My metastisis was discovered in April of 2022 when I went to the ER for a stomach bug I caught while traveling. That turned out to be pancolitis (colon) and it cleared up with antibiotics. But the CT scan also showed enlarged lymph nodes in the portahypatic area (near liver but not in it). Then I had multiple scans, tests, MRI and finally had the lymph nodes removed by a surgical oncologist at Univ of Florida Shands in Jax,Fl They identified that it was coming from my original breast cancer. My oncologist put me on letrozole and Kisqali and I wound up back in the hospital for right side pain, nausea, etc They then did a CT of abdomen and found tumors in my gallbladder. They cannot remove the gallbladder because everything is so entertwined with blood vessels etc . So I will be starting IV chemo Enhertu next week. I was hesitant because I am 75 and don’t have anyone dependent on me. But if I don’t try Enhertu I don’t have many other options.

That is the problem. I was 23 years cancer free and got no further medical attention except mammograms every few years and none since Covid. I insisted on tumour markers done annually but that also was stopped at Covid. Then last august I was diagnosed with stage 4, mets in bones and liver. Had I known what I know now, I would have insisted on regular scans and on more specific tumour markers. Do put your foot down re getting regular checkups, properly. Somehow over the years we are kind of lulled into believing that we are as good as ‘cured’, specially after such a long time since initial cancer. I would have been aware that I might at some stage get cancer again, being genetically prone, but being told that one is suddenly stage 4 is hard to comprehend. So don’t take the eyes of the ball!!