Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Research. Support. Education.
Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Date of diagnosis?
27th September 2021, primary diagnosis following examination, mammogram, ultrasound and punch biopsy - IDC. Prescribed Tamoxifen (ER+ HER2-). Lumpectomy and sentinel node removal 1st November, still thinking primary only, but nodes removed all had cancer, so Stage 2. Axillary node clearance surgery 28th November and of the remaining 10 nodes removed, only 1 had cancer, but 5 if 14 total tipped the scales to Stage 3. CT and full body bone scan done mid December showed no spread to organs or soft tissue, but secondaries on spine, pelvis and rib.
Current treatment line?
Line 1 commenced 27th January. Switched from Tamoxifen to Letrozole, 125mg Palbociclib 3 weeks on, 1 week off, and 12-weekly infusions of Zoledronic acid with AdCal for first 28 days after infusion. Blood tests towards the end of week off (usually day 5) and results on day 6 - so far, so good to restart Palbociclib cycle each time. Currently on 8th cycle.
How does secondary breast cancer affect your life?
Scared for the future, my husband and I are in our 55th year, and had our miracle baby (I'm PCOS) in our 41st year. He turns 14 in November. I don't want him growing up without a mother. I lost my mother when I was 37yo ( she made it to just past 60) to the same cancer, though her secondary came 3 years after her primary. She had me just before her 21st birthday, 20 years earlier than I had my son in relative terms).
Side effects include fatigue, joint ache, hot flushes and night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms, probably due to Letrozole.
What advice would you give to someone newly diagnosed?
Use the support offered. BC nurses, Macmillan, Maggie's and pages like 2nds Together and Stage 4 Deserves More.
How are you coping?
Okay
Do the side effects affect your life daily? If yes, please explain
Can't commit to work full-time or regular part-time hours i.e. specific days and hours, as fatigue hits randomly and varying with levels of intensity. My brain function is "foggy" at best and I can't respond quickly to things asked.
Have you found a routine that works for your everyday life? If yes, please explain
Yes, slower starts to my day, I try to avoid making early appointments wherever possible. If I'm having a good day, things I might do include some light housework; go for a walk; visit a friend or get a beauty treatment or hair appointment in the afternoon.
Do you feel anything is missed when it comes to living with secondary breast cancer? Medically or Socially
Yes, energy levels mean I'm not as fit as I was; friends (and my scales) have noticed my weight gain, particularly those I haven’t seen for the last year.
So far, I can't fault my medical treatment.
Have you treated yourself to anything since your diagnosis? If yes, please explain
No. Just routine hair and nail appointments.
Has it changed your perspective on life? If yes, please explain
Value every minute I'm feeling well.
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