Discussion Forums

Stage IV breast cancer coping with living

Started by Hope4all

01 Aug 2017, 10:47 PM

I just joined. I am looking to speak with other stage 4 breast cancer people. I was diagnosed early in the year denovo and I am on hormone therapy. I go for scans tomorrow and am full of anxiety. I feel foolish for even worrying. The end result is going to be death one way or another, but as I started taking the medication and dealing with the side effects, day to day life went on. I know there is no cure and this can be treated for awhile but no one knows for sure and how do you cope with living with that?

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Reply by KathCull_admin

02 Aug 2017, 12:21 AM

Hi Hope4all
Welcome. The group of people on this forum who have serious illness is never very large and right now I am not aware of anyone who is posting. I am wondering if you have heard of Cancer Chat Canada? This might put you more in touch with people who are in similar circumstances to your own.

I wonder if this article might offer you some resources for coping Living with Limited Time: Exploring Feelings

Do you have family and friends who are able to support you Hope4all?
I will be thinking of you tomorrow.
Katherine

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Reply by Alongroad

11 Mar 2019, 10:15 PM

Hi hope4all
i have been living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer for nearly 5 years. Like you I did the hormone therapy and the 2 available drugs worked for 4 years. In July of 2018 the Drugs lost their effectiveness and I was given the option to “enjoy the rest of my time” or undergo chemotherapy that would ravage my body with no statistical evidence of prolonging my life.
It was hard to imagine that I had come to the end of my life with months (not years) to live. My husband of 49 years was devastated as were my children but with that devastation I seemed to become stronger and was the one who righted the ship as it were. It’s almost 8 months and I’ve enjoyed every day I’ve had since that terrible news. Don’t get me wrong, I have the odd pity party but then Im thankful for all of my 69 years! My cancer is progressing but i have wonderful supports and good pain medication so I know I’ll be okay.
some Of the things that helped me over the past 5 years were things like volunteering - you get to help others and forget your own problem. I also did as much physical exercise as I could tolerate. Things like walking outdoors, going to the pool, yoga, all work to relax your busy mind. Like you, I had trouble figuring it out at first but there are always those worse off than you. Do the things that make you happy. It sounds trite but once you get over the shock of such a diagnosis, you will need to put one foot in front of the other and carry on. I like to say cancer is not killing me today so I’m going to enjoy today instead. I don’t know if this will help you or not but know that you can get through it with grace and dignity and a few good laughs! And a few tears now and again.

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Reply by Ogechi Asagwara (Ogechi@virtualhospice.ca)

15 Mar 2019, 9:06 PM

Such beautiful words Alongroad. Thank you for sharing with us.

-Ogechi

CVH Moderator

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