Bunty
11-11-2015, 01:20 AM
I haven't been very active on the site this past year, but pop in now and again to keep up with the celebrations, the disappointments, the discoveries, the friendships, and sadly, sometimes the losses.
Around this time of year is my 'anniversary', so very soon it will be 15 years since I was first diagnosed, and just over eight years since becoming Stage IV. Since my liver resection in May 2014, I've had a good run, but have had just a bit of a set back with one of the original metastatic lung mets becoming active. I've been scanned thoroughly, and this one tumour is the only one to be found in my body, so that was good news. So today I had my first of six SBRT treatments on this solitary tumour. For those who are not aware of SBRT, it's a targeted 4-D radiation delivered directly to the tumour - Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. I want to keep TDM-1 or any other systemic treatments up my sleeve for as long as I can, so opted for this treatment regime.
I had a biopsy taken of the lung (before it gets blasted!!), and it showed the pathology was the same as the liver met removed last year. Interestingly, my original tumour was ER-, but both the liver and lung tumour were ER+, and very strongly ER+. I continue with Herceptin, and started on Femara after the liver resection last year, but with the discovery I had severe osteoporosis, I had to switch to Tamoxifen. So it seems the Tamoxifen may not be working. I've had another bone density test and hopefully if there is stability compared to the last result, we might try Femara again. I had the annual Aclasta infusion last year, and will be having that again soon.
I'm still very well, still working, travelled to Europe this year, and feel very blessed. I write this to maybe give hope to others who are starting out and feeling overwhelmed. This site has been incredibly important to me - you are all incredible and inspiring.
That's my news!
Cheers Marie
Around this time of year is my 'anniversary', so very soon it will be 15 years since I was first diagnosed, and just over eight years since becoming Stage IV. Since my liver resection in May 2014, I've had a good run, but have had just a bit of a set back with one of the original metastatic lung mets becoming active. I've been scanned thoroughly, and this one tumour is the only one to be found in my body, so that was good news. So today I had my first of six SBRT treatments on this solitary tumour. For those who are not aware of SBRT, it's a targeted 4-D radiation delivered directly to the tumour - Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. I want to keep TDM-1 or any other systemic treatments up my sleeve for as long as I can, so opted for this treatment regime.
I had a biopsy taken of the lung (before it gets blasted!!), and it showed the pathology was the same as the liver met removed last year. Interestingly, my original tumour was ER-, but both the liver and lung tumour were ER+, and very strongly ER+. I continue with Herceptin, and started on Femara after the liver resection last year, but with the discovery I had severe osteoporosis, I had to switch to Tamoxifen. So it seems the Tamoxifen may not be working. I've had another bone density test and hopefully if there is stability compared to the last result, we might try Femara again. I had the annual Aclasta infusion last year, and will be having that again soon.
I'm still very well, still working, travelled to Europe this year, and feel very blessed. I write this to maybe give hope to others who are starting out and feeling overwhelmed. This site has been incredibly important to me - you are all incredible and inspiring.
That's my news!
Cheers Marie