October 13. Today is the one day out of October when we raise awareness for Stage 4, Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). MBC is diagnosed when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body besides the breast or lymph nodes. It is currently not curable, although many women live years with it, due to the advances in treatment.
Metastatic breast cancer is most often found in bones, liver, lungs, and brain. (I’ve had it in all of the above.) I wore my metavivor shirt today to help people see the elephant in the pink room. Depending on the sub-type of breast cancer, treatment may take many different forms. For me, I take a pill daily and get an infusion of Perjeta and Herceptin every three weeks. You can read my blog about whether treatment will ever end if you want to know more.
Last night we had an excellent presentation by Dr. Oke at MD Anderson, about the advances in treatment for MBC. It’s the first time I’ve heard doctors discuss the very real possibility of a CURE. That’s right… New technologies and interventions out of NIH in Bethesda, Maryland are moving in this possible direction.
It is a complex process called cellular immunotherapy, which involves isolating, removing, and reprogramming T-cells, then injecting them back into the body so they will fight the cancer. MD Anderson can harvest the cells, but NIH has been doing it much longer so most of the actual treatment is still done in Maryland.
My body is currently stable, so there’s no reason for me to try any of it. BUT, it would be great to know I could if I needed to.
It is extremely interesting.
I also learned that they have recently developed medicine (pill form) for brain metastasis. Since about 2020. I know! 🤯🤯 My only option was radiation or gamma knife when I had brain metastasis. The Gamma Knife worked, and I haven’t had any progression since. But if I did, I am SO happy to hear they have other options that are much less invasive.
Please keep our doctors and researchers in your prayers. Dr. Oke said we have probably seen more advances in the past 2 years than we have in many more of the previous years. It’s amazing how far they have come, but we still have a ways to go.
À la prochaine…hasta la próxima vez…until next time!