vibes.

ps. CT is a lot cheaper than PET and can pick up much smaller stuff than PET. That's just my guess.

thinkpositive · 03-14-2016, 07:33 AM

Jackie,

Love your post! Certainly a great way to look at our purpose in life. I do believe we are here to help each other.

Take care,
Brenda

vickyjohn · 12-22-2016, 02:05 AM

Just coming up for 8 years since original DX (Multifocal ER+ PR- HER2+) and now Oligometastic with single met to Liver just found on PET/MRI

Have to decide whether Resection of Liver or biopsy & RFA w/Chemo is the choice. Not an enviable one.

Does anyone have experience of this and any suggestions / advice?

Thank you

Emy · 12-22-2016, 06:38 AM

I can radio frequency ablation ro a single liver met and have been ned for almost 3 years..it was easy...

vickyjohn · 06-10-2018, 10:24 AM

As an update - had the Liver resection in Jan 17. Then onto maintenance TDM1 ever since. Year and a half on still NED. Doing the Healthy Healthy Healthy eating without fail.

ariana · 12-22-2016, 01:38 PM

WOW EMY, GOOD TO KNOW. Hope it's available everywhere. Example , Some
places do lumectomy, and radiate the breast at the same time, called I ort I think.
Wasn't available at my hospital. Would have to go to cleveland clinic orCancer treatment
center in Philly. Had to do the 30 day thing.

nsebesta · 12-24-2016, 07:57 PM

Emy - I had a resection to remove 2 mets in Feb. 2005. Did chemo prior to surgery. Have been NED since. It wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. Best wishes!

Joan M · 06-20-2018, 05:22 AM

Glad to hear that you you've had a good result! I used local procedures as well, but in the lung.

4angel · 10-21-2018, 06:41 AM

Stage 4, MBC bone liver and maybe lung. All was gone at end of Chemo NEAD since 2013 ( diag. 8/2012) still on herceptin , zometa and anatrosal. Life is good. wish some of the new adds would realize how a patient might feel based on their comments. they see positive I see negative...