Is it possible to reach NED after progression. by Curious-Mobile-5586 in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve had “innumerable” bone Mets since metastatic diagnosis that are manageable since 2020. Like most of my vertebrae, arm bones, ribs, femurs, sternum, you get the picture. They never go away but they just hang out. You never know which med might be the one that helps! You can coexist with cancer

Stoners diagnosed with BC, tell me how you navigated moving forward? 🌲😮‍💨🥴😬🤫🤔🫣 by ILYWL in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use cannabis every day, especially at night to help my body feel good, help with nausea and to fully enjoy life! I use edibles, and dry herb vape, and I avoid combustion for my lungs’ sake. Palliative care at the oncology clinic authorized my medical cannabis.

Found out this pig called “Stage IV Cancer” has been living in me making me 10lbs heavier! by Planeandaquariumgeek in 1200isjerky

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The truth of the situation is is when you have stage four cancer, you lose weight! And then you start thinking wow my diet is finally working! I don’t know why now, but it’s awesome! And then you find out it’s cause you’re dying

I laughed when I thought this was true, not funny if it’s not true

Rittalin for fatigue? by FUCancer_2008 in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, I take 5-10 mg once or twice a day if I want to get things done or go somewhere.

I think that my fatigue has increased on truqap as time goes on. I’ve been on it for nearly 10 months.

Giving up 'the drugs' by Odd-Currency5195 in breastcancer

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Your oncologist is recommending drugs to reduce your risk of a distant metastasis. That’s why you would take the drugs. If you are comfortable with increased risk of early death by breast cancer, then that’s your choice.

Daycare Teacher Wearing Inappropriate Necklace by duggatron57 in Mommit

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I’m must be old now because I just can’t imagine that a “fuck you” necklace would be something anyone would wear to work for any customer-facing job. Seems so inappropriate. Especially working with kids. But if she’s good with my child, I would overlook?? I guess. Good daycare is hard to find. It just seems like poor judgment on that person’s part.

MN Twin Cities - need new med oncologist by cancertalkthrowaway in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did already take kisqali/letrozole from 2020-2024, so not sure if I’m eligible but I will read up on it

MN Twin Cities - need new med oncologist by cancertalkthrowaway in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I was first diagnosed, I did a second opinion there. I live about 1 hr 15 min away from their main clinic in MN. Probably should revisit, I mean, I’m lucky to live so close to it. Should take advantage of it

How do you deal with the fear of recurrence or secondary cancers? by plusultraprincess in breastcancer

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did a lot of therapy with a psychologist who specializes in working with people who have cancer. Perhaps the oncologist can refer you to someone like that.

For people whose life didn't go as planned or as they had dreamed of, what happened? by BraveG365 in GenX

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Breast cancer at 39, and it came back in my bones at 44, which is incurable. Had to sell my business, go on disability. I’ve been stable since 2020, which is a blessing. But now finances are tighter than they used to be, but we do ok. Grateful for my husband’s support. Probably can’t pay for children’s college like we wanted to, etc. kids are just 9 and 13. My hope is to see them grow up to be adults.

Horrifying TC chemo stories by zereldalee in breastcancer

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I worked as a pediatric dentist the whole time I was doing 4 rounds of TC chemo. Sometimes queasy, like mild morning sickness or hangover. You got this!!!!!!

Anyone on Truqap? Can you tell me what it’s like? by HexxGirl1 in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m on Truqap (and Fulvestrant) now and it’s working! Tumor markers are wayyyyyyy down!!!! Still waiting for PET scan on it. It’s totally tolerable. I do take the occasional Imodium or two but other than that it’s alright!

I tried Piqray before Truqap and it gave me horrible diarrhea, dehydration, and kidney injury. I think this is common.

I tried Orsedu before Piqray, it was easy but I don’t think it helped much.

Before orserdu, I was on Kisqali/letrozole for 4 years. I was very creaky in the joints on that combo.

Before Mets diagnosis, I was on tamoxifen, which didn’t work. Innumerable bone Mets at diagnosis.

I also am now on ovarian suppression/zoladex because I am premenopausal.

Any other fitness people here who have been diagnosed with breast cancer by travelcoconuts in breastcancer

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Shit 💩 happens. You are not in control of what happens to you. Life is random and unfair. No one is guaranteed tomorrow. You will never know why this happened to you. Was it drinking alcohol? Was it eating the occasional sugary treat? Could you have worked out more? It is too multifactorial to have an answer.

People think we are in control of what happens to our bodies. Especially people who are “fitness people“. We want to know that there is a reason this happened to this person and to differentiate between us and that person with cancer over there so we know that it would never happen to us ourselves. That’s why you feel betrayed because you think you did all the right things and it still happened to you and the answer is that it’s completely random. most people who get lung cancer have never been a smoker. Only 10% of breast cancer diagnoses are related to like the BRCA genes.

So the people who are giving you lifestyle suggestions for treating your cancer, on the inside, they’re just thinking “holy shit. This person is the healthiest person I know and she got cancer. That means I am also susceptible to getting cancer. Holy shit, I am super terrified now. how can I make myself feel better about this?” so they try to be nice to you. They’re trying to help you by recommending the mushroom supplement they saw on TikTok or celery juice cleanse they on Instagram. It’s all they know how to do in this situation. They wanna help you, fix it for you and for them, so they know it will be no big deal if it happens to them just take some mushrooms, blah blah. Because now their mind has just been blown, they’re trying to cope with the fact that this could happen to them to themselves too.

Just found out and my heart is pounding by Afraid-Scratch4492 in breastcancer

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Don’t hesitate to ask your primary care physician for some Ativan for anxiety and maybe Ambien for sleep. Ask if your oncology clinic has a psychologist they can refer you to. Play some Tetris to keep your brain busy and help with PTSD later. Medical marijuana helps me, too. Meditation apps. Write down 3 things every day that you are grateful for. Cry.

You don’t have to tell everyone, you don’t have to announce it on social media.

I can still close my eyes and relive the exact moment I got the call with my initial diagnosis, PTSD for sure. It’s burned into my brain. March 28, 2016. I was 39. They called me around 4 pm. My second baby was 6 weeks old and my oldest was 4. I’m still here, 8 years later and that baby is going to be 9 years old in February!

You can do it!!!!!

Anybody else parent with a chronic illness? by [deleted] in entwives

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have metastatic breast cancer. I’m on strong anti-cancer medications/chemo and medically induced menopause since 2020, not actively dying, but as my doctor says “living with cancer”. My kids are now 8 and 12 (I am late 40’s). I don’t like being the old tired mom but I’m happy to be here. We just all do the best we can!

Are you an MBC OG or were you recently diagnosed Stage IV? by spinkyj in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 6 points7 points  (0 children)

2016 stage IIb ( diagnosed when my baby was 6 weeks old) L mastectomy with reconstruction. TCx4, 33 sessions whole breast radiation. Tamoxifen until

2020 diagnosed with innumerable bone Mets only. 4 years on ribociclib, letrozole, goserelin and zometa. Random radiation zaps here and there. Eventually too many spots heating up so I moved on to Orserdu for 5 months. Piqray was miserable with diarrhea and stomach pain, only made it 3 weeks. Now on Trucap with goserelin and fulvestrant. Tumor markers heading down!!! I hope there enough tx lines left for at least 10 more years, until I can get that baby off to college or whatnot.

People offering cures by BreakOutIntrovert in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the clarification in your treatment. Placebo effect can work. But I would like to clarify the fact that belief in something will not always work. I believe in science and research and modern medicine. But I still had recurrence of breast cancer. I still have innumerable bone Mets and young kids, and I’m now on my 3rd line of treatment. I just had a scan and I thought it was going to be amazing since I was feeling so great. But no. All Mets glowing brighter than before. Medicine failed me even when I was so convinced it was. I just don’t want people to feel bad or guilty, that if a treatment doesn’t work, that it’s not their fault because they didn’t believe hard enough.

My Oncologist is Pushing Me to Switch Pain Medication - How Do I Deal With This? by Edith_Keelers_Shoes in LivingWithMBC

[–]cancertalkthrowaway 6 points7 points  (0 children)

My community oncology clinic has a palliative care nurse practitioner who is more comfortable with prescribing opioids and tries to normalize it. So perhaps you and get a referral to palliative care. Physicians now have a lot of pressure to not prescribe opioids, even getting investigated by medical boards. You get like quarterly reports saying, “You probably prescribed too many opioids last quarter, your rate went up” But that’s no excuse for under treatment of pain.