Pam Simonelli

Greeting from Beautiful Place by the Sea!

I have had the opportunity to catch up with so many of you this summer.  With our all of our busy lives, this has truly been a gift.

I want to take a moment to provide everyone with an update.


As we all know, I was diagnosed with Stage III Breast Cancer in 2011.  I had three years of treatment and surgery, and officially declared NED (No Evidence of Disease) in 2014.

I had an MRI at my fifth year check-up in October of 2016 that showed what was first thought to be a meningioma, which is a non -cancerous tumor, located just under my skull.  

I had surgery to remove the tumor in November of 2016, and unfortunately there were breast cancer cells in the tumor.  This finding put me in new disease category called Metastatic.

 

Metastatic Cancer is Treatable J

I have been living with Metastatic (Stage IV) Breast Cancer since 2016.  This a chronic disease that is treatable.

Over the past two years, I have had three Gamma Knife treatments, which is a targeted radiation therapy, to eradicate that sliver of tumor that was left after the surgery in November of 2016, and have been treated with hormone receptor blockers to prevent  spread of the disease. 

A recent MRI has shown a slight shift in size and shape of the “sliver” on the dura, and I am currently consulting with doctors on a new treatment plan. 

·         There continues  to be no other evidence of cancer in my body.  I’m what we survivors like to call “clean” every where else except this spot. 

·         As this time, I am reviewing options to address the change in the “sliver”.  Not sure what this look like yet as have several more consultations to go. 

I am treatable, and will continue to remain in treatment for Metastatic Cancer to some degree as this is a chronic illness.  My goal is to get back to treatment being a pill that I take to block the disease. 

 Although I don’t  have the stamina that I used to, I still like a good glass of wine and/or a Cosmopolitan!  After working two jobs this past summer, I am looking forward to refocusing my time on a pendant business that I started in the spring.  If you call or write, I may not get back to you right away as I often battle with fatigue.
 
This November 16th  I'm starting a 15 day course of radiation to shrink the tumor just under my skull, which grew in the last few months. 

 

In my opinion, this is a reset that I will soon move beyond. 

 

Love,

Pam