Hello, I’m new here and have been reading some of the posts and I feel a connection as what your all going through is very similar to me The feelings you have, the not wanting to burden your family/loved ones with your concerns and feelings.
I am 56 years old and was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2017 so I had a single left mastectomy and chemotherapy, then went on to tamoxifen for five years. I was discharged from the hospital apparently cured. In September 2023 I was admitted to hospital in an emergency as I couldn’t walk or get myself up off the floor after having fallen over. I had lots of hip pain on my right. Later that day I was told there were changes in my bones and I had a fractured hip. That’s when they gave me the diagnosis of secondary breast cancer and that it was now in my bones. Apparently there had been two stray cancer cells going around and around in my bloodstream which then attached to the fracture of my hip. I was really shocked and didn’t know what to do with this information. Initially I thought I was going to die immediately and I didn’t want to leave my children. I was so distraught and overwhelmed with it all and kept suffering with anxiety attacks and wondering “why me”.. That first Christmas was awful after knowing all this.
Then I started to understand a bit more about it all and possibly I would have some time left. Although it’s incurable, it can still be controlled and monitored. Hopefully something of a cure or managing the disease to live a longer life will be found in the near future.
I live with two grown up children and an Old English Bulldog called Harry who are my world. They’ve been so supportive and caring. I try to keep active although I do suffer with fatigue and a lot of pain in my back and legs. I’m glad I’ve found this forum as I can just talk to you all who are going through the same or similar to me. I have lots of sleepless nights with all sorts of thoughts going through my head. It’s hard coming to terms with my “new normal” and although I think I’ve got a grip of myself now, there are times when I think I could give myself the permission to throw myself on the floor and go hysterical..
Hi, it’s completely normal to feel that way when you get the devastating news of stage 4. I had my primary in 2018 and everything they could throw at me! I was about to be discharged from the hospital 5 years later and was rushed to hospital. I had a gall bladder infection but was then told I had a tumour on my liver and 5 weeks later after a biopsy was told it was stage 4 BC. It took me a few months to come to terms with it but I am still here 2.5 years later stable . I’m still on first line treatment as well. I still have down days but I take it scan by scan now and try and enjoy life the best I can. I’ve been on about 10 holidays since diagnosis in the UK and abroad. I get out a couple times a week on good days. I have days with side effects and fatigue but can wake up the next day feeling great! There’s new treatments and trials coming out all the time so we have to be hopeful! Good luck on your journey xx
️
