It's spread to my spine

How did the appointment with the oncologist go yesterday? Do you have a clear plan?

my treatment is going ok so far, I’m back at work this week and struggling with fatigue at times but I’ve been at home so can take breaks. I keep forgetting names which is a sure sign I’m not . But really it’s all manageable. 

Glad the group has helped, I just felt you’d get more regular support. 

HI Nicky, it was ok.  The plan is goserelin shots monthly and letrozole daily, which I've started already, and denosumab monthly and Ibrance which I will start in a week or so I think.  They said I will be called to come to the hospital for treatment.  I asked the Macmillan nurse what that means and she said I will go in and get my blood levels checked and if they are ok then they will give me treatment.

Are you on the same kind of plan?  Did you get a second opinion?  I'm concerned that he doesn't want to do biopsies considering it's in my bones and liver.

The group has helped a lot cause it's really active.  No matter what time of day or night I post a question someone is always available to answer right away.  Several people have even invited me to PM them. They freely give information and it's a really positive and supportive group. Thanks so much for the recommendation!

That sounds really similar to my treatment. Have to go every month for the same injections and have bloods done, then they give me the tablets to bring home. I am on ribociclib and letrozole. So far so good but only had a week of ribociclib. 

I didn’t get a second opinion because I felt like this was the best treatment based on the info from the scans. I didn’t have a biopsy, from what I’ve read it’s difficult to biopsy bone, I don’t know about liver. I am assuming that my mets are from my primary which was strongly oestrogen positive. I don’t seem to have another primary this time. 

I’d you’re doubting your treatment you could call Macmillan or Breast Care Now helplines, I called when I was being tested for mets and I found them so reassuring, they really know their stuff about treatment and will talk over yours.

You can definitely ask for a second opinion, plenty of people do. 

Keep talking to people as well about treatment, I’ve also found that people are really happy to share info. I’ve just thought that there may be a group for you locally, Breast Cancer Now run support groups for women with secondaries. I live in Hull and there’s nothing there for me but I’m going to keep checking the topics and may venture into Lincolnshire for one!

 Their website lists them. and there’s a big meet up in Bristol coming up for younger women with secondaries. 

I have just looked up your treatment and realised that you are also on a ciclib, yours is palbociclib and mine is ribociclib. They are part of a family of targeted therapies, they are pretty new and I feel lucky to be on one because they weren’t available when I had treatment for my primary cancer in 2012. 

Carolyn28 thank you! :-D  2020 will be the year I keep smiling and holding onto the happiness I've found with my husband, new baby, and ever-supportive brother.  I won't let the haters get me down.