Celbird

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My story

Hello,

I was diagnosed with early breast cancer back in 2008 and I am a sole parent to my 13 year old daughter. My breast cancer diagnosis was such a shock, as we have no cancer running in our family at all. Since my diagnosis (on 31st October - Halloween!...a day I'll never forget!) I've had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (finished in September 2009). I also participated in a clinical trial for Lapatinib (Tykerb) instead of Herceptin, which I had to take for one year (finished in April 2010). My cancer diagnosis at the time included- grade 3 tumour (24mm), HER-2 positive, estrogen positive and progesterone positive. I also took Tamoxifen for approximately 2 years too.

I was slowly rebuilding my life after the intensive treatment I received due to my early breast cancer diagnosis throughout 2008 - 2010, when unfortunately I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in October 2011. At that time I was contacted by the hospital where I am receiving treatment to say that preliminary results of the arm of the clinical trial that I was participating in (Lapatinib/Tykerb only) was showing unfavourable results. To compensate for this, I was invited to have Herceptin. I accepted the offer of Herceptin as a precautionary measure (even though I was feeling very well with no symptoms whatsoever), and through the routine scanning process I had to have before starting the drug, I found out (by accident) that I have lung mets. In February 2012, it was confirmed that the cancer had spread to my bones also.

Life is certainly different after going through a breast cancer diagnosis, that's for sure! I treasure every moment now with family and friends, I don't worry about the small stuff anymore, I make time for ME, and laugh and smile a lot more too! People often said to me after my early breast cancer diagnosis "well you got through the treatment...you can move on now, and leave it all behind", but I know I never really left it behind. I am still getting used to the secondary diagnosis, which came as such a shock too. I don't think anyone with a breast cancer diagnosis ever leaves it behind.......

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Results back

Posted by Celbird on 28 Apr 2012, 08:27PM

Well my I got my results yesterday and I'm relieved to say I got very good news! I'm over the moon and have been celebrating ever since! :-)

Lung tumours have reduced in size and number, no new lesions in bones, and no new growths or spread anywhere in my body that they can detect! Yipee!

I'm so relieved! While they classify my disease as "stable" at the moment, despite there being some regression, I'll take that! Stable is fantastic as far as I'm concerned! I just didnt want anything new appearing...that was my wish!

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unpredictable disease

T'was the night before results....

Posted by Celbird on 25 Apr 2012, 11:55PM

So my results are due tomorrow for this new lot of chemo...is it working? Who knows!

Results of whole body bone scan and all organs will be revealed. I am so scared......

It's a tough gig....

Posted by Celbird on 07 Apr 2012, 11:35PM

So things have been a little quiet for me as far as blogging goes. The past few weeks have been very challenging to say the least. I think the enormity of my situation overwhelmed me, and depression set in! Luckily an appointment with a doctor through a palliative care unit turned things around for me and made me see how unhappy I've been. I had isolated myself from family and friends, thinking that they were sick of hearing about cancer and that I was certainly a burden on them. I had stopped talking about my feelings...just bottled them up until they exploded!

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How dare you.....I'm back!

Posted by Celbird on 18 Feb 2012, 12:03PM

So I've picked myself up and dusted myself off from the shock of the last few weeks...boy it was a doozy to get my head around but I'm back.... ready to face the world again and give this disease WHAT FOR! I'm gonna stare this demon down and give it a whooping! ☺

I started my new treatment regime last Thursday...Vinorelbine (chemo) 2 weeks on and 1 week off, Denosumab (injection for bones) 3 weekly and Herceptin 3 weekly. So far so good, but only time will tell how effective it will be. In the meantime I'm going to get on with living! :-)

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reflecting

More sadness....

Posted by Celbird on 30 Jan 2012, 07:03PM

Today as I was about to pick up my daughter from her first day of high school, my oncologist calls..."I need to speak to you Celeste..do you have anyone with you right now? Can you sit down please...I have some news". It now turns out that the bone scan does infact show "significant progression" in my disease. At the round-table discussion they have decided that there has been definite destruction in my bones! What a terrible shock!

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