Hello out there. I am so excited to say that I am on a chemotherapy vacation! The last chemo was the Gemzar and Navalbien. After 9 rounds the damn cancer got smart and no longer kept its place. It began to grow. More mets and larger existing ones. I was then put back on my original chemotherapy that I was given with my original diagnosis back in 2007. This was a bit strange. Since we went through so many therapies since then. Doc said that we should try it again. I did well on it before and now that it had been so long he hoped that the cancer would have not built up a resistance to it. I agreed. A good choice. The cancer has shrank and some gone away. After 2 rounds of TAC, Taxotere, Adriamycin and Cytoxin I began to have trouble with my heart. I was taken off the Adriamycin. For 8 rounds I was on just TC, the Taxotere and Cytoxin. After a total of 10 rounds of chemo and some severe side effects I am on a chemo vacation! 8 weeks no chemo. I was able to be on this vacation because my mets were no longer growing, shrinking and some disappeared. I am enjoying my time off but anxious for my next scan. I so want it to show stability and shrinkage. I am forever an optimist but a realist too. It is certain that living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, MBC, that it is a life long commitment to therapy and medicine. It’s been 12 years on May 9th that I was diagnosed metastatic de novo. I am hoping for at the very least another 12 years of a beautiful quality of life. Thanks for letting me sound off.
Chemo vacation : Hello out there. I am... - SHARE Metastatic ...
Chemo vacation
Enjoy the vacation💕thank you for your post. For many of us we need to hear your story- gives up hope and strength to go forward and keep on fighting the fight. Am so happy for your good news💕🙏🏻
Hello. I don’t mind your ask at all. I welcome it. It helps me to talk about it at times. I do take sometime where I just don’t talk much about it. I am grateful for forums like this so that I can in my own time. I am glad too that it helps others.
Upon diagnosis aside from both breast, only had lumpectomy on largest on the left side, I had bone mets, in my clavicle, three ribs and pelvis. After 7 years it recurred in my lung and lymph nodes in my chest. Today in my vertebrae, hip, shoulder and multiple in my liver. The largest is in the liver. It was about 6cm now it is about 4cm. I am so glad they didn’t happen all at once. I would be a mess. Doc said in my current condition as long as they remain stable I could still live a long comfortable life.
Hi there
What a story...you must be very strong to tolerate all that treatment...has your quality of life suffered very much?.. that is my main worry...not being able to get out and about
Barb xx
Hello Barbteeth. My quality of life is not so bad at all. After my original diagnosis I worked through treatment. I was only 36, I was strong and healthy before my diagnosis. It was very hard. I promised myself that would never happen again if the cancer returned. I stopped working at the first word that it might be back. This was the first thing I did for myself to help preserve my quality of life. Of course after 3 years of SSD and my long term disability insurance payments along with my husband out of work financially it’s straining. Physically I am tired and some days exhausted. Big plans like going on vacation or traveling to visit family is always hard. During treatment I have many days of super low blood counts with fever so doing anything is not a great idea. I learned when I could expect this to happen. I do not go out to eat as often as I used to but do so outside the days I know I will not feel poorly. When I go in public I try to always wear a mask. I have slowed down some but still have enough energy to decide on adopting a puppy. He was 6 weeks old and is now almost 8 months. He is an energetic Akita and is now 85 pounds. He and I have done a lot of training. He is still a handful. We walk almost daily for about 45 minutes. Less if he stops listening and pulls. He loves people. Anyway. Just because I can’t do somethings dosent diminish my quality of life. I still enjoy many things I have always done. I just do these things around my down days. I still garden, see concerts and off broadway theater, walk the beach and pier, go to the casino, as well as camp oh and amusement parks, like Knott’s Berry Farm, the horse track and the summer fair. I feel that these things are important. Dress up, put makeup on, find the right wig or hat for the occasion and go for it. It might wipe me out for a few days after but it is well worth it.
it took a while but, I finally figured out not to fight the fatigue. I fought the fatigue hard at first and almost always overdid it and had fewer good days. Now I still push myself but, know my limits. I have a good balance and a good quality of life.
The whole key is to learn your limits and know just because you have limits it’s not giving in or giving up the fight. In the long run the rest you get will help keep you going.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
What a lovely post!
You’re so right about getting out and doing things that are pleasing
I do push myself sometimes..I went to the zoo today and walked about for a few hours..felt tired but still rode my horse later as it was such a beautiful evening...now I’m my PJs and relaxing
A new puppy...how exciting...good for you to have a little chum to walk with...similar to going out on my horse...just me and him
Shortly after my mbc diagnosis I bought myself a bunny..he’s a Rex breed and has the most gorgeous fur..feels like velvet..love my animals
Like you I make an effort with my appearance ...always wear lipstick or I look hideous..used to have a grey (white) horse years ago and folks knew when I’d been to the yard as he had red lipstick kisses on his nose!!!
I may have to change meds and quite scared of this even though the side effects aren’t very nice on Ibrance and letrazole....at least they’re familiar and I know what to expect
All the best to you
Barb xx
Oh my dear a horse. How wonderful. I rode last too long ago. I have no horse of my own but try to do therapy rides. I have a friend who had breast cancer and started an equine therapy organization for people of all ages and all cancers to let their cancer cares melt away when their are grooming, riding or walking the horses. It’s a beautiful thing.
The zoo is our favorite place. A special place to be. A nice leisurely walk. A rest in front of some exotic creature that you can just watch for hours. Or of course the primates. I can watch their antics for hours.
My husband joined me for the ball game. It was so much fun. We did get to on the field with about 200 women with a breast cancer diagnosis and their loved one(s). I met a woman I had been communicating with on face book. She was looking for a place to live. She is MBC and is a bit homeless. She is still fighting and going through treatment as she floats from couch to couch. If I didn’t believe in fate or forces of the universe I wouldn’t know what to think about our encounter. We were in line standing waiting to go out on the field and just began to talk. We introduced ourselves. Still at that time we didn’t connect who we were. Our Facebook pictures don’t match today’s faces. I was proudly wearing my sash honoring my support group Young Survivors Coalition, YSC. On the back side it says the year and my age at diagnosis. This is what prompted her to talk to me. She too was diagnosed 3 years ago at the same age I was. Any way we stood there talking not knowing we knew each other when a representative from Susan G Kolman introduced herself. She asked if we were friends then how we knew each other. I said I was with YSC. And she said she was to. Then all of a sudden it hit me. I said are you, her face book name, she said yes. Then we instantly knew each other. As we kept talking my sweet husband offered our home as a home for her as well. We have a space she needs it and he said no one should be going through this not knowing where she is going to sleep. Later as it all was sinking in we found that not only did we some how stand right next to each other but, our seats were right next to each other. It was a miraculous day to say the least. We met a new friend and her son. We hope to share many laughs together from now on. We will always remember one another and how we met at the breast cancer awareness ball game. That was the most exciting game to me that I will ever go to or have ever been. Just another example of how important it is to get out. Because it was going to rain and be cold the both of us didn’t plan on going after seeing the forecast. Then at the last minute pulled ourselves out of bed, put our wigs and hats on and stepped out in to the beautiful day.
I just had to share this experience. It was nothing short of a miracle.
Thank you for your story. You inspire me and give me hope.
You are an inspiration. 12 years!
Thank you girlsptz. In fact I am planning on something fun. I am planning on going to the Padres game on the 22nd. It is the breast cancer awareness game. I get to out onto the field pregame. I think my Mom is going to join me. My husband wasn’t sure he could make it. He has chronic pain. I almost for sure will be there. I think it’s going to be great!
After 12 years u deserve a vacation! 😀💕 Enjoy!
Greetings :Sister/Warrior: great news, #1 the cancer is not winning,and #2 you are able to enjoy this so needed vacation. Don't worry about tomorrow, it is not promised to any of us. Just be in the moment, and enjoy to the fullest your time with your loved ones. XoXoXo
Thank you. It’s a beautiful day too.
Enjoy the vacation and I hope you get another 12 years. I had 11 years before it showed up again so hoping to keep it in check and get another 11 years at least!!!
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