Thirdtimers, don't give up! I have almost completed 6 months of weekly chemo therapy using Herceptin and Navelbine, along with Femara. Since this is my third time with breast cancer and 2nd with stage IV, I didn't have a lot of hope, just a lot of faith.
My x-ray last week showed the cancer mass in my left lung appears to be gone! I think the oncologist was as elated as I and my family!
I first had cancer in 1985, had a double mastectomy, nothing else. It next showed up in two vertebra in my spine in 1990; I went on Tamoxifen for 5 years, still no chemo or radiation. Fourteen years passed. On June 30 of 2004 I had a heart attack, and in preparation for surgery, a CT scan showed the cancer had reoccurred in my left lung. It was too large for surgery and was her@positive. The heart surgery was postponed and I went on the chemo combo listed above. I also practice positive thinking, prayer, visualization and self-hypnosis. Another thing we did was to move from our home at 6000 feet in the Arizona mountains down to 1000 feet in Mesa, Arizona. I had to be on oxygen 24/7 after the heart attack at the high altitude.
The Dr. was so surprised by the x-ray he doublechecked to make sure it was mine. He wants me to finish the chemo (one tomorrow and one next week) and then do a CT scan in another week. He suggested we may want to contine the herceptin every 3 weeks for awhile, but since it does affect the heart, I will check with the heart specialist on that. I will probably stay on the Femara.
I just wanted to tell my survival story to give others hope and determination to stay the course. I need to add that I am 75 years young and definitely an optomist!