Diagnosed Denovo Metastatic Stage 4 Breast Cancer to Bones AUGUST 2019
ER+ (90%) PR+ (60%) HER2 negative
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April, 2019 Back and hip began to hurt – sharp pains in each but not debilitating
May, 2019 Back and hip continued to hurt – started Advil each morning
June 14, 2019 Saw GP for yearly checkup, X-ray, referred to Chiropractor
June 25, 2019 Yearly regularly scheduled GYN appt (no lump detected on breast exam)
July, 2019 6 sessions with Chiropractor with no relief – referred to orthopedic doctor.
July, 2019 Back to GP – given pain medication for seizing in back
July 25, 2019 To local orthopedic doctor who told me to go to physical therapy
July 31, 2019 Regularly scheduled mammogram (47 years old – I’ve been getting regular mammograms since before I was 40 due to family history so big deal – really didn’t think much of it)
Aug 1, 2019 First MRI on my back. Finally convinced the local orthopedic doctor to call in an MRI. Chiropractor shared the report and results showed a compression fracture at T9. I was told I would have to have surgery on my back to repair. The orthopedic doctor who called in the MRI NEVER contacted me.
Aug, 2, 2019 Call from hospital (NOT GYN–still waiting to hear from her two years later) about needing a follow up because the mammogram showed “something suspicious”
Aug, 6, 2019 Appointment with different orthopaedic doctor at Duke Medical Center who reviewed MRI and an ordered an X-Ray of my hip (the other doctor’s would say, “let’s get your back straight and then we will look into what is going on with your hip” He called in multiple other tests and scans for later in the week.
Aug, 7, 2019 Blood testing
Aug 8, 2019 Follow up mammogram & ultrasound – call that night from GP with results of Bi-Rad 5 and 3 cm tumor in right breast
Aug 9, 2019 First BONE SCAN
Aug. 12, 2019 GP called with BONE SCAN results – metastasis in shoulder, skull, hips, and vertebrae
Aug. 13, 2019 MORNING – Breast biopsy, appointment with breast surgeon who scheduled an appointment with oncologist for that afternoon
Aug. 13, 2019 AFTERNOON – First oncologist apointment and admitted into hospital for multiple scans and testing, back pain unbearable at this point
Aug. 14-18, 2019 IN HOSPITAL – OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS of Metastatic Breast Cancer to my bones (about 8 different places), CT scan, Brain MRI, Echo test, KYPHOPLASTY on T9, bone biopsy on T9
August – September, 2019 4 Treaments (every other week) AC chemotherapy (aka THE RED DEVIL Adriamycin and Cytoxan)
October, 2019 – January, 2020 12 Treatments TAXOL Chemotheraphy
February, 2020 Lumpectomy – Lymph nodes clean
March, 2020 – April, 2020 Radiation on Breast
May, 2020 – Feb, 2021 Kisqali/Letrozole with treatment breaks & dose reductions due to rising liver enzymes blood counts
Lupron every two months & Xgeva every three months – Lupron and Xgeva started out in smaller intervals – monthly and every other month, respectively
May, 2020 – July, 2020 Physical Therapy for back and lymphatic massage/physical therapy for lymphodema
Jan 2021 Started seeing a licensed counselor/therapist every two weeks to start and at present time, once a month
March 2021 Verzenio/Letrozole with treatment breaks and dose reductions due to GI issues, loss of appetite, nausea, head aches
Started on 150 twice a day, moved to 150 once a day, and now 50 twice a day
December 2021-January 4, 2022 Verzenio treatment break after stable Brain MRI from vertigo, confusion, dizziness, headaches, and nausea
Feb 2022 Switched from XGeva injection (bone strengthener) every three months to Zometa infusion due to change in insurance.
March 2022 OOPHORECTOMY – ovaries removed – No more Lupron injections
April 2022 PET SCAN – STABLE!
June 2022 CT SCAN due to bloating, pressure, GI issues – STABLE
July 2022 – Aug 1, 2022 – Verzenio treatment break
October, 2022 My first progression since diagnosis to L5 vertebra and sacrum – switched from Verzenio to Xeloda and stopped Letrozole
November, 2022 Bone biopsy to check for mutations and recheck of subtype
ER+ (30% now), PR+ (3%) and still HER – negative
December, 2022 Severe headaches getting used to Xeloda – BRAIN MRI clear!
February, 2023 PET SCAN – L5 and sacrum with much lower SUV , new progression to acetabulum. Switch to Zometa once a month and discussion of adding Faslodex
March, 2023 5 rounds of radiation to acetabulum & switching to new medication just FDA approved in Jan, 2023 as soon as insurance goes through and we can get it
March, 2023 Discussing switching to newly approved Orserdu but denied from insurance due to not having the ESR1 mutation
**SCANS every 3 months (CT/Bone Scan or PET) –
**Monthly labs & oncology appointments**
MBC Outlier 