Chemotherapy

[Petalka32]

I had metastatic breast cancer in 2014.

I had a breast removed, and my lymph nodes removed. Followed by 6 Fec-T Chemotherapy Sessions and 15 Radiotherapy Sessions.

Whilst the chemotherapy is a dreadful treatment to have to endure and can have lasting permanent effects (I have neuropathy in my legs and feet and my hair has returned thinner). I don’t at all regret having it at all. 10 Years on and I’m still cancer free.

So I would definitely take thought on the recommendations of your Oncologist. Because although a very demanding treatment, it’s benefits all told are so much more beneficial.

I hope all goes well for you, thinking of you ❤️

[kellylinkane]

just wonder if your mets sites were larmpit lympha node only？

[Petalka32 in reply to kellylinkane]

Yes I was stage 3 advanced and I had lymph node removal in armpit My apologies for not pointing that out.

[awesome4ever]

I am happy that you are doing so well and are cancer free. From the information provided it doesn't sound like you were Stage 4 MBC. Unless the cancer has spread to distant areas such as bones, lungs, liver etc it is not considered Stage 4. Having axillary lymph noses involved on the same side of the breast tumor is usually classified as either Stage 2 or Stage 3 and these cancers are still treatable (hence your surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments)and usually curable at this stage. If I have misinterpreted your information please forgive me. I wish you all the best.

[Petalka32 in reply to awesome4ever]

No you are absolutely correct. I was Stage 3 advanced in treatment. My apologies for not pointing that out.

[TammyCross in reply to Petalka32]

Yes, that makes much more sense. If you were treated for stage 3 (not Stage 4, i.e., metastatic, meaning it spread to other parts of your body beside the breast) and you had no recurrence for 10 years, you are considered cured.

This site is for people with stage 4, and we are never considered cured. You could still get metastatic breast cancer (I did 13 years after my original bc and treatment) but it is increasingly unlikely.

What you are saying doesn't really apply to us. You are in a different and much luckier boat. There are other groups on HealthUnnlocked for people like you, Stages 1-3. You will have more in common with them.

[Kerryd22]

I’m a fan of IV chemotherapy myself. I was diagnosed de novo at stage four and the first line was Letrazole. That was in 2015 and Verzenio was still at the trial stage. Letrazole didn’t stop rapid progression so I was swapped to Abraxane and I had two different areas radiated. I had six months of chemotherapy which wasn’t too bad except my hair fell out. That was about the worst part of the treatment. Then I started Exemestane and Afinitor. I’m still on Exemestane nearly 8 years later. My hair is the bane of my life. It’s curly but not in a good way and it’s brittle so when I comb my hair (no more than once a day) my comb is clogged with hair. So is the shower drain. I’ve started taking Biotin in the hope that my hair might be more manageable. A hairdresser called it fluffy.

Chemotherapy at the early stage is much harsher than it is at stage four although plenty of suffer from unpleasant side effects no matter which drug they take. A lot of doctors and their patients prefer to try everything before IV chemotherapy but I’d do it again if I have to. I’ve got very mild neuropathy in my feet so doctors have said they won’t use it on me again but there’s plenty of options these days.

I’m glad you have stayed in remission and I appreciate the encouragement you’ve offered.

All the best

Kerry

[Petalka32]

Keep fighting Kerry, your a complete inspiration ❤️

[wendle3007]

I was diagnosed stage 4 de novo (bone mets) and had FEC-T followed by surgery and RT. My oncologist started with chemo because I had so many lymph nodes affected that they needed to shut it down quickly. I'm now on Ibrance with letrozole along with denosumab for the bones. I know that having had FEC-T means I can't have any element of it again in the future when other lines of treatment have gone but I have to trust the oncologist.

[viennagirl]

Hello Petalka32, I was diagnosed with a breast tumor in 2016 and had about 7 treatments of chemo. My hair fell out but the chemo did shrink the tumor enough for me to have a lumpectomy. My Surgeon also removed 8 lymph nodes. I refused further chemo and that might have been a mistake because I did end up have the cancer spread and I ended up with metastatic breast cancer. I am now being treated with a hormone type of treatment which is helping. I have been over two years with NED. And I feel good. I have now had quite a few happy years in spite of taking medication. I have also been using fasting to stay healthy and except for thinning and dry hair and some neuropathy in my feet I have felt good and can carry on life as usual. I refused the chemo because one of the oncologists told me that my allergic reaction to the mild original dose was life threatening and she couldn't see how I would cope with the next phase. So I refused and I have had to live with that decision. My doctors are very pleased with home I am doing on Ibrance and Letrozole. I get scans every 6 months.

I hope that all of us can get to the point where we feel good and can carry on with a happy live. I hope that all women with breast cancer can be cured in the years to come. I am 81 years old but I still want to live free of cancer.

Since I am doing well and still can live at home with my husband and do many things that I love I can appreciate the fact that many women can in the future see the possibility of a cure. I was a stage 4 when I was diagnosed. That is quite serious. I am curious as to whether you were at that stage 4 when you were diagnosed. It is wonderful that you are now cancer free. I wish you many more years of good health. Hugs Marlene

[LDR1 in reply to viennagirl]

She clarified that she was actually stage 3. So I’m not sure how she ended up on the stage 4 metastatic page but maybe just popping in to say hello