Jen4mike's Journey with Breast Cancer

Recovery from the Lumpectomy and lymphnode diessection went well. Drains were okay to manage and did not hurt at all, just a pain in the shower! My husband was a gem and took care of me daily!

Initial tumor removed by a lumpectomy in my breast and all lymphonodes (16) we were told had to be removed when it looked like only one on the ultrasound. This lead to further scans to find that the breast cancer has spread to some of my bones - spine, ribs, etc..

I had raidtion to my spine with itself was painless but the aftermath of sickness was miserable as the raidation not only attacked my spine but my stomach and bowels got hit hard too. The radiation did decrease the tumors in my spine.

My ovaries were removed becuase the cancer is estrogen driven - fastest thing we could do to try to stop the spread.

Avastin did not work for me. I was on the drug for about 6 months and initally it appears to lower some cancer counts but then the tumors began to spread to other bones. It was a very painful experience - the drugs were starving my bones of blood supply and it was very painful. I felt like I was at least 80 years...not 37. I was glad to get out of the clincial trial.

I went to MD Anderson for a second opinoin after clincal trial failed. They still suggested a different hormone therapy drug - Flasodex.

The next drug we tried was Flasodex hormone therapy. It started to make me feel better physically but the hot flashes were incredible.

We only spent about 2 months on Flasodex hormone therapy and decided to move to Xloeda which is an oral chemo therapy drug. I have been on this for almost 4 months and have finally felt like myself again! The bone pain and hot falsehs are minimal to almost gone. My tumor markers in my blood are slowly decreasing and so far it looks the it is still only boney disease - no other organs effected.