4 posts shown.
Hey there,
it’s been about three years since I last checked in, and yeah, I’m still hanging in there 🙂. Just wanted to wish everyone the best of luck and some serious grit in the fight ahead—and a huge thanks to Angela Wright.
Hey there
What’s the actual success rate for treating advanced breast cancer—specifically when it's already hit the lungs and bones—using hormone therapy like Aromatase inhibitors (Exemestane)? We're looking at a PR+/ER- HER2- tumor here. So, from what I've gathered, this is an aromatase inhibitor, but the tumor is progesterone-dependent rather than estrogen-dependent, which isn't how it usually goes. After finishing four cycles of the Taxother Carboplatin protocol, the scans actually showed the disease was regressing. But, because of some complications making the chemo impossible to handle—two brain lesions and two aneurysms—they've pivoted. Even though the response was positive, they're switching to Aromatase inhibitor therapy as an alternative, just for two cycles (two months). Honestly, I feel like all that hard-won progress is being tossed out the window. Instead of getting something heavy-duty to compare against those colorful toxic cocktails, I've basically been handed Tic-Tacs.
Thanks
Thanks, Ivanna. I tracked down the page for the Baselga Oncology Institute, so I think that's the one.
Hey there.
First off, my heart really goes out to Amanda Wells75—I am so incredibly sorry about your mom. And to everyone else here, I just wanted to say how much respect I have for the courage and sheer grit you’ve all shared over so many pages. I’ve been lurking here for a while now, reading your stories, but I finally worked up the nerve to join the conversation and share what’s going on with me. Three years ago, when I was just 22, I got diagnosed with breast cancer. Because of the size of the tumor, the medical board recommended neoadjuvant therapy right out of the gate. So, I went through four cycles of chemo on the FAC protocol, then two more, followed by surgery and radiation. After that, they put me on hormone therapy and scheduled check-ups every six months. At the time, I thought the worst was behind me. I kept thinking, *I'm so young, this is it*—wondering how much life I could actually squeeze in after getting hit with cancer at 21 or 22. But then, last summer, I started feeling this nagging pain in my lower spine that radiated up toward my shoulder blade. Things took a turn for the worse by September, so I went in for my regular oncology appointment. My oncologist sent me straight for an emergency CT scan of my abdomen and spine. Turns out, the scan showed bone metastases and some changes in my lungs. Back to the drawing board with the medical board: four cycles of Taxother, Carboplatin, and Zomet, plus radiation on my spine. Today was actually my last cycle, though I’ll be staying on the Zomet every three weeks. Now, we’re just waiting on a new CT and the next meeting with the board.
Anyway, the spinal pain is gone—that cleared up pretty fast after the radiation. Now my hip is acting up, but I’m trying to stay positive and figure it's not a new met, just a result of having to sleep on one side for months because of my back.
To be honest, I am absolutely struggling with this chemo protocol. Compared to this, the old FAC protocol felt like a walk in the park. I’m genuinely scared that if the board suggests continuing this at my next meeting, I might just say no. It’s not even about being optimistic or feeling defeated—it’s not like I’m waving a white flag or anything. It’s just that, at this point, I feel like the treatment is doing more damage than good. I honestly find myself thinking the chemo might kill me before the cancer does. That’s how bad it is. I’m wondering if anyone here has experience with less aggressive treatments, maybe clinical trials? Or, what’s the actual risk of turning down chemo when it's already being treated as palliative?
Thanks.