Marlene
Message 1 of 1
After several tests CAT, MRI, etc. to find out why I was experiencing excrutiating back pain it was determined that I had cancer in my bones. However, it was also determined that this was not the primary site. A lumbar puncture showed breast cancer cells. Having had a mammogram just a few months earlier, which showed nothing, the MRI found a very small, very deep tumor in my right breast. To help with the severe pain I had five radiation treatments with another five a few weeks later. I had six chemo treatments (one every three weeks). Since the CA had already spread the tumor was left alone, e.g. no surgery. Following this, and another MRI, I was stated to be stable and was offered a choice of more chemo or to begin with tamoxafen (sp). I chose the latter and continued very well for almost a year. I was given a bone scan, ultra sound and xray every three months. I visited the cancer clinic every four weeks to receive a bone strengthener (pamidranate (sp)). After another few months I was taken off tamoxafen and now take Arimidex, 5 mg. daily. After mentioning I was experiencing occasional double vision and told by my opthomolgist that my eyes were fine. On my next visit to my oncologist (who always asks a lot of general quetions) I told him about my visit to the opthamologist, he said we couldn't just ignore it and wanted to do some follow up. The next week he did a lumbar puncture and discovered breast cancer cells in the spinal fluid. Egads! What next?? Long story short I was referred to a neurosurgeon who implanted an omoway(sp)reservoir in my head. This was followed by six doses of chemo injected directly into the reservroir. This was great..over in about five minutes! Spinal fluid was also retrieved via the same method and following treatment, the fluid was clear. The reservrior was left in place and only feels like a small lump and is covered by new hair growth, hopefully never needed again. I'm sure that noone has experienced my full journey, but I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has had breast cancer with mets. I'm told it is not uncommon with BC moving on to the bones. In fact, my mother had a lumpectomy in 1984 and was clear for nine years when it showed up in her ribs. This was treated for another 7 years when she died in 2000 with pneumonia at age 83. There is no other history of breast cancer in our family.