Recently diagnosed stage 4 breast cancer

I was recalled from routine mammogram, had biopsies and told I had stage 2 breast cancer (2 types) HER2+ and spread to lymph nodes. Jyst getting my head around this and the planned treatment when the CT showed it had spread to my lungs. I've gone from nothing to stage 4 in two weeks. From curable to maintaining. My head is a mess and I just can't think straight- the words stage 4, pallative, terminal etc just keep making me think this is it. I'm currently waiting oncology appointment to discuss next steps.

Does stage 4 necessarily mean that cancer is terminal and does that in turn mean no hope.

  • Hi I didn't want to read and run away. No stage 4 doesn't mean terminal and you can live with it for years it's more like chronic illness that needs to be controlled by medication same as diabetes or arthritis. Terminal means no more treatment options left and less than 6 months to live. I hope you get your treatment plan soon and I promise it will get easier. I'm nearly 4 years after chemo and on maintenance treatement for triple positive. I had my ct scan results back today and again no distance metastasis found and I had them in lungs and liver. Good luck x

    Kaz

  • Offline in reply to Kazzzz
    • Thank you - I've had a good chat with BCN tonight and feeling much more positive. Thank you for replying and I'm glad all is going well.