Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer Diagnosis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also please check out imermanangels.org. It’s a free cancer support community.

Wow PP - this seems like an amazing organization. thank you, I've never heard of them.

[Anonymous]

When my mom was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer she was put on Ibrance. She had no side affects, it stopped the cancer from growing and she almost immediately felt much better and resumed her life.

Several years later she died from an unrelated medical condition (she was 80).

I say that to point out there are really good drugs for managing breast cancer these days.

[Anonymous]

I have mbc. The two medications your sister has been put on is a standard first line treatment for mbc. This is a good thing. Infusion chemo is not typically used as first line anymore because such better drugs exist. IV Chemo is used first only when the cancer is moving incredibly fast. Since your sister is older, this is likely not the case. The infusion she is going on is likely zometa, she will get that once every three months to help strengthen her bones. It has minimal side effects for most people. It takes about 20 minutes. Remember that treatment for stage IV is very different than what you may have seen on tv. The goal is to maintain quality of life. Listen to your sister and follow her lead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old is she? You mention ‘annual mammograms’ so I’m assuming older? Older age can work in her favor for cancer.

She's only 56. I had no idea that older age could be a positive when it comes to cancer. How so?

It tends to be slower-growing. I think this is in women in their 60s and 70s.

Post-menopausal breast cancer is less aggressive. Most tumors grow faster with estrogen, so when there's less of that treatment has an edge. Younger women would be thrown into chemopause to achieve this effect.

[Anonymous]

I knew a woman who lived seventeen years and ran a marathon after a diagnosis of stage four metastatic breast cancer with spread to the bones. Those years enabled her to raise her kids and build an amazing community of supportive friends who were also fighting breast cancer long-term.

In addition to infusion treatments, she committed to regular exercise and put herself on a diet that incorporated every bit of research she could find about cancer-fighting foods. She also eliminated all sugar after learning that it can accelerate tumor growth. Then she turned her knowledge into a dietary consulting and meal planning business for cancer patients.

Also, your sister shouldn't beat herself up over the missed mammograms. This woman found the lump herself a couple of months after having a clean screening mammogram, and she was already stage 4 on initial diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry OP.

I witnessed stage 4 cancer treatment with my husband.

I wish your sister a better outcome.

Hugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry OP. How old is she? Other health issues?

She's only 56. No other health problems. Has also been eating almost entirely plant based for the last 25 years.

When did symptoms start and what were they? So sorry!

[Anonymous]

Sending love and light your way OP.

[Anonymous]

There has been so much research and progress with breast cancer treatments. Don’t lose hope that tour sister will be among those positive outcomes you read.

[Anonymous]

Very tough diagnosis, I'm sorry. When you look at statistics as you will in the coming week please do keep in mind that they're all retrospective of course. Since treatments get better with time you can probably expect that the stats will be better going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have mbc. The two medications your sister has been put on is a standard first line treatment for mbc. This is a good thing. Infusion chemo is not typically used as first line anymore because such better drugs exist. IV Chemo is used first only when the cancer is moving incredibly fast. Since your sister is older, this is likely not the case. The infusion she is going on is likely zometa, she will get that once every three months to help strengthen her bones. It has minimal side effects for most people. It takes about 20 minutes. Remember that treatment for stage IV is very different than what you may have seen on tv. The goal is to maintain quality of life. Listen to your sister and follow her lead.

This is very encouraging,PP. I really appreciate you sharing this information, especially because upon hearing the news "stage IV MBC" our minds automatically went to the worst-case scenario. Also yes, she will be on Zometa, plus two other meds. Faslodex and Ibrance. Thank you again for sharing this!

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m so sorry OP. How old is she? Other health issues?

She's only 56. No other health problems. Has also been eating almost entirely plant based for the last 25 years.

When did symptoms start and what were they? So sorry!

She started complaining of overall malaise, and pain in her ribs and lower back about 6 months ago. That said, she's not a big "complainer" so she was probably already feeling that way for a while before she said something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew a woman who lived seventeen years and ran a marathon after a diagnosis of stage four metastatic breast cancer with spread to the bones. Those years enabled her to raise her kids and build an amazing community of supportive friends who were also fighting breast cancer long-term.

In addition to infusion treatments, she committed to regular exercise and put herself on a diet that incorporated every bit of research she could find about cancer-fighting foods. She also eliminated all sugar after learning that it can accelerate tumor growth. Then she turned her knowledge into a dietary consulting and meal planning business for cancer patients.

Also, your sister shouldn't beat herself up over the missed mammograms. This woman found the lump herself a couple of months after having a clean screening mammogram, and she was already stage 4 on initial diagnosis.

Excellent info PP! 17 years is extremely encouraging, as well as the information regarding diet and exercise. Although she has been primarily plant-based for the last 25 years, her diet and lifestyle could still be a lot better - especially where exercise and "quality of food" is concerned. I'll research nutritionists for cancer patients as well!! Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Just be there with her Op, take her lead, you sound like a kind and loving sister. The one thing I would add is that as much as possible, try to let go of the thoughts about no mammogram for 5 years, lifestyle choices, etc. Cancer is enormously complicated as we all know, you can do everything right and it still happens. It happened, you'll never know why, just try to go forward and be there. I spent a long time wanting answers to why when we have had cancer in our family. There are no answers, it is an unknown and that can be really hard. Seek therapy too if it may help. Sending my best, there is much progress being made and she has reason to hope for a good, ongoing quality of life.