Sharing the life of a 12 year stage IV survivor

Michigoose is alive and kicking after stage IV dignosis 12 years ago. Living With It 1994 age 34; recurrence 1998 stage IV With no history of breast cancer in my family, it was the farthest... Send Message Subscribe: Michigoose

Sunday, March 08, 2009
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I've been living with breast cancer for 12 years after diagnosis with stage IV breast cancer, and for 15 years after first diagnosis. When I was first diagnosed, I wanted to know people who had survived for a long time...and that was more so when I was diagnosed with stage IV. &...

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Welcome
Sarah
Monday, March 09, 2009 at 03:39 PM

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for sharing your blog on life as a Stage IV breast cancer survivor. I've already laughed and winced, starting with your first post "The Little Taxols All in a Row" and moving on to "Silicone is My Friend."

I hope you'll keep us posted and write back soon.

Sarah

re: Welcome
Michigoose
Monday, March 09, 2009 at 04:28 PM

Thanks Sara....hmmm or is it Sarah....chemo brain after 12 years??? :) I hope to. I have lots more plans for more posts...and daily things come up....silly stuff...but I appreciate your comments. Lisa

re: re: Welcome
Sarah
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Haha, good! Looking forward to reading more of your great posts.

I SO know what you mean
PJ Hamel
Monday, March 09, 2009 at 07:53 PM

Lisa - Is it cancer, or middle age, or chemobrain, or menopause, or...? What can I blame the aches and pains on? How about the loss of vacabulary (and bone density)? The weight gain? Sore joints? Peeling skin...? Actually, why do we need to "blame" anything? We are what we are - falling apart gradually, if truth be told. And who to advise us on this unwanted (albeit planned) obsolescence? If you have a cancer survivorship clinic near you, go for it. Go TO it. I've found the one here very helpful. When you don't know whom to ask - GP, oncologist, surgeon, or someone else entirely - the survivorship folks will take care of you. Congrats on yur many years of survivorship already, and I wish for you 40 more years, minimum... Hope to hear from you again here soon. PJH

re: I SO know what you mean
Michigoose
Monday, March 09, 2009 at 09:55 PM

Lol...you betcha! I'm at the stage where the falling apart end is winning over the growing end.

Unfortunately, there is no survivorship clinic here, at least not within an hours drive. I found that leaving the east coast has brought new appreciation for the medical care and support that areas of greater population density bring....

And yes...the bone density, sexual issues (that most oncologists look blankly at me about...), are things I hope to tackle.

That's the thing though...we have to listen to our bodies carefully and respond to changes just to make sure.....but knowing which is which is so dang hard. When I first found the lump when I was breast feeding, I thought it was a plugged duct. I had my husband try to feel it...he couldn't. 5 months later, it was a 3 cm tumor....so, I'm a little more responsive to having things that I could say are normal, checked out...

Lisa

re: re: I SO know what you mean
PJ Hamel
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 05:33 AM

I often wonder about that - the disparity of treatment options around the country. Writing from here in New Hampshire about reconstruction, was I describing types of surgery that not everyone has access to? I found, in hindsight, I was. Well, I know the survivorship initiative is spreading steadily - hope it reaches you within the next few years, because it IS a big help.

I fought taking a bisphosphonate for over a year, both because I was being stubborn about taking yet another drug, and I didn't like thinking about taking something that was originally used to make fertilizer, but I'm finally giving in and going to start Actonel as soon as I get past some shoulder surgery. As for the sexual issues - my oncologist doesn't look blank. He just looks away (he's shy).

Looking forward to hearing more from you. And in the meantime - your daughter isn't cold, I'm guessing. She's a teenager fighting her own battles. You'll find out in retrospect what she was really feeling, oh, maybe 8-10 years from now. Interesting. (My son was 15 when I was diagnosed, 23 now; I just found out this year, on this site, actually - where he blogged - that the coldness was simply unexpressed, unexamined fear...)

Keep on keepin' on, Lisa - PJH

Stage IV breast cancer
Beth L
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 07:50 PM

I two have stage IV breast cancer . Mine went to the spine. L1 area. I had a collasped verterbrae. They put cement in this area. I did not even realize that it collasped. Had pain in the lower back. Had mri that showed the collaspe. Was told by the orthopedic Dr. that it had metastizied to the bone L1. I was devastated. had a good cry. then rolled up my sleeves & went to battle. I was first told I had cancer in the breast in July 1998. I had a lumpectomy in the right breast. All seemed to go fine for seven yrs. Then once again I was told in 2005 that it was back. Can't even tell you how that affected me. You already know. Had another lumpectomy. Then in only two yrs. 2007 it had once again returned. I had a Bi-lateral Mastectomy. I had reconstuction surgery as well. Well true to form it once again (after )a bi-lateral mastectomy returned in the bone, L1 area. the bone had collasped. I had to have another surgery. they put cement in the L1. The oncologist then put me on Femara . she said I will have to take it for life as well as a bone building IV to build my bones as the Femara destroys bone. I have been taking Femara for 2 months. I had a blind episode & had to come off it for two weeks now. My cancer feeds off hormones. So I have to take this therapy. We are to meet again wed. the 18th. of August to see what else I can try. She says if i do well on this therapy I can have 20 to 25 yrs. more. But at what cost. the Se of femara & the other drugs are staggering. I feel like a 100 yr. old lady at times. But when I have Good days I do thank the Lord & enjoy them. Like you say no one knows what it is like until you have been there yourself. I have been battleing this since 1998. Eleven yrs. now. I do not know what tomorrow holds. But I do know who is in Control of all our days. I find Strength in the Lord, family' friends. I have enjoyed reading your comments. I hope this gives others hope that there are still others who are (Still Here). God Bless all of you.

re: Stage IV breast cancer
Michigoose
Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 10:09 PM

Ow! Mine too seems to have been hormone driven as each time I was diagnosed was right after a pregnancy. That's why I had a prophylactic oophrectomy (my ovaries removed).

My thoughts and prayers are with you....it IS scary, and anoying all at the same time....Many hugs, Lisa

re: re: Stage IV breast cancer
Beth L
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:28 AM

Thank you so--- much for your prayers. I have a wonderful testimony. I had a good cry a few days before I went to church last Sunday. I talked with the Lord & told Him I did not know what to do. I felt that after so many surgeries, hospital stays, meds. I was breaking dwn. Spiritually, mentally & for sure physically. I asked Him to please give me more Faith, as over the yrs. & all the problems, I knew that He could Heal me . But my faith had wavered at times. I was so afraid that this was it ,so to speak. then I went to church that Sunday & two ladies came up to me that knew nothing about my situation & one of the told me . The Lord had spoke to her in her Spirit & told her to tell me. I was already healed & that I had only to Beleive & receive my Healing. It was already a done deal. I had only to receive it. The other lady & this lady began to pray for me. The other lady said He spoke to her spirit & told her that He was healing all my bones. (Again they knew nothing about my current situation. ) About this time my knee bone that I was having terrible pain in Popped loudly. It was at this moment that I beleived what the lord had spoken into their spirits to tell me. I received my total healing that very day. I Beleive very much in the power of healing by the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel better than I can remember in a long long time. I thank everyone for their prayers. Prayer works. I know that the Lord has in fact healed me & I thank Him , I give Him Praise & Honor for healing my body ,mind, & giving me back even more Faith than I had. I pray that we all will have a long life free of pain & sorrows. I know that the Lord also uses the medical field to also make us better. My thoughts & prayers are with all of you. Beth L