A bit late in the day as I was diagnosed in2014, unfortunately my breastCA had already spread when it was discovered, the primary is hiding just behind the nipple of my rt breast and does not show up on mammography, which I had regularly, CT scan, MRI Scan or ultra sound but the secondaries in my liver and Lung do. My first Consultant never could find it as it can’t be found my normal palpation. Fortunately the surgeon who did the punch biopsy was able to find it. They assume the primary is the breast. I had FECT chemo which was frankly awful and really knocked me off my feet for 6 months but it did cause a little shrinkage. since then I have worn out Anastrazole, Tamoxifen, and Examestine which all stopped working. I am now on Abemaciclib (Vezenios) on special access and Fulvestrant ( Fasladex) injections four weekly. I am so grateful for the treatment I receive from Nottingham City Hospital where I was referred when I said I would rather go there than my local hospital. It is a 2 hour drive, (which fortunately my partner does) but I firmly believe that I would not be on my present treatment if I had gone local as NICE would not give me Abemaciclib but my new Consultant ( the original one retired) had it on special access until two days after I saw her. Eli Lily kindly send it to the hospital pharmacy for me free of charge. I am lucky because it is incredibly expensive. So all in all although I was unlucky to get cancer and not find the primary in time to cut it out and have RT and Chemo, which I was told I would have until they MRI’d me and found the others, I am lucky to be so well supported by my oncology team. Well I have rambled on long but it was nice to talk to someone about my experience as my partner can’t talk about it despite being totally supportive. I do get awful side effects including daily diarrhoea but I am not complaining because I am still here and look as though I might achieve my target of 80 next year.I have older siblings all in their mid to late 80’s and I don’t want to break the chain.
