MDA Change and Cancerversity

I called over to the breast center at MD Anderson and told them about the possible progression.  A little while later I got a call back saying they were moving my scans up to June 5th, with doctors visit on June 6th (they were originally scheduled for June 24th).   I hope me and the local oncologist are wrong and the scans show something different, but my gut feeling and the symptoms make me doubt the scan will disagree.

June 4th is my cancerversity, or the date I was originally diagnosed with cancer.  It's amazing to believe I've been living with this disease for 5 years now.  And even more amazing, to think I may be living with it for the rest of my life.

If you are using a computer to access my blog, you should see the new count up widget I added, below the "about me" section, which shows the time that has progressed since my initial diagnosis in 2009.

Here's a link to my original post when I started this blog on June 5, 2009:

http://aymzbc.blogspot.com/2009_06_05_archive.html

Last few weeks

These last few weeks I've been in pain.  My shoulders and back have been hurting again.  I went in today for my checkup and treatment.  I had a feeling I was progressing, rather than responding, to the endocrine therapy I was on, so I mentioned this today.  The doctor compared it to what she had measured last time, and said it does appear to have grown.  She recommended I call MD Anderson and let them know.  I guess I have no choice.  I really do not want them to find progression, because it disqualifies me for the trial.  It's also one less treatment option for me. 

They are making me go into work tomorrow at 5am, so I guess I'll make the call after work and see what they want me to do.  It's going to be a REALLY long day tomorrow.

Opinion: 30 percent for 30 percent

The article below was salvaged from the wayback time machine while I was reading through a blog that had been shut down.  The author either moved on or died, you never exactly know with mets patients.  Either way, the article is excellent and really goes into some detail on the lack of funding and research done for metastatic breast cancer. 

Opinion: 30 percent for 30 percent

By C.J. (Dian) M. Corneliussen-James

The most devastating and feared breast cancer is metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer. This occurs when breast cancer spreads to distant, non-adjacent parts of the body.  It strikes 30 percent of breast cancer patients and is fatal, taking lives on average within two to four years of diagnosis.