Metastatic breast cancer landscape report released

A report was released by the Metastatic breast cancer alliance to identify the needs of metastatic breast cancer patients.  Hopefully, this is the first step toward things actually improving. The Metastatic breast cancer alliance is an alliance of all the major players in cancer working together.  More info can be found on their website (mbcalliance.org).

Metastatic breast cancer landscape report

Good News and Video

Oncologist told me today that my CT and Bone scan indicate stable disease.  There is some shrinkage, but not enough to qualify officially as regression.  The bone metastasis looks like less to me, but the experts say it has not changed.  Either way, lack of PROgression is an awesome thing.  If it doesn't grow, it can't kill!

During chemo today, I recorded the script for this video one of my mets sisters is making.  It's a just a script we all read and I guess she plans to compile it all and put it out on  you tube to educate.  Here's what she asked us to do:

http://www.insertboobshere.com/mbc-video/http://www.insertboobshere.com/mbc-video/

Here is my submission of me reading the script:

New estrogen-related breast cancer mechanism detected

A previously unknown breast cancer-enabling mechanism has been discovered by researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The team's findings are published in the journal Oncogene.

Read more

Living Beyond Breast Cancer Conference in Philadelphia

I am heading back from the Living Beyond Breast Cancer Convention in Philly. I really enjoyed the convention, the women, and the speakers. I met a few new people and look forward to staying in touch with them.

On another note, I just found out the PINK craziness has already begun. Please read/share the following article. It appears that one of my Metastatic sisters was scheduled to appear on the Today show and got cancelled because she has her hair. Seriously?!?

Open Letter to Joan Lunden

Posted on September 26, 2014by Scorchy

Dear Ms. Lunden,

You are an inspiration to many women and, rightfully or not, by virtue that you developed this disease you shine a spotlight on women with breast cancer. To support one of your upcoming reports on the TODAY show, a friend was contacted to be on the show to talk about metastatic breast cancer. Well, she thought she was, but what TODAY show producers wanted, it turns out, was a sea ofexclusively bald women for a backdrop. When they learned she had hair, they told her not to show . Read More

Experts issue plea for better research and education for advanced breast cancer

Read more by clicking below:

Experts issue plea for better research and education for advanced breast cancer

Insomnia's Best Friend

Over the past 6 chemo treatments that I have completed over the past two months, I have come to a conclusion.  IV Decadron, aka generic Dexamethasone, is insomnia's best friend.  IV Decadron is a drug they give me prior to my chemo treatment.  It is a steroid that is supposed to help reduce side effects.  It tends to give me at least a full 48 hours of insomnia despite my best efforts to counter it. For example, tonight, even after dancing with the Lunesta butterfly and taking a muscle relaxant, I am wide awake.

Chemo Treatment #5 Completed and Scans Soon

I completed chemo #5 today.  I'm getting pretty used to it and not having a lot of extreme side effects anymore, just a few minor annoying ones like:  clumsiness from probable mild neuropathy in my hands (I can't seem to hold on to anything), numbness tongue, taste issues with several foods, including red meat, and my endurance is extremely diminished.

Next Monday will be my 6th chemo and I will completed two "rounds" of 3 chemo treatments.  The week after, a CT scan will be done.  This scan will give us an idea of whether the chemo is working.  The results will show that the tumors on the previous scan (the one I did before the first chemo) have either shrunk or progressed.

I think I have it bad, and then I read something like this

I think I have it bad, then I read something like this.  Grab the kleenex!

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2540087/family-grateful-for-every-extra-day/?cs=303#slide=1

Breast cancer inhibitor found

Did a little research on this one and there is already a P38 inhibitor out there currently for Rheumatoid arthritis called Pamapimod.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/07/breast-cancer-metastasis-ucsd-wu-karin/

I have fought the good fight