My Journey

[03Amegios]

Hello, I'm new to this site. My name is Teresa Milligan. I was diagnosed June 30 2015 with stage 4 breast cancer , mestaticed to my chest wall, lymph nodes and bones! Just yesterday had to have cement put in my spinal cord to keep vertebraes from breaking! God Bless You All

[Suzanne351]

I had a spinal fusion done 4 years ago same thing put medical cement in to hold my bones together. Keep the faith. This is an unpredictable journey. It can be overwhelming and frightening but keep yourself informed, make sure your medical team is on top of all your issues(pain, fatigue, stress). Try to find support everywhere you can and try to move forward in your new normal. Suzanne

[missa13]

Hi 03Amegios -- echoing Suzanne351 here. Welcome to the community, and let us know if there's anything we can do to support you. Sending you lots of strength and good wishes!

[Ibelong]

Welcome. I hope you heal well and will be up and about soon.

[PJBinMI]

HI, and welcome to crazy cancer land! Know that the first months are often the hardest and that eventually many of us settle into a "new normal." I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, lobular bc, E+ P+, her2neu -, invasive primary into the chest wall, bone mets only, in March 2004, 13 years ago! If only I had known then that I would still be here this many years later--would have spared me much anxiety and sleepless nights! But we don't live life that way, sigh. And now there are more treatments available than when I was diagnosed, so much to be hopeful about.

What was that cement into the spinal cord procedure like? I've not needed anything like that (yet?) but who knows what's ahead........

I hope you will do really well! Alot of us are, and living longer and longer all the time.

Peace, Pam

[lgennodiesewell in reply to PJBinMI]

What meds areyou on?

[PJBinMI in reply to lgennodiesewell]

Right now I am on Faslodex only. I got almost five years from Femara, then had a small amount of progression and was put on Faslodex. Last year I was Ibrance with it for 9 or 10 cycles of the Ibrance. I had to stop it due to side effects. Initially I was on Zometa for my bones, but was allergic to it and had to get a half dose with a l o n g infusion time (2 hours) plus pre-meds of hydrocortisone and Benedryl. When Xgeva was approved by the FDA, I was switched to that. About 3 years ago I had surgery for a vertebrae that was way out of alignment, unrelated to cancer, and the surgeon said my bones were like bones with osteoporosis, so I am on a hiatus from Xgeva, will go back on it but less often than monthly some time in the future. I've been on so few different hormonals so far that there are still several options, plus the possibility of a low dose of estrogen to both treat the cancer and "reset" it to possibly respond to the meds I have been on. That's the long answer to your short question! lol But I have generally felt well, don't look sick, have my hair and my breasts but am tired. And my short term memory has suffered. But I still enjoy alot of what I enjoyed pre cancer, still walk our dogs, garden in the good weather, and do alot of tedious stuff like laundry and house cleaning.

[lgennodiesewell in reply to PJBinMI]

Sounds like you are doing well. I'm on ibrance...no side effects. Just started Faslodex and Xgeva. Had too many side effects from Zometa, although I think it was more effective. I do suffer occasional pain, but, I look well and have no fatigue. My next scan will tell more. Thanks for your reply. My best to you!!

[03Amegios in reply to PJBinMI]

It was very painful for me. They used a hammer to pop the vertebrae then used needles to insert a balloon then the cement to hold the vertebrae together better! I've been in pain since they done it which was just march3,2017

[PJBinMI in reply to 03Amegios]

That sounds rough. I hope you get some good pain control and feel better soon.

[Hidden]

Hello Teresa,

I hope you're feeling better after your back operation.

My Mother would tell me "It's a long road has no turning", when things weren't going well. The gist was that it turns at some point and usually for the better.

All the best

Patricia

[Loriterranova]

Hi Teresa. I'm so sorry about your recent diagnoses. I,too, have recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. My original diagnoses was 11/2012 at Stage 2B. What is your treatment going forward and how r u managing emotionally? Many prayers to u!

Lori

M

[03Amegios in reply to Loriterranova]

I'm taking xeloda now and an xgeva shot! I was on ibrance , flasodex shots but it stopped working and I got staph from the shots and had to have surgery in October 2026. I seem to be doing ok on the xeloda, my last scan shows the cancer just laying there not moving , praise God!

[Solochabe1 in reply to 03Amegios]

Same here, I'm on Xeloda and about to start Zometa, felling tired, but ok, bone pain, but my short term memory is awful, it scars me sometimes

[03Amegios in reply to Solochabe1]

My short term memory is bad also. I too am scared . I had me a shirt made , it says, I have chemo brain. What is your excuse! I had to do something to make me laugh sometimes

[Tap321]

Hope you are doing well today!

[CarolineBorucki]

Hi Teresa! I was diagnosed with stage 4 in March 2015 and also just recently found this site! I have found this group to be very supportive, helpful and comforting, and hope you will too! Take care, Caroline

[03Amegios in reply to CarolineBorucki]

Thanks Caroline. It helps to talk to people that have what u do

[janetjanssen]

God bless you, Teresa. Hope you do well from your procedure.