[CarolineC]

Hi WTY,
I was only maybe 2 months out of treatment for my earlier stage bc when I started having symptoms in my sternum and a 3cm lesion was found 6 months later. I thought when I saw my rad onc that he would suggest 5 treatments to alleviate the pain but he suggested 20 more in an adjacent area but part of it would overlap with the previously radiated (25 rads the year before) area. I believe he said to treat it aggressively since it was undetectable anywhere else. I also decided to have chemo again because although it was undetectable didn’t mean it wasn’t setting up shop. I am now just a year out from all that treatment and yes, it was very scary, and can’t we just have a vacation from Cancerland? It’s so exhausting to always be hoping to get away from it all, we have done our dues enough, we want the wind in our sails and to get on with a “normal” life.

I have been treated as oligometastatic, having limited affected areas. I don’t like the fact that it seems no one is helping you with sorting out all this information you’re being given and your lack of support from that oncologist. Have you contacted your provincial cancer agency to see what help you may be able to access financially?If you decide to do the rads you could possibly move to a local cancer lodge and have financial aid with the costs. Also, are you part of a union where you could be covered for short term disability? What about a breast cancer navigator at your local cancer agency? Or a counsellor to help you access any more help?
Princess Margaret Hospital has a radiation program and I found the number for an oligometastases program they run (I know yours is a recurrence, but it is still limited, so maybe they’ll have ideas) and you could talk to someone there. I ‘m not good at posting links but check this out -http://www.theprincessmargaret.ca/en/HealthcareProfessionals/ProgramDepartments/RMP/Pages/ClinicalPrograms.aspx. The contact name is Asanda Cheung at 416-946-2130.

In regards to any other treatment- shut the hormones down, at least for now, with shots and then you can take Letrozole (Femara), and are you at least on Herceptin? What kind of hormone therapy were you on before?

Anyway, I hope some of this information helps you.
Caroline