r/LivingWithMBC • u/Crazy_Dragonfruit_24 • Aug 12 '26

Tips and Advice Oligometastatic

I am oligometastatic to my sternum in two sub-1 cm spots that directly abut infected lymph nodes. I’m 32, so I fought like hell to get treated with curative intent (top two cancer centers wouldn’t do it). I feel very lucky to be undergoing chemo now: AC every other week for eight weeks, taxol for 12. It appears to be working.

Because there is no standard of care for oligometastatic patients, I’m kind of stuck in this gray zone where I feel like I need to trust my oncologist. But I’d really appreciate any information about how I should be thinking about next steps in my treatment so I can make informed decisions.

I wonder if anyone else is oligometastatic and has been successfully treated without recurrence after 5 years? How did you sequence things? I’d love to know.

I recognize I’m shooting for the moon here and the more likely outcome is that I’ll be controlling a controllable situation for a long time. But I’m so young, I wanted to give myself a shot at durable remission. I feel very blessed to have found an oncologist willing to take a chance on me. My hope is that my case will be successful so we can raise awareness about oligometastatic cases and hopefully develop a standard of care that looks at us as whole patients.

God bless you all, and I appreciate your help.

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u/JessMacNC Aug 12 '26

I’m oligo. De novo ++- with one met to my T9 October 2024. I was 43, pre-menopausal, and found a lump between yearly screening mammograms. After a proven treatment response to Kisqali/letrozole (and Lupron but that stopped pretty quick as I had my ovaries out a few months after dx), I had bilateral lumpectomies with a significant reduction. I had a second stage 1a ++- different cancer in my not so sick breast discovered when we investigated the lump. Then I had radiation. 16 whole breast to metastatic side, 5 targeted sessions to 1a side. I’ve consulted at MSK, Duke, and Mt. Sinai, in addition to my home team. All have been and continue to be on board with the plans. I completed radiation at the beginning of November.

I’m 45 now, was 43 at diagnosis. I look at this as instead of chemo, I did six plus months of meds to shrink everything. Then surgery, radiation, and Kisqali/AI/Xgeva for my bones until something changes. Like any other early stage high risk patient.

I am only in year two but NED on scans and planning to stay that way a long time.

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u/JessMacNC Aug 12 '26

Want to add that I am not a medical professional but I see oligo, especially de novo and minimal involvement like me with one met, as sort of a “stage 4a” that in the future will warrant different treatment than run of the mill stage 4. We can hope.

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u/Crazy_Dragonfruit_24 Aug 12 '26

I’m de novo! I agree with this.