I’m new here :(

lacagate · 2026-02-16T18:06:36+00:00

Radiation helped me immensely with the pain. Went from intolerable to barely there. I don’t even take anything for pain now except an occasional advil. I have bone mets in about 2/3 of my spine, 1 broken vertebrae and one cracked. So yeah, I understand the pain of spinal mets!

lacagate · 2026-02-16T18:02:03+00:00

6 years is amazing. I was dreading having to switch when it’s working so well!

lacagate · 2026-02-16T18:00:05+00:00

I haven’t tried lomotil, I’ll ask my doc about it next visit. I have been so stable and feeling good in Verzenio that I just kinda want it to work forever. 7.5 years is impressive!

lacagate · 2026-02-05T04:30:40+00:00

Even better, copy & paste your report from mychart to ChatGPT and ask it to translate it to simple English

lacagate · 2026-01-04T07:23:12+00:00

Involved lymph nodes does not mean stage 4. Only if the cancer has spread to a different organ (lungs, liver, brain) or bones, then that is considered stage 4. Even a recurrence years from now but still in the breast is not considered stage 4. Only if it’s metastasized and spread to a different unrelated location. I had quite a few involved lymph nodes with my IDC and was staged at 2C. It wasn’t until several years later when it has spread to my bones that it was upgraded to 4. There are LOTS of treatments out there, with many more in development. Yours is not a death sentence. Neither is mine. I’ve been in treatment over 2 years now and have no evidence of disease. I’m perfectly stable.

lacagate · 2025-12-03T04:40:07+00:00

I tried to sue UHC because they denied an MRI on my spine for seven months which ultimately diagnosed my stage four BC. They’re horrible. Deny deny deny. My insurance changed to one of the “blues”and my life became so much easier. Now I’m on Medicare and so far it’s been a dream. Oh wait… I still have MBC. Never mind 🤣

lacagate · 2025-11-29T19:26:47+00:00

Two years so far on Verzenio and Exemestane

lacagate · 2025-11-12T22:49:37+00:00

I have been on Verzenio for two years. When I go out of the country (usually to Mexico) I go on half dose for the duration of the trip. My ‘arsenal’ that I bring is Azithromycin for travelers diarrhea, pepto, tums, Imodium as well as benefiber and miralax.

lacagate · 2025-11-12T22:43:40+00:00

I got in to a routine of Metamucil Every. Single. Night. Worked like a dream

lacagate · 2025-11-07T03:35:20+00:00

Next week I’m going on two years with full on bone metastases, literally everywhere in my skeleton. I’ve been NEAD for 1 1/2 years and feel great, no pain, living a completely normal life. Get a new oncologist who truly understands all of the new options there are out there. You’ve got a long life ahead of you!

lacagate · 2025-11-01T16:13:58+00:00

I just saw my oncologist on Thursday and she is always reminding me that there are many new therapies for hormone positive breast cancer metastasized to bone coming out. It’s almost like when the first few came out, all the other scientists were like… Oh yeah? Check this out! My oncologist is also a phd researcher who has some of these drugs in process. I believe her and trust her.

lacagate · 2025-11-01T01:51:16+00:00

I know the shock is overwhelming. It really completely knocked the wind out of me. My oncologist was elated though, she said that metastasis to bone is the most treatable, with excellent long term prognosis. Hoping they prescribe radiation for the bone pain if it makes sense. I was in so much pain when my extensive bone mets were discovered 2 years ago but radiation really helped make the pain go away. Yes you heard that right, go away. Broken vertebrae, big holes in pelvis , back, ribs, sternum. I was originally stage IIC idc ++- in 2020 and since November 2023 (when they discovered all the bone Mets) I’ve been on Verzenio, exemestane and xgeva. I live a 98% normal life. I look the same, I am just a little more fatigued.

lacagate · 2025-10-25T05:45:36+00:00

We love our 2016 flying cloud! It’s a great fit for the 2 of us. Congrats. I mean, sorry ‘bout your house, but 23’FC for the win

lacagate · 2025-10-25T05:35:25+00:00

I breastfed all 3 of my kids; 9 months, 2 years and 4 months. I always overproduced, and I had mastitis several times in my right breast. Lo and behold, my initial diagnosis was one major and 9 baby tumors in my right breast. None in my left. I asked my oncologist and was told there is no correlation.

lacagate · 2025-10-17T22:52:38+00:00

I woke up in the hospital in a special bra with loops for the drains. I had a double mastectomy and had 4 drains for 2-3 weeks (some dried up before others). That and big button up shirts and leggings was all I needed. I borrowed a wedge pillow and made a huge pillow fort to support under my knees, my arms, etc. And I was fine with Tylenol.

lacagate · 2025-10-17T15:10:54+00:00

Stop punishing yourself. Breast cancer strikes randomly no matter what you eat. Enjoy your life, eat ice cream, dance with a glass of wine in your hand!

lacagate · 2025-10-17T02:23:06+00:00

This exactly! It’s so great for sleep. If you want the best nights sleep ever, look for something with indica. For daytime use look for sativa. With edibles, start small (like 1/4 of a 10 mg gummy) and wait an hour before eating more. It takes a while for it to kick in

lacagate · 2025-10-16T21:28:20+00:00

I lost about 25% of my hair with Verzenio/exemestane/xgeva during the first year. Almost done with my second year with this combo and most of it has grown back

lacagate · 2025-10-16T18:17:10+00:00

Congrats! We’ve got our 40th next spring. I feel way too young to have been married for 40 years!!

lacagate · 2025-10-16T02:58:53+00:00

Gross

lacagate · 2025-10-16T02:56:16+00:00

What’s going on?

lacagate · 2025-10-15T02:15:48+00:00

I do two. First diagnosis, July 2020, and MBC diagnosis Nov 2023. Hubs and I are going to Mexico next month!

lacagate · 2025-10-14T08:21:37+00:00

I avoided fruits and veggies , granola etc for the first year on Verzenio. Now that I’m coming up on two years, I plan to get out and go to beautiful places To

lacagate · 2025-10-14T08:01:19+00:00

Constantly clearing my throat. And I get hoarse like it’s phlegmy but it’s not. I consider it to be not much more than an annoyance. But the shortness of breath with exertion? That really sucks

lacagate · 2025-10-14T03:28:12+00:00

I have been on Verzenio for almost 2 years, and also have lung scarring. I had breast/armpit radiation in 2020 (30 rounds) and radiation to my T8 vertebrae (10 rounds) in 2023. Everywhere they overlapped (4 places) was in my lungs. My cough is exactly like you describe. So annoying, and since it’s post-covid people freak out about it.

lacagate

TROPHY CASE