On Wednesday, I asked my oncologist whether she recommends doing a surgical biopsy of the marble under my arm. We know it is cancer, but we don’t know if it’s ER+ or ER-. Since I learned that it is not unusual for them to change back and forth, it seems important to know what my current cancer is if I am considering taking an Aromatase inhibitor.
She said even if we found out what that lump is, it wouldn’t tell us what the other tumors in my body are, and they aren’t necessarily consistent. In fact, she said, the cells aren’t consistent within a tumor. There can be both ER+ and ER- cells within one tumor. This was surprising news to me.
My tumor marker has gone down since my last blood test three months ago. That means that what I am doing is making a difference. She recommends putting off the surgery decision now, if I’m willing to wait until after my June PET scan. It will be useful to have this lump in place to give us something to measure in the PET scan to determine if the cancer is progressing or diminishing.
I love getting this message from my doctor. My preference is to do the least invasive treatment. I appreciate her support to keep doing what I am doing, which is many of the 9 strategies from Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds. One of those strategies is taking supplements. I have a hard time taking pills and can get grumpy about taking so many of them. I am making an effort to take them mindfully, gratefully, and with imagery about their effectiveness. It helps me do imagery when I have a lump I can actually feel. I can imagine some of that physical mass being transformed into healing energy.
I’m already feeling the joy of hearing that all tumors have diminished when I get my PET scan results in June.
Hi Jan,
During my 20+ years of breast cancer life, tumors have fluctuated between ER+ and ER-, PR+ and PR-. Only 1 anti-hormonal treatment worked (femara/letrozole for 3 years), but estrogen stabilized ER+/PR+ mets for a year, at the end of which I had major progression.
Even had a bout of pleural mets/effusion that seemed to be HER2+, but Herceptin didn’t affect them at all.
Oddly, the blood tumor markers have fluctuated too, with CA125 tightly linked to pleural mets. And CEA to overall mets activity.
Trying to measure disease nature and activity through biopsies, scans and tumor marker tests is a dicey deal. Trying to determine which treatment options might work based on those measurements? A bigger gamble.
At the end of the day, it’s how well I feel and what I’ve contributed to the greater good, that’s my measure of a life well-lived.
I say this to you as one statistical outlier to another…we have the gift of time and perspective that not everyone gets.
Jan, very good wishes as you persevere!
warmly,
Stephanie Sugars
https://www.mylifeline.org/StephanieSugars/updates
Hi Jan,
It seems like good news to me that your tumor markers are going south. Certainly not bad news for sure. You haven’t mentioned how you are feeling. Presumably good from the way you look! Hope that is the case. I have not read the book you referenced, but have certainly heard about it. It’s working for you, and that is a great testimonial.
Inspirational Healing Hearts,
Sandra
Jan,
Move forward with that joy! I am so glad that you have identified medical professionals who honor your work, and the way you live your life and manage your cancer.
I am celebrating the very early start of spring in Minnesota. We’ve had a string of 60 degree days, and while we will be on a roller coaster for a little while, this preview of what is to come is priceless at this time of year!
Keep the faith, Jan. You are doing a fantastic job of combining acceptance with resistance. A very difficult path to walk.
THank you for sharing your journey. You are in my prayers. Pat
Dear Jan,
I am so grateful to know that what you are doing with supplements and other choices is making a difference.
I am a big believer in use of imagery to treat cancer and all illnesses.
Monica and I did an imagery exercise every time she had chemo during her first treatments years ago. The tumor shrank significantly and her doctors told us they believed what we were doing was making a difference. We were always grateful for their acknowledgement and it strengthened our resolve.
Blessings to you , I will visualize the tumor under your arm getting smaller and smaller…
Much love,
Susan