Marlene
Message 1 of 1
After several months of increasing back pain which I attributed to my fibromalgia, I was dx with ca in most of my bones in Sept/99. It was decided that this was not the primary site so investigation began. It turned out that the primary site was a tumor in my right breast. This was not seen in a mammogram six months earlier, probably because the tumor was very small and very deep. In January 2001 following a complaint of blurred and double vision, my oncologist performed a lumbar puncture and found breast cancer cells in the spinal fluid. I was referred to a neurosurgeon for surgery to implant an Omoya reservoir in my head. This enabled six sessions of chemo to be delivered directly to this site. Fortunately, after the third treatment, 5 cc of spinal fluid was withdrawn and it was clear. The reservoir was left in my head in case there is a recurrence. I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had a similar course with this disease and what course of treatment has been used. Mine was as follows: Six months of chemo and two sessions of radiation soon after the dx. I have been receiving an increasing dosage of MS Contin to help relieve the pain. Presently I am taking 500 mg. three times a day. At the outset I was taking Tamoxifen and was switched to Arimidex a couple of months ago. I was stable until three months ago when there was one new lesion...luckily it is small. So I've been lucky to be reasonably stable. Every three months I have a bone scan, unltra sound and xray (had these done today). I'm very grateful for my oncologist who is very forward thinking and caring. While in hospital this past December to try to get the pain under control, I was dx with diabetes. Like I needed one more thing! This is becoming very lengthy and I hope I haven't bored the reader(s). Marlene