Round 5 Against Metastatic Breast Cancer

Hi folks, this is now Round 5 with battling metastatic breast cancer! In August 2015, I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer and went through chemotherapy and 35 radiation treatments from February through September 2016. Then I remained clear on mammograms through 2021, believing I had made the 5-year mark free of breast cancer.

 

On June 7th, everything changed when I couldn't sit up by myself or use my legs. After being taken by ambulance to CHI Mercy ER, an MRI found a 2x3cm tumor in the back of my cerebellum, so I was shipped to OHSU to be treated for hydrocephalus and then had brain surgery on June 11th. There was also a small tumor found in my left upper lung. Pathology showed the brain tumor was metastatic breast cancer, and after discharge on June 18th, I had 3 radiation treatments to my brain in July. During this time, I had home health care to help strengthen my legs and use a walker at home, while mostly staying in bed. After that, I had a PET scan on Aug. 6th which showed only the lung tumor. After seeing a lung specialist, my doctors decided on radiation treatment, so I had 3 treatments in Sept. I continued with recuperating while doing the exercises that home health PT had shown me. I had CT scans of my chest, abdomen and pelvic area on Nov. 29th, which were clear and showed the lung tumor had decreased in size. I thought things were getting better until I found a lump on my left thigh which suddenly developed around Dec. 17th. I called my oncologist Monday morning and was seen the next day with an ultrasound on Christmas Eve morning. Another MRI of my brain was done on Dec. 30th, which was clear, thank God.

 

I had the thigh lump biopsied on Jan. 4, 2022, which came back as metastatic breast cancer. Then I had another PET scan on Jan. 21st to see there was cancer anywhere else which was clear. After 4 months of chemo from Feb. through May, I as referred to Radiation Oncology for five treatments to the thigh in July 2022. Then routine CTs & brain MRI scans along with labs began every 2 months and both Aug. MRI & Sept. CTs were both clear.

The next CTs were done Nov. 11th & clear. Brain MRI was done Nov. 14th and there's a new small mass next to the cavity area from surgery last year. I was sent back to Radiation Oncology Nov. 17th and OHSU was contacted about it, since it could also be dead cells or vascular, based on how MRI looks. Dr. Moore called Fri. eve and said we'll wait & rescan in 6 weeks which was done Dec. 27th with only a little bit of change.

Now on the 3 month train for being scanned, this brings us into 2023 with CTs Feb 3rd which were still clear. The April 4th MRI also showed only a little change within same area being watched. The next CTs on April 27th were still clear and then the MRI July 5th showed a new area on the other side of the surgical cavity. Since this is such a small mass, Dr. Marrietta referred me to The Willamette Valley Cancer Institute for possible gamma knife surgery. Before that consult scheduled July 26th, more imaging was requested along with seeing Dr. Roundy a Neurosurgeon who is part of the gamma knife surgery team on July 21st. He looked at my MRI scans and said the new mass could also be more dead cells from the July 2021 radiation treatments. So he said to wait and rescan which is scheduled Sep. 25th with follow up appt Oct. 9th. I also had more CTs Aug 31st and still being clear following a year past systemic chemo, am now scheduled for 6 mos later in March 2024!

Even though my March and April scans were clear, I started having leg weakness. swelling and numbness in February. Thought it was just my peripheral neuropathy. By the end of June my legs and arm strength were getting weaker and the morning of July 4th, I slid down to the floor while trying to use s bedside commode. I'd been unable to pee as I had bladder retention so we called the paramedics who took me to Mercy ER. After an MRI they found a tumor next to my lumbar spine so was then transferred to Legacy Emmanuel Hospital for possible Neurosurgery.

By July 5th after a 2.5 hour MRI from head to tailbone there are metastatic tumors all along my spinal cord and spine. So no Neurosurgery and was instead transferred to Legacy Good Sam hospital to start doing 10 Palliative Care low dose radiation treatments. I can no longer receive any more radiation or else it would go to my brain.

I was then transferred to Rose Haven Skilled Nursing Care in Roseburg on July 24th and after finally getting Covid from my roommate on Tuesday August 13th, I'll be discharged from Rose Haven on July 19th at 10am to isolate at home the remainder of the 10 days as required by Oregon state law. So my new gameplan is to have the best quality of life I can with Nichole and my family and friends for whatever time I have left. I am full of gratitude to everyone who has followed me during my battling of metastatic breast cancer and appreciate your generosity and donations that allow me to not have any cancer treatment bills owed once the cancer wins. I've already set aside the CAP for this year but there are still meds and now these additional costs of adaptive equipment for use with a hospital bed and transfer chair.

I am a positive realist making the best quality of life with what I've got, and that is semi-functional most days. My world drastically changed when I became fully disabled and living on a fixed income. Even with everything that's happened, I still keep "an attitude of gratitude." Thanks for reading my story and for any help you can give. This has been my metastatic breast cancer journey over 9 years, as I'm a Cancer Warrior and refuse to become a statistic!!!