On May 3rd it was 3 years since being told that I had Metastatic cancer from De Novo. It was such a shock. My life turned around. I sometimes can’t believe I’m still on my first line of treatment. (Pablo, 100mg Anastrosol and Denocumab injections Monthly)
I feel so very lucky. And more than lucky to have all of you here to turn to, and learn from. I realise just how lucky I am today after reading of one of our members having died after only 2 years from diagnosis. How much does this teach me to never take for granted my situation? I also am under now illusions that it will be me... one day. But for now...
Although I haven’t been posting much here, I read your posts when I can, and I have referred a dear friend to come to this site.
She is finding it immensely helpful. You are all so wonderful. I want to thank you all for the times you have calmed my fears. You are all so knowledgeable and kind, and all the things I learn from reading you’re posts are like a balm to me.
I still have a reasonably good quality of life except for the many peripheral illnesses I have on top of metastatic cancer, and Ohhhhhhh, the fatigue. The fatigue! But I have my little darling doggie, Stevie, who turned 1 last week. She keeps me on my toes and totally in love.
So for now. That’s it. And thank you all again.
Tim tam from Melbourne, Australia.
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Timtam56
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I am now at the 2 year mark for my mbc diagnosis and I feel quite good and full of hope - like you - to get many more years. I have a lot of energy lately and not sure why. My diet is strange because I go on a diet and then change a few days later - so I am not sticking to a very disciplined diet plan. But I just had a bone scan yesterday and I have a cat scan on Friday and so I will soon know how I am doing on my Letrozole and Ibrance (Palbociclib) regime.
I just keep telling myself I am healing and so let the gods take care of the rest. I am under a bit of stress right now because my dear, loving husband has had stroke. He is still in the hospital but he is doing quite well and is waiting for surgery. He is strong guy and will probably do quite well. But it is shock for me because he is my care giver. My children have been able to spend time with me and that helps keep me calm. And I am taking extra doses of Vitamin C because I know I am under stress. I take Liposomal Vitamin C. It is more expensive but I think it is worth it. If I feel a cold coming on I remember to take it and it seems to stop the cold in its tracks. So I believe it is good medicine.
So, try to stay hopeful. One of the ladies who posts on this site has had mbc for about 17 years. She is amazing and she gives me hope. All the best to you and your lovely little dog. Hugs Marlene
Thank you I was born........My husband comes home on Monday. That is in 3 days. He had an endartectomy - not sure of the spelling. His left carotid artery in his neck was 100 percent blocked. He has spent 12 days in the hospital but is doing very well. He will likely make a full recovery. He has trouble with some words but they are the big long ones. I will help him at home. The therapists gave him a colouring book and he really had trouble with that. I think it is because his coordination is not back to normal. I have not been able to visit with him because they are not letting anyone into our Canadian hospitals due to the COVID 19 virus. So I am really going to be happy to see him and he is very eager to come home. He has always been a very strong, hardworking guy so this has been a terrible shock. My son was just here and tonight my daughter is arriving so I feel peaceful and hopeful. Hugs Marlene
So sorry to read about your husband. That is a lot to handle. Glad you have some support from your children. I like your approach to living. No unnecessary pressure on yourself but aware of what you need
Gosh you have so much going on. I took some time getting back to you because I had to re read all you are having to deal with viennagirl. I hope your husbands stroke is not a really bad one. Not that any stroke is good.
And thank you. Because of you I take liposomal also. It's good.
Hi Timtam. Yes, I think Liposomal Vitamin C is good. Although I don't always take it - I forget sometimes - but feel that it is really helpful. If I feel a cold coming on I start taking it again and it banishes the cold right away. I take a big tablespoon of it before I have a CAT or bone scan. It is supposed to ward off the effects of the radiation. Don't know if that is true but it I heard that somewhere. I do feel a bit stressed right now because I thought I lost my husband. It is only because I was fast at recognizing the signs of a stroke and getting him to the hospital and because he has had fantastic medical care. They saved his life. I hope this finds you doing well. Take care and talk to me again in the near future. I enjoy hearing from you and all the other ladies too. Hugs Marlene
Sorry to hear about your husband’s illness Marlene and I hope he makes a full recovery. Glad you are well and have the support of your children ...especially now during the pandemic. Take care ! x 💐
Thank you. For fretting. How strange and gorgeous to think that you would fret for me. As I sometimes feel very alone... That has just made me feel really thankful. 🥴🧐But I will make sure to tell my daughter and has to let you all know if anything /something happens to me.
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Thanks for sharing. I’m just 3 months into my de novo stage 4 diagnosis so I’m always happy to hear from people who are doing well after several years. I wish you many more!
I love reading that all of you are doing well. I have just passed my 4 year de novo stage 4 diagnosis. Ibrance and letrozole are keeping bone Mets from coming back. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and also our mini Aussie doodle that goes on lots of walks with me.My biggest problem is arthritis in my hands caused by the decrease in estrogen from letrozole. I am a knitter and this does distress me. The fatigue seems to have gotten better. I think I have adjusted my lifestyle to make sure I get 8 hours sleep at night and walk everyday helps.
Hi Susan. I am happy to hear that you are doing well and I think you are lucky to have such a lovely dog to share your walks. Keep walking. Hugs Marlene
Lovely post! Happy that you are doing well. I remember when you got Stevie a year ago— it inspired me to begin living for today and start to get over the grief.
What a lovely post, I am a newbie as such, diagnosed Nov 20 and feel ok on Ibrance , fulvestrant and denosumab , next scan June 20 but first scan was promising. This site really helps me and I know there are so many soulmates out there who understand, that is so comforting. Have a lovely day everyone.Debra xxx
Chris what a lovely post. I am six months behind you in the de novo diagnosis and was living from scan to scan until I was asked via email if I was happy with the six month supply of thyroid medication being ordered for me (I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at the same time as BC). It was a shock that for nearly two years I had never considered thinking so far ahead. I am now planning for a longer future even though I know that may not reflect reality but nobody knows the future.About your fatigued, what dose of Palbociclib are you on? I suffered so much initially with it but due to low neutrophils I have been on the 75 dose for about 18 months and it made such a huge difference to my fatigue that I would alway suggest considering lowering your dose. Not for everyone but I’m happy with my (oncologists) decision.
I am so envious of your pup Stevie but I move around to much to commit to a dog (three daughters and a mad cat called Kiwi is all I can manage)!
You - have - got - to - be- joking. By email? And Thyroid on top of Breast! You poor darling. So sorry you have all this going on Vicki. I was told I had thyroid cancer a year before I got his diagnoses. But get this. The doctor made a mistake? after leaving me with the thought/fear that it might be, for 4 weeks over the Xmas period. I really worry about how bad the medical profession are sometimes. Ahhhh Yes. I”m lucky to have this little angel. For sure.
Sorry, I probably wasn’t very clear in my post. I was diagnosed with hyper parathyroidism, thyroid cancer and MBC all at the same time after my back “went”. It was a fracture but as I have suffered from a bad back for years I had no idea it could be MBC. I had the para thyroid removed and a total thyroidectomy four months later in April 2019. The recent email was just a routine one ordering the thyroid medication. Pre-Covid I would get a months supply at a time but they offered me six months supply now that my dosage is sorted. I suspect my MBC had been overlooked by the person I was corresponding with. It was the notion that since my diagnosis I had never thought to plan that far forward that shocked me! Up until that point the future was a luxury I hadn’t allowed myself!I have now also learnt to be my own advocate especially within the NHS system!
Sorry you had the awful experience of a miss diagnosis. It must have been a huge relief to be told the opposite. 😊
Ahhhh. I see. Well. Living with some life expectancy has got to do our minds good. If we don’t have hope, we don’t have anything. And. Yes. We also have to take things into our own hand don’t we. Go well Stardust1965
Yes, rejoice everyday! Last year when diagnosed I thought my time was up but now I realise it was just another wake-up call. I can't believe how lucky I am having good treatment and feeling so well. We all die one day and we never know how that's going to come. Good luck, keep well . X
Nice picture. Thanks for sharing. I find this site to be so helpful and informative also. What a wonderful group of people so willing to share and support each other.
Thank you for posting your encouraging story. Stevie is adorable!
My mbc was diagnosed in January of this year. As you well know...Wow! What a Shock! Initial Stage 2A bc was just two years prior, but letrozole failed me. Mets to spine, sacrum and shoulder showed up just by chance after a CT & MRI for unrelated reasons. So now I'm on my fourth cycle of Ibrance, Fulvestrant and just started Xgeva. Yesterday I received results of my first scans since starting treatment and everything was stable Yay! 🥳
While friends and family do all they can to share their positivity and hope, it doesn't have the same impact as reading these actual experiences. Your story and the replies from others give me hope and comfort; and I will save your post for those times I need a boost.
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Wishing you and Stevie many many more years of happy days and puppy snuggles!
So agree. I was dx de novo in January 2021 Ygeva. Lettrosol. Vercenio. Tolerating all ok. March scan stable. June scans will be real test. Wishing everyone continued good results.
I was where you are 14 years ago! That you have gotten 3 years on first line treatment is very promising! Those of us who do so well with our first meds often continue to do well for a long time. For me, the first 2 or 3 years were the hardest emotionally. The fatigue has never gotten better, but I have gotten much less worried that something awful is about to happen, though of course having cancer is rather awful. The first two women who lived with MBC for twenty years were both in Australia! I always think of that when I see a note on line from an Australian metster. I hope you will have many more years with Stevie! She's a cutie pie! I think pets and a sense of humor have helped me cope alot.
Thank you! The odds are certainly better for me making it to 20 years than they were when I was first diagnosed! lol I've come to terms with death and the dying process.....but I would like it to hold awhile longer. lol
Love the pic of you and Stevie! Nothing better than a sweet pooch to raise your spirits!! I have two little rescues that are both 10 years old now. I got them 8 years ago after I became an empty nester. What a great decision!
More importantly, CONGRATULATIONS on your METAVERSARY!! I hope you had a margarita or two yesterday on Cinco de Mayo!! Hallelujah!!
Thanks so much for your response. I feel so lucky to have found this forum.
Hi lovely lady. Such a lovely post and picture of you and Stevie.
My 2 year anniversary on Letrozole, Pablociclib and Denosumab was in March. I was told 2 months ago my MBC is stable which is great. I had radiotherapy to my pelvis a short while ago and it’s given me such great pain relief since having it.
I also get tired but that’s understandable with the meds we are putting in our bodies.
congrats on the metaversary. hope you are celebrating it and you! Stevie is adorable.for me, every day matters. though not DeNovo, i am approaching six years and on the first line of treatment.
I really am lucky on many counts. But that a post like this and your responses make you all so real to me. That you are all not just some people out there. This is such a great find for any of us in times of need, and being able to give newbies hope that there is life after diagnosis is so special. I thank you all for your responses.💕I really can’t tell you have uplifting it is for me to have you out there to come to when I want to celebrate or ask a question.
Well said Tim Tam, all the contributors here are wonderful taking time to share their experience with others. Like you I read a lot and appreciate their words. I only contribute when I can speak of my experience, and it's good to support others when we can. Best wishes to you and Stevie is lovely.
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Please tell Stevie that I thank her for helping you fight cancer! 
Good news on scans!
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