i have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in my liver. I'm currently on chemotherapy tablets I only found out early January so this is all new to me too.
My husband is on immuno-therapy drug pazopanib, his oncologist told him he will be on them indefinitely. The trouble is he has lost his taste buds and everything tastes like cardboard and he gets occasional diahorrea. His hair is now completely white. He is stage 4 renal cell cancer that has metastised in the stomach so even though the original cancer was removed the secondaries are there for life.
It has put our life on hold as he also has MS and energy levels are low. We have had to cancel holidays which is a shame as we were looking forward to going away regularly when I retired 4 years ago. Still our grandchild is imminent so something to look forward to. Try to find things to keep you going and talk to people who will help you cope with this dreadful disease. Best wishes to you.
So sorry to hear about your husband cancer is such a dreadful thing. We have also had to cancel holidays fitting life in amongst chemo is very difficult but you have to stay positive as it will consume you. Talking to people who know how it feels definitely helps. Good luck and beSt wishes to you both.
I'm doing ok I think. I'm on my 2nd cycle of capecitabine and have just got my appointment through for my first CT scan to see if it's had any affect. I am however struggling mentally but my breast nurse has referred me to talk to someone now, I need to be able to live my life without it consuming me which at the moment it is. I feel I'm trying really hard to be normal but I'm not normal and I want to scream at people that are carrying on as normal with their lives, I suppose I feel jealous, is this normal? I'm usually quite a bubbly, helpful, caring person but I feel I'm turning into myself and not wanting to do anything.
have you got any tips?
How long have u been diagnosed? I hope you are feeling ok on your new medication.
I was diagnosed in 2009 on my first mammogram, I had an operation to remove it and five weeks radiotherapy, just under five years later it returned in the same breast, this time I had a masectomy and reconstruction. Then they told me that I had secondary lung cancer in both lungs so began the chemo which I will have for life as they can't remove the tumours.
The way you are feeling is completely normal I was so angry at first and thought why me, but then I thought why not me, there is a whole spectrum of feelings but staying positive is the most important, it's not possible all the time but it will help. Have you any one at home you can talk to if not you do need to speak to people who understand how you are feeling, there are lots of courses you can do, I have and made friends through this which helps.
Hope your scan goes well I had mine last night getting results tomorrow so an anxious time for both of us.
I wish you the best of luck and hopes all goes well.
Tarina
my first diagnosis was in July 2013 I had a lumpectomy and then a lymph node removal as the cancer had spread to them since then after 5 months of chemo and and 5 weeks of radio I was ok and getting back to normal. I was taking tamoxifen that my oncologist said I would take for 10 years. Unfortunately that obviously didn't do any good and I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer that had spread to my liver and so here I am. I will take on board your advice and am trying really hard to be positive and in the whole I think I'm doing ok but sometimes I just feel like curling up in a ball shutting all the curtains and not answering the door to anyone. But I can't do that that I've got 2 children to think of 1 boy 16 and 1 boy 14 who are coping well as we have tried to be very honest with them. I can talk to my husband he had been brilliant through my whole journey right from the start but sometimes I think you need someone independent which is why I'm waiting to hear from a counsellor for an appt.
Hi Tarina, I have just finished with chemo and radiotherapy for breast cancer still on tamoxifen and Herceptin injections. I am worried for its reoccurrence as I have seen many people have that back but people around me thinks I am mad and worried for nothing. Is it normal to be worried or am I just freak.
also are you ok to tell me how and when your secondary diagnosed after first diagnosis and what is your treatments now?
Hi Lisa, hope you feeling a bit ok. I have Brest cancer had all the treatment still on Herceptin and tamoxifen for 10 yrs. I have big worry in my mind that it will come back, I know others can't understand the situation we are in and they think it's all in my mind. Wanted to ask you when did you find out about the secondary I mean how long after the first diagnosis and also what is your treatments etc.
i feel at this moment I should not be worried as I just finished all my chemo and radiotherapy etc, but I am normally very stressful person and also I can not find any harm to prepare yourself for worse.
i can totally understand how you are feeling but you can't let this overtake your life. As far as you know you are now healthy and you gave to concentrate in getting back to full health. I know there are a lot of people diagnosed with secondary cancers but there as still lots that are not. My first lot of treatment ended I. May 2014 and I have been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer January 2017. Everyone is different they have their own personal journey so you can't really compare how long it took for mi e to come back as someone else will be totally different. I think if you can talk to someone now before it takes hold of you then you will have a better quality of life. If you want to talk more then just message, but concentrate on your own journey and that you've completed your treatment and that you are getting back to normality x
