My first diagnosis was 20+ years ago with a tumour at the back of my tongue. That was removed and I had radiotherapy for 6 weeks, daily....very painful. The surgeon then told me it had spread into the lymphs in my neck and shoulder so more surgery followed by more radiotherapy. Two weeks after I had the 'all clear'  I had a routine mammogram - guess what? So that meant a lumpectomy and removal of the lymphs under my arm....followed by radiotherapy, not painful. Ten years on a large lump appeared in the same breast as before and I had a mastectomy followed by chemo. I could only manage 4 out of 6 cycles as I was allergic to one of the T-FEC components, apparently. That made me very ill but over the next few months I gradually recovered and felt fine. Earlier this year I had pneumonia and when the hospital did a scan for clots on my lungs they discovered 'hot' nodules in my lung and tonsil. A lung biopsy showed the nodule is BC. I am now on my third cycle of palbociclib/letrozole and due for a scan in December when they will see whether it has had any effect. During the time I have been taking the palbociclib I have had no really bad side-effects apart from breathlessness, my recent blood tests showed poor liver function and my liver is swollen, which is quite uncomfortable but - so far - not painful. I feel unwell most of the time and have lost a lot of hair, I have pins & needles in my arm, aches and pains especially in my upper back and have lost my appetite (every cloud has a silver lining ;)) so hopefully that will help my weightloss!

I have recounted this history to demonstrate that we can live past cancer, it is not the bogeyman it used to be. It has been really hard at times, very painful and sometimes I have thought I'd rather be dead but I'm so glad I have survived this long. I am (a youthful) 73 and have been told I may have as little as 18 months - which makes me sad but when I read some of the accounts on this forum, I realise I have been really lucky. Everyone says to me 'You'll be fine! You're such a fighter'....I know they mean well but I can't help feeling that it's very unfair to those who haven't made it - I bet they were fighters, too.

Good Luck to everyone under treatment at the moment, this Forum is marvellous and such a comfort. Thanks to all who contribute.