Tracy
"I try and find one thing each day to be grateful for even though some days that’s so hard. The world is beautiful and I’m not ready to leave it yet!!"
2019 Story
I had been living life as normal as possible since my diagnosis of DCIS stage 3 in 2005. Scans were sparse as they had considered me cancer free after so long. Then in 2014, I hurt my hip at work, 8 months and 3 different diagnoses. I finally broke down and demanded a bone scan. The stage 4 news came in January, 2015, almost 10 years from my original cancer, wait no one said this could happen!! I had to tell my children once again that their mum has cancer and this time there was no cure.
I have bone mets in my hips, ribs, upper and lower spine. The prognosis was 3-5 years life expectancy!! Wow!! Shocked and emotional, I decided I needed to get things in order it almost seemed like a rush now, how had I got to this!!
I was put on Letrozole daily and Xgeva shots monthly my cancer was Er+ Hr+ her2+ at the time.
Over the next 4 years, my first grand child was born, beautiful Elizabeth, so every year we booked a villa in Florida for two weeks with all my children and grandchildren and we made memories.
In 2016 I saw my youngest son graduate from the US Army engineering program which he’s been in 2 years now, I am so proud!
My January 2019 yearly scan showed progression to my liver. Letrozole was no longer working. Back again rushed in the fear and urgency to squeeze as much into life as I can. With the odds stacked against me, I fought on. Next, I had to wait 12 weeks for a liver biopsy!! 12 weeks is a long time in cancer land. The liver biopsy showed my cancer has mutated to HER2-, who knew that could happen, not me!!
It was decided we would go aggressive as I was fairly healthy and the plan was 12-18 weeks of Pacilotaxol. Before my treatment started I decided, “Well if I’m going to lose my hair, I’m going to raise some money doing it for charity.” We did a Facebook live and we shaved my head!! Raised £152!!!
I’m now half way through my treatment, it’s been a struggle to be honest. The fatigue is horrendous and week 8 I had to have a blood transfusion but wow what a difference that made. I feel like I can see this through to the end now. My next scan is due soon to see how I am doing, this one scares me more than any other scan and I’ve had so many!!
I try not to focus on death! I try and find one thing each day to be grateful for even though some days that’s so hard. The world is beautiful and I’m not ready to leave it yet!!
- Oregon
- North Carolina
- Indiana
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Washington
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Colorado
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- Arizona
- Wisconsin
- Nevada
- New York
- Kentucky
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- California
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- Michigan
- Canada
- Texas
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- New Hampshire
- Ohio
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Ontario
- Virginia
- Idaho
