snowberryZ
So sad.
Think it was metastatic breast cancer.
Frightening how it can come back years layer, even though you think you're cured.
Cancer is a horrible thing.
There were a few newspaper articles announcing that ONJ had passed away but no specific details - only that the breast cancer had resurfaced in 2017, so I think it’s likely the cause. She was such a lovely person and a dedicated campaigner - may she rest in peace. So sad - 73 is no age.
I agree with you about the fear of recurrence, but can I offer a little hope in the form of my mum. She has now had breast cancer three times - the first being diagnosed in 1986, and has still reached the grand old age of 91. She had a lumpectomy in 1986, followed by radiotherapy and a five year course of Tamoxifen. She was cancer free until 2003, when she had a resurgence and underwent a partial mastectomy in 2003. She had had a lifetime dose of radiation the first time round and chemo wasn’t appropriate but she followed up the mastectomy with a five year course of Anastrazole and has remained cancer free until a third tumour was diagnosed a few weeks ago.
At the age of 91, and with advanced vascular dementia, mum’s now too frail for any form of treatment other than hormone therapy - luckily the biopsy revealed that the cancer was Oestrogen Receptor Positive and will hopefully respond to Letrazole, which she’s just started. The aim is not to cure, but to slow things down and make it more comfortable for her, and I’m not expecting miracles, but she’s a fighter, and 36 years after her initial diagnosis, she’s still here.
