Best Of
Re: Didn’t achieve pCR. Next steps for TNBC?
TNBC here currently on Keynote 522 neoadjuvatant.
Have you had your tumor(s) tested for biomarkers? If there are biomarkers, it could open up additional kinds of intervention. I really want to find out if I have any, but must wait for surgery.
So far, chemo has only kept the tumor the same size; there has been no shrinkage.
Best wishes to you. Keep us informed!
Kate from Sacramento
kate2025
Double Mastectomy
First post. I am scheduled for a double mastectomy I have choose not to have reconstuction . I am going though such a deep depression. The thought of loosing my breasts is so devestating to me . I would like to talk to others that have gone though this and help me to know what to expect and how you managed to get though the psychological part of this ! ty
Re: How are people with liver mets doing?
@snow-drop - Thanks so much for this. This is just the kind of information I'm wanting to hear; real life experiences. I have been told that histotripsy doesn't completely "dissolve" tumors in many cases; especially when there are multiple tumors. It's also been my understanding that even if some are completely resolved, its' quite common with breast cancer mets to the liver, that more just keep showing up and growing, so all these treatments like ablation, histotripsy, etc. merely knock things back a bit and never really "cure" anything in the liver. It would be interesting to know if in the case you describe, whether the tumor that became enlarged was due to the procedure or if it was just one that didn't respond well and continued to grow. I was told, as you noted, that it's not uncommon for a tumor to be in an area where the sound waves can't penetrate, e.g. behind a rib, so there are things like that to contend with also. The IR told me that. Both the IR and my oncologist seem to lean much more to the old tried and true like Y-90 and various forms of ablation. Like your doctor, they seem a little wary of something this new and experimental, but they haven't just said flat out not to do it or anything. Also, both the histotripsy people and the IR have said that it's possible to get various combinations of all these different treatments to get the best results for any and all liver mets that a person might have. After looking at my scans, the histotripsy people told me that that method won't completely eradicate my mets. They said it could shrink some of them, but would never be "curative", only palliative. They also said that I could get something like Y-90 first, and that then the histotripsy might add something more, but again, it won't be cured. They say the histotripsy is just "one more tool in the tool box", but not any sort of "miracle" type thing. Like you noted, size and location, etc. are a big issue in what works. The IR also said that it might be possible to do something like Y-90 and histotripsy, but we barely touched on that idea, as he wants to wait until my oncologist weighs in some more - which probably won't be until next month, as he is out this month.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hey there Dear Ladies if Mel’s livinroom . Thank you for your caring thoughts @threetree @mara51506 @cookie54 @eleanora @intolight
It’s been a few weeks and I regretfully I have not been reading along. With all the crazinesses of Dr appointment stress,I came down with a summer virus with nausea and a bad cough, vertigo tired 🥱
Sorry for not getting back to you I have been so overwhelmed with constant appointments, procedures, and Traveling back & forth to North Jersey. I had my follow up phone appointment with Neurosurgeon pain management Dr. on the 13th . In the meantime he had me keeping a daily diary. The procedure went well because l was very relaxed from the sedative anesthesia during the 8 cervical spine injections. It’s called a "Branch Block". I have not felt well all week because of a lot of right sided pain in my shoulder front and backand down my arm and fingers going numb....Right sided groin & hip pain into leg & numbness tingling in bottom of foot and toes. I’ve been headachey and having balance issues also. So next day I had my appointment with my oncologist’s PA, Krissy. I love her🥰. We had a good conversation about what happened when DH dropped me off at the entrance of the John Theurer cancer center so he could go park the car like he always does. So l went through the automatic door and lost my sense of balance and I held onto the door frame so l wouldn’t fall. As it happened a security guard ran up to me and asked if I was ok. And I said I was fine but sometimes I get balance issues. He grabbed a wheelchair and insisted I sit in it till my husband arrived. Krissy scheduled me for my usual scans which weren’t due till September. She wants me back on my cancer med Verzenio because It’s been keeping me stable. She called Dr Friedman to schedule me asap for the tooth extraction because I still have to be off my cancer meds for another 3 months after the tooth extraction. So my appointment for that was August 14, before my scans, then Thursday August 21st I go for the NM Bone scan and CT scans at 1:00 and on Sunday August 24th I go for a head MRI🙄. Uggh this has been the Summer from Hell. Thanks for checking on me dear ladies so I needed your shoulder to rant a little bit. I love you all 😘♥️🌹
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Post meal edit, I took one mini pot pie, microwaved it first. Once done, sprayed a steel pot, added a can of sliced mushrooms and the pot pie, used the masher to mix all ingredients. Heated the steel pot for about a minute and added to another dish after cooled. Added a blob of smokey bacon mayo and a blob of garlic mayo. Mixed and ate it all up. Probably not too many calories since the mushrooms are lower calorie and not a ton of mayos. It was enjoyable and took an immodium and digestive enzyme with it.
My grocery order will arrive shortly, I have two pizzas will heat them up immediately and wrap extra pieces to go in the freezer, hopefully the pizza cutter works decently, leave a couple pieces in the fridge. Put a wig on so as not to frighten the driver. 😂
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
@mara51506 - Best of luck with your scan and hope that echo went well also. In your pocket for sure!
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
So sorry to read that Kris has passed, although she will live on in my heart and the hearts of many on this board. Her kindness, courage and honesty in facing the end of life and sharing the experience with all of us were her final gift to us. Condolences to her family and friends.
eleanora
Re: I’m on hospice - anyone else?
I am heartbroken to hear that our kind and supportive @kbl Kris has passed. She was such a source of strength, creativity, and kindness in this community. Even in her most difficult moments, she continued to share her experiences and support us, which shows the depth of her courage and generosity.
I will always remember her warmth, her thoughtful words, and the love she had for her family especially the joy she found in her grandson. She touched many lives here, including mine, and her presence will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
Rest in peace, dear Kris. 💙
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
Hello to living room, I hope everyone is doing well.
I’m hanging in there, but honestly, I’m mostly fatigued and unmotivated. this blood thinner is wearing me down, I feel lightheaded, dizzy, and pale most of the time. Since my MO missed the thrombosis diagnosis, he’s now overly concerned about stopping it, which is frustrating.
Re: My Husband, My Life, My Love, My Family, My Cancer
I am all in tears about the passing of our dear KBL. she helped so many, including me, and always so generously supported everyone. I’m also saddened about Karyn’s passing , she had been NED for so many years, and then all of a sudden, within just a few weeks, she was gone. I hate this disease, I really do.