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CoolBreeze · 06-19-2011, 04:20 PM

Like everybody else, I'm surprised at your onc's statement. Mine pretty much told me I had a good prognosis and he was shocked when I had a recurrence.

He was wrong, but maybe I took the bullet from you!

Keep in mind, the same negative guy who gave you the misinformation about your prognosis is the one saying you won't work for a while. Frankly, I wouldn't put a lot of stock into what he says. He clearly is not a positive person, nor is he realistic. He likes to see the worst side of things.

Node negative women with smallish tumors have a great shot at beating this disease - even if HER2. The odds are WITH you, not against you. And, I don't know what your SEs are but you can work to overcome then. I'd try to prove that SOB wrong.

I have read its very common for people to feel lost at the end of treatment. I wasn't one of them - I was very eager to move on and felt confident the beast was slayed and didn't look back. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me but I know I'm rare.

You will never get past cancer. With time comes healing and eventually you won't worry so much. Your chemo SEs will go away and you will become more like your old self. But, that cancer will always be in the back of your mind. It changes you.

Your job is to try to figure out how to move on. Research ways to improve your physical situation. Get out, exercise, improve your health. Learn something new, and find a way to create a new healthy life. Every time dark thoughts come in, find something positive to do.

Maybe when you go back to work you'll find a better job, or a simpler job you enjoy more. I don't know, it's something you need to figure out.

Thousands of women have been where you are and are doing well. Cancer will always be a part of you, but as long as you don't let it overwhelm you, you will do well.

FYI - I worked during chemo. I plan to work during chemo again too.

Big {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you.

06-19-2011, 04:20 PM	#12
CoolBreeze Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 562	Re: How to start over... Like everybody else, I'm surprised at your onc's statement. Mine pretty much told me I had a good prognosis and he was shocked when I had a recurrence. He was wrong, but maybe I took the bullet from you! Keep in mind, the same negative guy who gave you the misinformation about your prognosis is the one saying you won't work for a while. Frankly, I wouldn't put a lot of stock into what he says. He clearly is not a positive person, nor is he realistic. He likes to see the worst side of things. Node negative women with smallish tumors have a great shot at beating this disease - even if HER2. The odds are WITH you, not against you. And, I don't know what your SEs are but you can work to overcome then. I'd try to prove that SOB wrong. I have read its very common for people to feel lost at the end of treatment. I wasn't one of them - I was very eager to move on and felt confident the beast was slayed and didn't look back. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me but I know I'm rare. You will never get past cancer. With time comes healing and eventually you won't worry so much. Your chemo SEs will go away and you will become more like your old self. But, that cancer will always be in the back of your mind. It changes you. Your job is to try to figure out how to move on. Research ways to improve your physical situation. Get out, exercise, improve your health. Learn something new, and find a way to create a new healthy life. Every time dark thoughts come in, find something positive to do. Maybe when you go back to work you'll find a better job, or a simpler job you enjoy more. I don't know, it's something you need to figure out. Thousands of women have been where you are and are doing well. Cancer will always be a part of you, but as long as you don't let it overwhelm you, you will do well. FYI - I worked during chemo. I plan to work during chemo again too. Big {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you. __________________ http://butdoctorihatepink.com 08/17/09 Dx'd. Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative 10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE 12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy 03/31/2010: Finished chemo 05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever 11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed 12/02/2010: Finished herceptin 05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen 06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin 10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure! 11/26/2011: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years" 03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa 10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa. 01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa 03/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta. 04/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success! 05/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo. 06/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT 07/03/2013: Chemo discontinued, on Perjeta, Herceptin and Zometa alone 07/25/2013: SBRT (gamma knife) begins 08/01/2013: SBRT completed 08/15/2013: STABLE! continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa 06/18/2014: *** NED!!!!*** continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa 01/29/2014: Still NED. continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin. Zometa lowered to every 3 months instead of monthly. 11/08/2015: Progression throughout abdomen and lungs. Started TDM-1, aka Kadcyla. Other meds discontinued. Remission was nice while it lasted. 5/27/18: Stable. Kadcyla put me right back in the barn. I have two teeny spots on my lungs that are metabolically inactive, and liver is clean. I’m beating this MFer. I was 51 when this started and had two kids, 22 and 12. Now I’m 60. My oldest got married and trying to start s family. My youngesg graduates from Caltech this June. My stepdaughter gave me grandkids. Life is fantastic.