[chrisy]

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