Stage II w/Lymph Node Involvement
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Thanks for your post, Soccermom. You are another survivor and an inspiration for those of us with HER2+ You have made my day!
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I found my new HOME - and I want to thank all of you ladies for sharing your stories. I am 36 yrs old and just underwent a right modified radical mastectomy on Tuesday. In January I had a lumpectomy but had positive margins and a 4.5 cm size malignancy. I'm still very confused on what my diagnosis is, but will be doing chemo and radiation. I feel so much better reading all your positive and informative posts. I am still extremely sore from surgery and was wondering if could let me know how long this "hit by a truck" feeling might last? I should have all my "results" from surgery tomorrow - so may be able to share more info, or understand some of your posts better.
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I found my new HOME - and I want to thank all of you ladies for sharing your stories. I am 36 yrs old and just underwent a right modified radical mastectomy on Tuesday. In January I had a lumpectomy but had positive margins and a 4.5 cm size malignancy. I'm still very confused on what my diagnosis is, but will be doing chemo and radiation. I feel so much better reading all your positive and informative posts. I am still extremely sore from surgery and was wondering if could let me know how long this "hit by a truck" feeling might last? I should have all my "results" from surgery tomorrow - so may be able to share more info, or understand some of your posts better.
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HELLO TRIGEEK AND GINA,
SORRY YOU HAD TO JOIN OUR THREAD! BUT IM HERE TO TELL YA YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!! IM NOT GONNA LIE TO YOU IT IS A LONG JOURNEY BUT YOU LEARN SO MUCH ALONG THE WAY. THE BONDS THAT YOU WILL MAKE AND THE GOODNESS THAT YOU WILL SEE IN PEOPLE IS AMAZING!! I LOOKED AT CHEMO AS A "CLEANSING." NOW DONT GET ME WRONG I WAS NOT BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS WITH EXCITEMENT ON CHEMO DAY. BUT IT HELPS IF YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS PART THE WEAPONS USED IN THE FIGHT BACK TO GOOD HEALTH. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. GET REST, TRY TO STAY HYDRATED, AND DONT PUSH YOURSELF TOO HARD. WE ARE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY. THIS TRULY IS A SISTERHOOD! AND WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU. OUR HANDS ARE EXTENDED TO YOU JUST AS THEY WERE FOR US!
GOD BLESS YOU BOTH,
TRACEY
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Warrior -- well it seems to me that an aspirin a day can not hurt -- so why not try it? (Of course, always check with your doctor first). As I said I was taking it for years prior to the BC diagnosis and I still did get cancer (1 low-dose aspirin a day for the heart). I'll resume again after my next (hopefully my final) surgery in May... I stopped taking it because daily aspirin interferes with healing (blood clotting) at surgery.
Welcome new friends! Sorry you've had to join us... but you will find comfort here.
Lilah
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Lilah, Yes I will be having 35 rads after my last Taxol infusion and I 'm on Herceptin and will be getting Zometa as a preventive to try to avoid a recurrence.
Frankie
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Frankie -- you are doing everything you can, it seems to me. I can undersand worrying about the 8/8... that would worry me as well. Did you ask your doctors about that? What did they say? Did you have a PET scan? A PET scan would light up if there were signs of cancer still in that area. I had one prior to the start of chemo. Because nothing lit up except my breast (which is now gone and showed no more cancer anyway after the unilateral MX) my doctor said no need for additional PET scans. It does give me peace of mind knowing that. Perhaps your doctor can order one for you when you are done with your treatments?
Lilah
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Hello ladies,
All of u are an inspiration for my mom and I. My mom was diagnosed with Stage IIA breast cancer over 3 months ago. This has been one of the toughest things we as a family have gone through. But u know what just knowing that u guys are doing great just makes us feel so much better. You ladies are true warriors and I bow to you. My mother will begin Chemo on Friday, 4 rounds, one every 3 weeks and then Tamoxifen for 5 years.We live in Puerto Rico and we know very little breast cancer patients, I am glad we found a place were we can visit when we are feeling down.
BTW: Can u please tell us what to expect for Chemo. I know it's not a piece of cake but it's doable right?
My love and blessings to all of u!!
Juleisyd!!
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Julie - welcome to the forum and how wonderful of you to be going through this with your mom. I assume the diagnosis on your sig is your Mom's diagnosis.
Chemo is different for everyone. Some have very few side effects, others more. What is the chemo your mom is going to be received every three weeks starting on Friday? (Which specific one?) Different chemos have different side effects.
I had Adriamiacin and Cytoxin x 4 (dose dense) every two weeks followed by Taxol x 4 (dose dense) every two weeks and Herceptin (which is not chemo) every three weeks starting with the Taxol. I am still on the Herceptin every three weeks til next September. Your mom is HER2- so she is not going to be getting Herceptin.
The A/C made my hair fall out (everywhere) starting with the second treatment. I was given steroids, anti-nausea drugs (Emend) and Neulasta (to help with white blood count) throughout and as a result had no nausea. The steroids always kept me up all night that first night after a dose. I did end up having a fever a few weeks into the A/C and was hospitalized to receive intravenous antibiotics (I had lunch at a salad bar -- d'oh! -- not a wise move when your immunity is weakened).
With Taxol I continued receiving steroids (sleepless the first night) and Neulasta; they also gave me Benadryl and something else to help with potential allergic reaction (I had none). My main problem with Taxol was neuropathy. Pain in legs and feet. It went away after I was done.
Hope this helps!
Lilah
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Thanks so much for the info Lilah, it is very helpful. I don't know exactly what chemo she is going to receive but I'll let u know tomorrow after we come back from the Onc. I know it's an aggresive one. And yes the Stats are my moms, and so is the picture, that's her with my daughter, she was working when my baby girl was born, she recieved her!
She is an RN at the Nursey at the hospital my princess was born. Lots of health and blessings
Juleisy
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Oh I also got put into chemo pause, Jueisyd, but maybe not an issue for your mom? Being put into chemo pause (which is now menopause according to my ONC even though I'm only 49 and had no sign of it prior to BC) meant hot flashes as well -- oh joy
There are a lot of drugs these days for easing the chemo experience.... it's not perfect but for many women it's not the horror (aside from the hair loss which is profound) that most think of when they think of chemo. I hope your mom has an easy time of it.
Cheers
Lilah
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One thing I noticed in an article about aspirin and breast cancer, is that aspirin helped prevent recurrence, no evidence found that it prevented BC.
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Yep Leggy I saw that too -- prevents "inflammation" specifically (or fights it) and inflammation has something to do with recurrence. My question is: what's the difference? Cancer is cancer -- recurrence or not -- so why did it not prevent me from having cancer in the first place?
Like I said: I'm taking the aspirin as soon as I am allowed to (it is good for my heart) but have my doubts about how much it will do for ME given that I was taking it before BC. That said, the reports about Vitamin D are very encouraging. I DO have a Vitamin D deficiency (it turns out) and who knows maybe I did before BC too.... so I am now taking 2000 IUs a day of Vitamin D.
Cheers,
Lilah
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I am stage II and 2 and part of 3rd node postive...6 rounds of chemo finish. Meet with radiation doctor last week and talked about radiation. He told me I was in a grey area because only 2 and part of the 3rd was positive of cancer. He gave me all the pos and neg % of not and having radiation...I decieded not to have radation and go ahead with the double mas with reconstruction. Waiting for appointment with PS to discuss when..I know every woman is different. Anyone here who had positive nodes and didn't do rad....
Thanks
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I'm also a bit confused about the protocol for node positive disease. I've been doing chemo first, then I'll have surgery. Problem is, because chemo is killing off the cancer cells, they won't know for sure how many nodes were positive. I know I have 2 (found on ultrasound). I'm curious if anyone is familiar with the usual procedure in treating node positive disease? My surgical onc says radiation is not negotiable for me, even though I'm having a double mast. Wonder why?
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HEY CHINUP! MY STORY WAS MUCH LIKE YOURS. I HAD 1 POSITIVE NODE AND I WENT TO GET AN OPINION FROM A LOCAL RADIAITION DOCTOR WHO TOLD ME THAT WITH THAT 1 POSITIVE NODE AND A 2.9 CM TUMOR I MUST HAVE RADIATION,SO I WENT TO ANOTHER DOC WHO SAID, LIKE YOU I WAS IN A "GREY AREA." BUT THAT DOC HAD THE SENSE TO SEND ME TO AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN RADIATION DOC WHO ACTUALLY TEACHES AND HELPS WRITE JOURNALS. SO I DROVE TO RICHMOND AND HE REVIEWED ALL OF MY INFO. HE TOLD ME THAT DOING RADIATION WOULD GIVE ME A LESS THAN 1% BENEFIT IN SURVIVAL. HE BASICALLY SAID THAT SINCE I HAD A COMPLETE RESPONSE TO CHEMO AND ALL NODES WERE NEG AFTER CHEMO THAT DOING RADIATION WOULD DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD (LONG TERM SE/RECON ISSUES). SO AFTER BEING IN HIS OFFICE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR I DECIDED NOT TO DO RADS. I THINK ABOUT IT SOMETIMES BUT I DO NOT REGRET NOT DOING THEM. I KNOW FOR MANY WOMEN ITS A NO BRAINER, RADS IS A GOOD CHOICE BUT FOR THOSE OF US IN THE "GREY" AREA IT CAN BE A STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE DECISION. IM GLAD YOU MADE A DECISION SO NOW JUST KEEP IT MOVIN GIRL WITH NO REGRETS!! I HOPE THIS HELPED.
MOUSE, I HAD AN ULTRA SOUND AND THAT IS WHEN THE RADIOLOGIST SAW 1 NODE THAT WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE REST. THEY DID A BIOPSY OF THAT NODE AND IT HAD CANCER CELLS IN IT. SHE SAID THE REST OF THEM "LOOKED" NORMAL. SHE SAID THAT POSITIVE NODES WILL OFTEN LOOK FULLER OR CLUSTERED. SO WITH THAT I HAD CHEMO. AFTER CHEMO I HAD THE SURGERY AND OUT OF 7 NODES REMOVED ALL WERE NEGATIVE AND THAT 1 NODE HAD MICRO DEAD ATYPICAL CELLS IN IT WHICH STRONGLY SUPPORTED THAT THERE WAS ONLY 1 NODE INVOLVED. TALK WITH YOUR DOCTORS AND SEE WHATS GOING ON AFTER CHEMO. THEN DECIDE WHAT THE BEST THING IS FOR YOU. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!
TRACEY
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Tracey,
Thank You for your input...I know every woman is different but knowing someone is going through somewhat the same thing helps....:)
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Mouse, I had 4 positive nodes (2 microscopic). Although I technically had a choice in the matter, my Radiation Onc. STRONGLY urged me to have rads. I think part of it is an age thing - more years they need to keep us healthy for so they tend to do the most aggressive approach (at least that's how my docs have been). My RO was also saying that recently they are finding rads to help improve the overall survival rate as opposed to just help cut the reoccurrence rate.
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HEY CHINUP,
I DONT KNOW WHY MY DX DIDNT SHOW ON MY LAST POST BUT I WAS DX IN APRIL OF 2008. AND I UNDERSTAND TOTALLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH. LIKE I SAID BEFORE SOME ACTUALLY DO NEED RADS, BUT SOME DONT, ITS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL KINDA THING. AS LONG AS YOUR DOCS ARE BEHIND YOU, STAND STRONG ON THE CHOICES YOU HAVE MADE AND DONT LOOK BACK! YOU WILL ONLY TORTURE YOURSELF IF YOU DO. HUGS!
TRACEY
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My Rad Dr said it was up to me if I wanted rad or not..I don't know if all nodes are clear, they didn't do a test after chemo...wonder why..I haven't heard from my Onc but I only made my deciesion yesterday. I am happy with my choice.
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CHINUP, IM GLAD YOU ARE SOLID AND HAPPY WITH YOUR CHOICE. THEY REALLY DIDNT HAVE A NEED TO TEST YOUR NODES AGAIN AFTER BECAUSE THEY TOOK 14 AND THEY ALREADY KNEW THEY HAD REMOVED THE CANCER (3 NODES) AND THE REST WERE CLEAN. SO THE CANCER WAS REMOVED AND 14 IS PLENTY TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT. THE RADS DOC I WENT TO EVEN TOLD ME THAT THE 7 I HAD REMOVED WAS PLENTY. IM NO DOCTOR BUT I THINK 14 IS A GOOD NUMBER.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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Chinup I am having 25 - 28 rounds of radiation - both my medical onc and radiation onc advised me to do so. They are the experts so I'm going with what they tell me.
See my dx below.
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I know how you feel, Frankie. I had nine negative nodes out of nine on one side, but two positive nodes out of two on the other. How I wish they had taken the nine out of that positive side! I asked my oncologist if they shouldn't take more nodes out so I could have some negative ones for reassurance sake and she said no, that's why I had chemo. So I figure I gave it all I had and I've put a lid on those worries. Or at least I try to.
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Hello ladies, this afternoon I had the devil's bargain put to me.
AC+T: Adriamycin & Cytoxan once every 3 weeks x 4 treatments + Taxol once a week x 12 treatments
OR
TC: Taxotere & Cytoxin once every 3 weeks x 6 treatments
He said either would work, so I'm weighing the risks and side effects.
AC+T has a 2% greater chance of permanent heart damage; TC has a 2% greater chance of ca reoccurance.
I start chemo 3/9 so have a few days to decide (would need an echocardiogram next week if I go with door #1). Any words of wisdom for me? Thanks.
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groundhog, I believe that ACT (in whatever combination) has been the standard of care for diagnoses like ours for a decade or so. If I'm remembering correctly, TC was an option for me until they found out that I had node involvement, pushing me to stage 2. Unless I'm mistaken, my oncologist said TC was only for very early cancers, and I no longer qualified.
I could be mis-remembering, but it's worth asking more questions about the pros and cons of the two protocols, and how your onc might advise you to decide.
Hugs and good luck!
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Thanks GryffinSong, we had a good discussion, path found a 0.1 cm (1 mm) met in sentinel node. His words were something to the effect of (pointing at door #2 TC) "I would be OK with this option." It didn't seem he was pushing me one way or the other. I like & trust my onc, which is a bonus as I will see him a lot over the next few months.
I also had bmx no recon, three weeks ago on 2/2 (groundhog day). :-)
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Your right groundhog, trust in your Onc. is important, after all they know a whole lot more about BC, than we'll ever know. My Onc. is well thought of at my hospital, and they all say how lucky I am to have him, and that makes me feel better, about all the decisions he made, and so far I'm alive. Make the most of every moment.
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traceyz - thanks so much for the words of encouragement! I will keep your "chemo as cleansing" image with me when I start 2/26. I ready for this next phase of treatment and I appreciate your insight.
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DEAR WARRIOR SISTERS,
TODAY IS MY FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME...GO BUY THE USA TODAY!! I MADE THE COVERSTORY TODAY ABOUT GENETIC TESTING AND BREAST CANCER!! XOXOXOXOXOX
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Thanks for sharing your fifteen minutes of fame!! Very interesting story. I'm at work so can't go buy the paper but found the article and your picture online. Hope you don't mind, I'll share the online link below:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-02-25-1Agenetictesting25_CV_N.htm
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