I went from stage 2 to stage 4 in a week. Apparently bone mets were missed on my first set of scans. Ended up in the ER with a spinal fracture because the cancer is eating away my spine. I'm very plus size so I thought for the past 2 years my lower back pain and thigh numbness was caused by my weight. Yes, I've brought both up to my PCP a few times. I was diagnosed in April with IDC after finding a lump in my right breast. It measured 2.25 cm. Later on an abnormal lymph node was found on a CT Scan. Both biopsies came back with the breast cancer. This week I was supposed to get my port installed and start chemo. That plan went out the window when I ended up in the ER early Monday morning. 8 hours later and multiple scans and tests and they told me it looks like the cancer is in my spine and pelvis now.
So here I was today, at my oncologists office about to get my first chemo infusion, but instead he wanted to see me in an exam room instead. He said now that this is stage 4, chemo is not the approach to get this under control anymore. I am HR+/HER2-. He said there is a regiment of pills that are far more effective for my subtype of cancer. Along with radiation. I will first need a PET scan, brain MRI, to be safe and then a spinal biopsy to confirm the cancer in my spine is the same type as in my breast. He said he doesn't want to make me go through chemo if it's not the most effective treatment.
Does this sound correct? Is there anyone else out there with Stage 4 IDC grade 3 HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer that went to their bones? Did you do chemo? Or are you on these hormone pills? I don't remember the names. I just want to make sure I am getting proper care. This oncologist didn't listen to me when I first mentioned this back pain. So I am concerned. Thank you if you read all this.
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