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Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Breast Cancer

1/23/2014

 
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I was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago nearly to the date. This time of year always makes me reflect on that particularly difficult time in my life. I would later learn that I had stage III breast cancer and would require extensive surgery and several months of chemotherapy. At first, I thought it had to be a mistake, right? I was in my mid-30s, diagnosed with secondary progressive MS, working full-time in a wheelchair with a toddler to raise. Everyone has their own story and at some point asks the question, why me? I couldn't reconcile that growing-up I was a competitive athlete with no family history of either MS or breast cancer. My husband and I barely had a moment to adjust to the news as we quickly began visiting surgeons and oncologists. We sought three opinions and in the end only one oncologist recommended tailoring my chemotherapy based on the fact that I had multiple sclerosis.

My oncologist, in consultation with my then neurologist, formulated a chemotherapy cocktail of several rounds of Adriamycin and Cytoxan every three weeks instead of the traditional two-week treatment intervals. Once that was done, I then started several months of oral chemotherapy (Xeloda) which would normally be used in late stage breast cancer. This was a customized breast-cancer treatment plan that would avoid the commonly used drug Neulasta that was believed to have adverse effects on patients with MS.  The first two oncologists from leading cancer units were not all that interested in the fact that I had MS. I met with three oncologists and only one was eager to work with my neurologist on a plan that met my specific medical needs. All of this to say, if you have breast cancer and MS  you may want to get a few different opinions on your treatment plan. While the chemotherapy left me completely exhausted and depleted of all my energy, this seemed typical of people in chemotherapy who did not have MS. In fact, I would argue that the two years following my chemotherapy treatment had temporarily slowed the progression of MS in my particular case.  

I have been cancer free for nearly 7 years now. I still get butterflies in my stomach before every oncology check-up but I learned to approach breast cancer like I approach most things in life, one day at a time.

Limitless Lizzie





Emily Royce
1/24/2014 12:50:54 am

You are an inspiration! Thank you for the deeply personal posts!

Janet Lambert
10/16/2022 01:33:00 pm

I am wondering how you are doing now… I also have ms and had breast cancer in 2016-2017, still in remission but ms symptoms are worsening. I did have neulasta due to neutropenia.

Jim Thomas
1/26/2014 10:38:20 pm

I have known Elizabeth (yes, I still call her Elizabeth - I have no idea who this Lizzie or Liz person is) for 32+ years. If anyone could come through what she has int he last 15 years with a genuine smile on her face, it's Elizabeth. Your point regarding the search for a doctor that is interested in your medical past, and one that wants to work with other specialists resonates with me. I have found many doctors to be woefully myopic and, in many cases pompous know-it-alls. It is tough to stick up for yourself in the face of a highly trained doctor with an ego the size of a small celestial body. I am so pleased that you were successful. Thank you for sharing your story, Elizabeth!

Limitless Lizzy
1/28/2014 06:11:08 am

Hearing these words from a world champion athlete make me all the more inspired. You are not one to sit on your laurels but rather continue to push the bar on your physical abilities. You continue to inspire me.

Jan Soloy link
1/31/2016 10:38:23 pm

Thank you for sharing! I have been trying to find MSers' with breast cancer too! Difficult to do. MS has been with me for 42 yrs, RRMS for first 20 yrs or so, then slowly phasing into SPMS. I was greeted with Stage IIIc BC end of 2012, had mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes in a big clump of tissue disected out of my axilla. She had me on the table 4.5 hrs. My neuro.
said do what you would do without MS but slow down if problems arise. Like many MS pts I read, I felt slightly better during Chemo. I stopped Copaxone when I learned I had cancer, as I wondered if dampening my immune system affected getting cancer. That is up in the air. If young 63 I would take DMD and breast cancer monitor for, like other cancers. My mistakenwas being on low dose hormones for Way too long, maybe too much red wine! ha But truth is any body can get cancer! I had 6 weeks of radiation and felt great. Until.... post menopausal women go on aromatase inhibitors. All hope of one drop of estrogen being in your system is negated! It decreases quality of life so much that about 1/3 of one survery went off.
If you go on www.askapatient.com and type in any med you are on, you get a chance to see how other pts have been affected. The Femara cut metastic disease by 30% less ( they claim ) so hard to quit. Even though I am suffering from it. Exercise is hard and painful for me, so muscles weakened, arthritis in one knee, etc. Enough about me, how has your hormone treatment( Tamoxafen? ) affected your MS?
How has your over all life after cancer treatment with MS too been affected? You are brave and to be in a w/c with a small child And working! You deserve a crown of gold! Best of Luck to you!!! 🌷


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  • About Us
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  • Blogs
    • Physician Blog >
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      • "Ask Dr. Debbie" Research Blog
      • Multiple Perspectives In Multiple Sclerosis Research Blog
  • About MS
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    • Depression and Anxiety
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    • Dysphagia
    • Fatigue
    • Foot Drop
    • Hearing or Smell or Taste Changes
    • Heat Sensitivity
    • Leg Weakness
    • Loss of Hand Dexterity and Coordination
    • Memory and Mutliple Sclerosis
    • Migraines
    • Numbness/Tingling/Altered Sensation
    • Nystagmus and Oscillopsia
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    • Urination/Bowel Problems
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    • Medical Costs and Insurance
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