Update
 

Two weeks ago after considerable discussion with my onc I decided to discontinue treatment. In spite of the treatments I had been taking after my recurrence, my cancer continued to spread and grow in a major way. At Joe's suggestion, I did have him run my case by Dr Winer, who came back with pretty much the same thoughts. I am as at peace with this as I can be, but of course this is very hard for both me and my family. Yesterday I started oxygen 24/7 as my my lung capacity is reducing. At this time I have no pain. Then last evening I received a call from my sister in law who had been in remission from lung cancer and hers has come back to her brain. She plans to treat it, but like me, her recurrence has occured in less than 2 years from her diagnosis. This site has been such a blessing to me, I love and respect all of you for your spirit in your courages battles against this terrible disease, and I especially am thankful to Joe and Christine for making this available to us. Please keep my family in your prayers, God bless you all!

Andi, I'm very sorry to read of your situation. I'm not sure I understand fully - do you mean that at the moment there aren't any other treatments to be tried? I'm glad that you say you're not in pain, and that the oxygen is helping. I don't know what else to say - I'm keeping you in my thoughts, sending you and your loved ones a hug, and hoping and praying for something spectacular to come along. And warmest wishes to your sister in law too. Your family has a lot on its plate right now.

Caroline

I'm sorry...
 

I feel so guilty complaining about a tooth when others are having real issues.

I apologize if I offended anyone with my posting......

Andi: I'm truly sorry for you, I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

I'm sorry...

Hi Andi!

I'm sending a hug and a prayer to you in Iowa, but it seems like so little to do for such a brave warrior like you. I hate your news and am so sad that the meds aren't doing what is needed for you. Please keep posting and I'll keep praying and believing for you. Love and prayers in giant size portions, ma

Andi - I will not stop wishing for a miracle for you. Stay strong my friend. God bless to you and your family. - kim

Dear Andi,
My thoughts and Prayers are with you now. I am saddened as I read your post; it is never easy to acknowledge the pain in which this disease takes us. I realize you are a Brave Wonderful Lady, your wonderful and thoughtful words and posts here have helped so many. May you know you are cared for and loved by many that visit this website. I will pray for you and your family to have strenghth and peace.

I am sending you gentle hugs

Dear Andi, I have so enjoyed your postings. You are a real warrior and wonderful friend to all on this forum. You are in my prayers as is you SIL. Still hope for new regime to come and a miracle. Glad you are not in pain.

Love ya, Kacey

Andi
 

Oh Andi, I am so sad to hear your news. You hang in there, we are all praying for a miracle for you. Blessings are sent your way, Hugs, Jeanette

Andi,

There has to be another answer, another type of drug that will work for you. Please don't give up the fight. Is there another oncologist you can talk to for a second opinion? I can talk to my paradigm nurse and see if she knows of the best doctor for your situation. To find the best of the best would be well worth the drive.

I am praying for you for another drug to be found and for the cancer to start withering away.

God Bless you,

Anita

Adriana - no offense taken, no apology necessary.

Naturaleigh - I have checked with others, the answers are pretty much the same. Thanks for your thoughts.

You are always in my prayers
 

Hi Andi,

Awwwww, my heart is breaking for you. I wish I could give you a big old hug and sit and visit with you. If you'd like to e-mail me, please go right ahead. I thank you for your message to me the other day.

To comes to terms with our "life" is a journey we all are on. Often times I feel blessed to have had breast cancer and to be able to face the things we all need to face. To say the things we want or need to say. To live the life we want to live. Most importantly though, I've found it to be a time that I've HAD to trust and lean on our Lord and Savior and He is ultimately the one who holds our lives in His hands. The relationship He and I have is a special one. I thought it was special before breast cancer BUT (as I'm sure you all know) it is VERY special now. He is my ONLY constant. He is my ONLY source of Peace and Joy. True Peace and Joy. Life brings many joys - our families - our friends - our jobs BUT we all know that these things also bring heartache and troubles. Nothing in life is guaranteed.

So my dear friend...........may the true Peace and true joy surround you daily. I pray His healing Hand upon you ~ wether it be in this world or the next - none of us knows - but while we are all here may we grab each moment - cherish it - love and hang on to each other until the loving arms of Jesus hold each of us to Himself.

Much love,

Mary Jo

I'm sorry you are faced with making such a decision. My thoughts and prayers are very much with you and your family.

My Dear Sweet Andi
 

My heart was full af sadness hearing the news today, I am so sorry. Please keep us posted with things, it will make us all feel better here knowing how you are doing and if we can help. Thank You so much for helping me to help my husband through his illness. It is people like you that have been such an asset to us. Although I am just a caregiver, you have helped me to feel like I have a purpose here. If there is anything I can do to give something back to you, please, you know where to find me. Before I go I want to say I am so glad that you have tried to do everything possible before making any decision. I am just so sorry that there are no more options for you Sweetie. How brave you are to talk so matter-of-factly,(I know that alot of time, thought & energy went into that decision) and that in itself is courageous. It will help us when the time comes to decide our options, and right now something has stopped working. We both need to know that everything has been done & all options have been explored. Thank you again for showing my husband & myself what bravery, courage, faith, and strength looks like!! You are our hero!!..>Waiting For A Miracle>Believe51...(Marie G)

Husband dx @ 50yrs 9-06 w/Stage IV Inflammatory HER2+Breast Cancer

I'm so sorry
 

Andi,
Reading your post was so hard. I think these wonderful ladies have said it all. I will pray for a miracle for you. Nothing is impossible with our God. Please know that you have the wonderful women on this site pulling of you, praying for you. I HATE cancer.

Andi,

I'm at a loss for words. The only thing I can say is you are a very brave woman. Breast cancer is a dreadful disease and we never quite know what's in store for us. Even though we all have breast cancer, no one knows exactly what your are experiencing as we all are different. I guess the most important thing is that you are at peace with your decisison. A decision, I'm sure that took a lot of soul searching and was not easy to make. I just pray that somehow a miracle will happen. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

Hi Andi,
You are certainly a role model for all of us because whether we have cancer or not, we all have to face this at some point in our lives. I can imagine it has been difficult for you these past few weeks and my thoughts and heart go out to you. Your bravery and willingness to share this experience with us is very admirable. I'm sure it will be helpful to me as well as others at some point.

I hope you continue to remain pain free and have some enjoyable times with your family. Again, as difficult as it is to hear this news, I thank you for keeping us informed.

Thinking of you!
Barbara H.

Andi
Thank you for being so brave to post to us at this time. That must be very hard to do, but thanks for remembering us. In the past your posts have given such good advice. I think you are a very special, wonderful woman and I wish you the best on your journey.

sending prayers and hope your way.

Prayers for you
 

I am so sorry to hear your news Andi. If there were anything I could say or do to help you I would. Miracles do happen and I will continue to pray and wish for one.
Peace be with you Andi.
Emelie

Andi,

Please know that I am thinking of you. Such a difficult decision to be made. I am hopeful that there will be a tx for you. I also believe in miraculous healings. I pray every day for just that to be for all of us.

Love,
Lexi

Andi,

Not the update I was hoping for. I cannot imaging how difficult this is for your family, and will continue to hold you all in my prayers. thank you for helping us all in this fight.

Much love and peace to you , sister
Chris

Sad news Andi
 

Andi I just logged on and saw your post. What a dreadful decision for anyone to have to make,you had to and you have made it but I truely hate this disease as we all do and wish the situation were different for you. What you've decided to do must require so much more strength and courage than simply continuing with a tx that is having no effect. I'm so glad you have no pain and hope that continues to be the case. Like all the ladies here I respect your view on this but will still be hoping for a turn around at some point for you, whether that be a miracle, a new drug,or simply more peace of mind,I truely wish you everything you would wish for yourself and am so sorry this current tx has 'nt been sucessful. I'll be thinking of you and your family including your sister's dx and hope the situation gets better for all of you.Sorry I can't think of any advice right now other than stay as positive and brave as you are now.

Prayers
 

Hi Andi,

My prayers are going out to you and your family. Is there anything in the meantime that we as a group can do for your or your family other than pray? Let us know, we are here for you!

Love to you, Donna

Oh Andi, I am so sorry.

I will pray for you and your sister in law and other family members at least daily. Prayer does wonder things. It is so sad to hear things like this. Please know that everyone on this list are with you in spirit, with many prayers and good thoughts going for and to you.

I send you love and hugs.

Linda
S. Mississippi

Sending Prayers
 

Dear Andi,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I know you have heard the old cliche "where there is life, there is hope". Please try to know that sometimes things can turn around.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

Andi, I am sorry there weren't effective chemos for you. Sometimes, in spite of everything, and all our hopes to the contrary, it's time to let go and make our peace with the world and our maker. It seems like you are well on the way to finding that place and preparing yourself and your family.
I will be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Please don't hesitate to post whenever you need to, and we will do our best to help you along.

<3 Lolly

Andi


What about weekly Abraxane with Herceptin and Avastin? Or Abraxane with Herceptin and Tykerb?

I am praying for you and thinking about you.

Andi,
This has to be really frightening for you. I cannot completely relate, but I can speculate how it would make me feel. You are a strong woman to carry this burden on your shoulders and I will pray for you and your family. I'd love to be able to offer you more than that, but I have found since my own diagnosis that a shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold, a sympathetic ear, and a little prayer can do wonders, even if it is just for your spirit. You are in my thoughts!

Stephanie

Andi, More hope and prayers for you and your sister. Bev

Andi

Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers each day....I am but a state away if there is anything I can do to help you....this awful disease is not in our hands, and we fight so hard for what has already been determined....sending you my love and hoping for a healing miracle...I want you to be at peace with no pain through all of this.

I am encouraged by your strength. I feel real strong GIRL POWER from you!!! My heart is breaking and the prayers are coming your way.

Dear Andi,

I am so sorry to hear this news...you are a very brave woman and I wish
that another treatment could be tried...please know you are in my prayers
along with your sister in law and your family.

Warmly,
Jean

Andi, This just breaks my heart. I am at a total loss for words. How I hate this dreaded disease. I can't even imagine how truly difficult all this has been on you and your family. I am going to still pray for a miracle...they do happen. How I wish there was something I could do for you. Please know we are all here for you if there is anything we can do just let us know.

Sending you warm healing thoughts and many prayers.

Chelee

Thanks for the blessing. God bless you too. Stay comfortable and I hope you can enjoy something every day. You are in my thoughts.

This decision was a very hard one to make. When my cancer recurred, the labs on the new cancer showed no longer was I estrogen positive and that my her2 status was a 2+ by the one test but a 0 by Fish, so I really lost 2 of my strongest weapons. We stilled tried the herceptin and the tykerb along with the other chemos, but to no avail. My oncologist is very on top of his game and has also discussed my case with other tops in the b/c field. He was a Brinker award winner in 2002 and I believe his area was something to do with reducing the side effects of treatment. He never told me I had to stop, he said he would do whatever I wanted,but we have always had a relationship that was totally honest between us, yet he was always very sensitive and gentle. I could ask him anything and he would always give me a straight answer. He has called me once a week since I made this decision to see how I am getting along. I am still praying for a miracle but I know my time is short. If anyone has any questions at all about my situation, etc, please feel free to ask. I have always valued the openess and sharing that has taken place on this site, if I can contribute to that I would be more than happy to.

Andi, how selfless of you to think of us on this board and welcome our questions now. Are you getting hospice care? I hope you and your family are surrounded by deep peace and love. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Andi,

Please don't give up. Can you try other chemos left? Some times miracles might happen and that particular chemo might be the one which saves you. Thinking of you.

Julie

Dear Andi,

I've not really known what to write, and I'm so sorry that your journey has taken this turn. I've always wondered what I would do if faced with the challenges that you've confronted and I hope I approach it as bravely and as openly as you are.

For all the drugs that we have, now and in the pipeline, for all the pink ribbons, the truth is there is no cure for breast cancer. It breaks my heart that there aren't better answers for you.

I hope you remain painfree and that your journey, wherever it may lead you, is one that is peaceful and full of love, family and friends.

My best,
Jen