Metastatic Breast Cancer

[Granny333]

It has been a whirlwind of tests , Dr. Visits and going on medications. I have had breast cancer in 2017 and faithfully went and had mammogram’s since then. Cancer is no respecter of anyone. I am 79 years old and looking at who knows what is ahead. This one thing I know, God is by my side all the time.

[SeattleMom]

God bless you, Granny. I was first diagnosed with BC in 2000. All was quiet until 2017 when MBC entered my life. I am 73 and have been battling this disease for the past five years.

You are so right to keep reminding yourself that God is beside you all the time. He will eventually help you to accept your situation, including all the blood draws, CAT scans, and a variety of treatments. Do not hesitate to ask this group for suggestions regarding how to handle side effects.

Whenever I feel discouraged, I’ll see an ad on TV featuring vets who have lost their limbs. There is ALWAYS someone with a higher hurdle than we face. May you continue to seek peace and comfort from God. HE IS ALWAYS THERE!

Love and prayers from Seattle. Linda

💗💗🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Granny333 in reply to SeattleMom]

do you know anything about Astrazole

[USIrishcolleen in reply to Granny333]

hello Granny333,

My cancer is estrogen/progesterone positive and I believe you to mean “Anastrozole?” Anastrozole is the generic for Arimidex with is the hormone blocker. I took 1 mg of Anastrozole when I was on Ibre, and continue to take it still, but with Verzenio now.

Best.

Colleen

[Granny333 in reply to USIrishcolleen]

Thank you

[SeattleMom in reply to Granny333]

Sorry that I’ve no info on that treatment; just television advertising. But I’m sure there are some members of this group that can let you know of their experiences.

God bless you!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻💗💗

[Bettybuckets in reply to SeattleMom]

nicely said Linda!

[Granny333 in reply to SeattleMom]

thank you

[rubyc1234 in reply to SeattleMom]

I have had MBC for nearly 5 years and I will be 70 years old in December. The initail cancer was in 2004 and it returned in 2018. I have watched several people, family and others in the community, die and they were well when I was diagnosed with MBC. Putting this in perspective helps me to cope with the diagnosis. I am being treated quite successfully with this, but others have developed cancer which took them very quickly and some other conditions are making people more debilitated than I am. Aside from a few side effects I am leading a normal life. I am grateful.

[mariootsi]

Sending prayers. God is with us!

[fancydog in reply to mariootsi]

Yes, even at 79 you can be diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Ca, Stage 4, treatment available but no cure yet. Most of us did everything right according to the Oncologists and still ended up with spread to other organs. I have seen posts from women in their 80's getting diagnosed. Scans and blood draws become a regular way of managing it, rarely a biopsy but no more surgeries to remove a tumor, as even with a clear scan there are breast cancer cells in your body just not forming clumps large enough to be picked up on a scan. But remember the Oncologist works for you, listen to what they propose then decide how easy or difficult it is for you to do, but only God knows the number of our days, make the most of them! I'm about to turn 64 and have been Stage 4 almost 8 yrs, been lucky in that after the first yr Stage 4 which required aggressive treatment I have been stable for 6 yrs. God is always there, I talk to him often.

[Granny333 in reply to fancydog]

thank you everyone, this is so much needed to share with you

[jersey-jazz]

I did not do everything right according to the protocol. I did not take cancer drugs after I was pronounced "cancer free". Then, after not quite four years, I had recurrent cancer at age eighty-two. A year and a very small bit later, a tumor that had been quiet since the beginning, suddenly grew large in the liver and I was unofficially declared de novo, metastasized from the beginning. I was eighty-three. As noted elsewhere on this forum, I am eighty-five and am absolutely fine despite that I have metastatic breast cancer and have had three cancerous lesions microwaved out of my liver. It is really easier on you mentally, once you get used to the idea. Then you strive to carry on with living. I am leaving on a trip to South America in a few short weeks. Welcome to this wonderful forum!

[Granny333 in reply to jersey-jazz]

congrats, that is so encouraging. I hope you have a fun trip.

[RLN-overcomer]

Amen 🙏😇