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Re: Palliative Care
Dear Emilie
Thank you for starting such an interesting discussion. I too was taken aback by your choice as I look at your history and think - gee you have a good chance of going NED again. But, it is your life and your choice to live it as you wish. There have been so many wise comments here.
I can't relate to the reasons for your choice. I do not see me burdening my family. For me, leaving them will burden them - my husband has said as much to me. I, at this stage cannot imagine stopping treatment - my son said to me yesterday and I don't know why - if you are dead how will I remember you? He is 5 - women here and those met in real life have shown me I can live with this disease for some time - I aim to live so that he can remember me. My experiences with chemo have been tolerable so perhaps my view is colored by this but I also live in hope that I can heal my body and spirit too. I may very well die but I may very well live.
I believe you are wise and have deliberated your choices and made one that for now is right for you - you may change your mind - your choice alone.
May your trip to France be full of wonder.
Amanda
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Amanda xx
40 year old Mum to three gorgeous kids - son 5 and daughters 8 and 11
Wife to my wonderfully supportive husband of 17 years!
22 February 2011 - Diagnosed Early Breast Cancer IDBC Stage2b (ER/PR -ve, Her2+ve +++) - 38 years old
(L) skin sparing mastectomy with tissue expander, axilla clearance (2/14 affected) clear margins.
Fec*3, Taxotere and herceptin*2 - stopped due to secondary diagnosis
June 24 2011 Stage IV - Skin met, axilla node, multiple lung lesions
Bolero3 trial - Navelbine, Hereptin weekly, daily Everolimus/Placebo
February 2012 - July 2012 Tykerb and Xeloda - skin mets resolved, Lungs initially dramatically reduced but growing again
August 2012 (turn 40!) tykerb and herceptin (denied compassionate use of TDM1) while holidaying in Italy!
September 2012 - January 2013 TDM1 as part of the Th3resa trial - lymph nodes resolved, lungs slowly progressing.
January 2013 - herceptin, carboplatin and Perjeta (compassionate access)
April 2013 - Some progression in lungs and lymph nodes - Abraxane, Herceptin and Perjeta
July 2013 - mixed response - dramatic reduction of most lung disease, progression of smaller lung nodules and cervical and hilar nodes - ? Add avastin.
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