Stage II w/Lymph Node Involvement
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I was told the same thing. I was clean at surgery and then a few days later 1 of 4 had cancer. The ups and downs are the worst!
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I'm also hoping my nodes were doing their job. I was diagnosed in Nov 09, have gone thru sx (lumpectomy), chemo, rads, and am on tamox. I just finished rads less than 2 weeks ago, and I was told even if I had a mx they would have still recommended rads due to being highly triple positive. They also radiated the supraclavicular nodes, just to be on the safe side. I had 2/12 nodes pos. Am doing herceptin until March and am waiting, waiting, for a bmx. So far everything has gone quite well, but have developed a throat/ear infection right after rads which I am on my 2nd round of antibiotics for. They weren't going to do any additional scans for me either, but I asked for a baseline so they did a bone scan, and abd scan in addition to my chest xrays and mri.
I don't post much, but read daily. Have to say this thread is a very positve and informational experience!
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Same here. All nodes clear at surgery; one micromet (1.5 mm) in 1 of 4 nodes after further testing. Then had axillary node dissection, and all 16 nodes negative. Talked about the Oncotype test, but regardless of the outcome I wasn't willing to make the decision to not have chemo given my stage and grade. My onco made it clear to me that it would be my decision, not his recommendation. Even though it was a micromet, it had traveled and divided so he considered me node positive. After discussing with my DH more, decided I would do chemo so no reason to wait for the Oncotype test.
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I had a similar experience. BS said that MRI and clinical exam did not indicate node involvement but she wouldn't know for sure until after lumpectomy and SNB. Path report showed all 3 nodes positive so I had axillary dissection 2 wks later and the next 14 nodes were negative. BS did caution me that diagnosis could change depending on path report but I was sad to know I needed additional surgery and scared to know I needed chemo. I agree with Jag that the ups and downs are the hardest part. You cling on to any glimmer of hope and good news you get. Bad news - you have BC, good news it'e early and treatable, good news clear margins after surgery, bad news 3 nodes positive, bad news chemo is recommended, etc
I finished chemo 6/5/10, finished 34 rads treatments 8/16/10 and started Tamoxifen 8/30/10. I had a follow up with my rads ond and onc last week. I did not have any scans or blood work done. I will see onc again in 3 months.
Gina
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Dr visit yesterday was a waste of time. I went to onco/rad he said I need to see an onco/hemo. The surgeon made the appt. I will hopefully talk to him later today to find out WHY. He told me what would happen with rads but I should have chemo first. My appt is for Oct11,this is such a slow process. My mammo was Aug 3 follow up mammo the 19 biopsy Aug 30. Diagnosis Sept. 1.Lumpectomy on Sept 22.everything is hurry up and wait. I would be content with the fact that the tumor is gone if only i knew if any more nodes were involved other that the one and only one removed.
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Hi Gina! We have a very similar diagnosis as far as lymph nodes, etc. are concerned. I had surgery on 7/9/10. Have you had any lymphedema issues? I saw that you were working out and cycling. Thanks! Emily
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Hi Emily, yes our lymph nodes are the same! I have not had any LE issues and I just had my onc appt last week and he saw no swelling anywhere. I have been walking 2-3 miles every day and my spinning class starts in 2 weeks or so. I will ask for help moving my bike because I've become more cautious about moving, carrying heavy things on my left side. I did go to class during chemo (when I could) and didn't have any problems. We are going on a trip in November so as a preventative measure, I was fitted for a sleeve. My onc wrote the order for it and said he has no problems with me wearing it before, during and after the flight. That's all I was planning to do. I really want to do whatever I need to to prevent LE.
How are you feeling? Gina
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Hi Gina! Doing great! Just had my 5th chemo today and so far so good! I usually start feeling it on Monday which is when I get the Neulasta shot. The lymphedema clinic has really been helping me and I should receive my compression bra on Tuesday. I am interested to see the difference between the new bra and the sports bras I have been wearing. At this point they are trying to get the swelling down (it isn't too bad) before they order the compression sleeve. I will be using it for exercise, gardening, etc. I too am trying not to carry anything on the left side and I can certainly feel the muscles on the right side groaning! Of course, I am the fool who wants to carry everything in from the car at once so I need to adjust that a little.... Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Emily.
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Emily - Glad to hear you're doing well. I remember the aches that came with the Neulasta shot, not to mention the shot itself. I'm like you, I always want to make as few trips as possible and overload myself. I always loaded up my left side because I'm right handed so I am more cautious. I hope the rest of your treatments go smoothly and you're side effects are manageable. Take care, Gina0
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wow that poem is amazing...
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Hey ladies, I am joining your group and thought I would introduce myself. I had a mammogram on 5/10 which showed no changes from previous scans and found a large lump in August. I waited until the middle of September to see my doctor because I just had a clear mammogram and the lump popped up when I started my period. I was diagnosed on 9/15 and had a umx of right breast on 9/27. I start AC on 11/3 x4 and Taxotere x12 after that.
I have started reading from the newest posts and going backwards so I can learn about each of you as well. It gives me peace to know I am not alone. Support via the boards is better for me than trying to find a group in my area. The boards are always available when I feel weak or scared.
Susan
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Welcome Susan! You are right, you will find a ton of love, support and knowledge here 24/7.
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Finally met with onco/hemo today he said yes axcilla node removal should probably be done. Back to surgeon on Wednesday for more info. Body scans Friday then if scan shows anything alarming we will weigh the surgery. If scan is clean we will proceed with surgery. With info we have now he says 6 chemo treatments. Then radiation for six weeks. My tumor was removed 9-22 and was 1.9 c. Sentinel node tested positive after stain. I worry so much about the next surgery fear of lymph edema. I also feel as though maybe over kill but you want to give them all the info possible to treat you. I love this site so informative and interesting. My favorite sites used to be Facebook and my grandchildren's blogs. Amazing how a BC diagnosis changes your life........
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Hi Diane--I had 1 sentinel node positive aswell but they went on to remove another 6 during the same surgery. There was a hold up for when I started chemo (back in August) while the Surgeon decided on whether to remove more nodes--he stayed with just the 7 total. I haven't had any indication of lymphedema--even went to a lymph node specialist massage for drainage just incase and she even said that it was clear that I was OK at that point. I don't imagine that the risk for lymphedema increases whether they take the nodes out in 1 or 2 surgeries. Just sucks having to have a 2nd surgery. Good luck and I'm sure you will get through this next step very well.
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Thought I'd share my quit smoking plan....
I've been trying patches, gum, cutting back and nothing is helping. However, I did quit with Champix before, and so I've started that again today! Next Tuesday will be my official quit date - wish me luck ladies!!
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IsThisForReal: You sound really motivated to quit smoking and that means you will do it! We are cheering you on!
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rachel15738...Thanks for the come back. Still waiting for phone call on results of onco test. After that i'm sure they will be taking me in for the additional node removal. After all we don't know about any of the others cause only sential was removed. Surgeon did say he saw no more nothing else showed up. ...............IsThisForReal: Good luck it is tuff, been there done that. You can do it!!!!!!!
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Hi
just wanted to check if anyone here had TAC regimen for chemo or dose dense AC-T. Would love to hear your experience before deciding on which path I would go.
thanks so much
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I did TAC. 6 treatments 3 weeks apart. I was given the choice of AC-T or TAC. I simply asked my Onc......If I were her sister which one would she choose? And she said TAC. So that is how it was decided. The first TX was a breeze. Actually went out for dinner and a night of dancing 2 days after. But like other regimens, each treatment got harder to tolerarate. Fatigue and constipation were my 2 worst enemies. And of course hairloss and taste bud issues. Otherwise came through it pretty good. Was able to get to the gym on occasion and rode my stationary bike at home sometimes too.
Good Luck to you, Chemo stinks but you can do it.
Navy
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Prayers - I had the DD AC and then DD T. I finished chemo 6/4/10. I tolerated both regimens pretty well. I was foggyheaded for a few days after the AC and I had some bone pain a few days after T. I did not have any nausea to speak of after the first AC. I took the meds as prescribed and it makes a difference. Overall, I tried to eat well, drink TONS of water and exercise ever day and rest when I needed to. I worked full time but left an hour early every day the week following treatment. Will you be getting Neulasta shots? Take care, Gina0
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Hi everyone. I had a uni mx, 6 tx total: fec (3 xs) and 3 of taxotere. I had a neulasta shots each and everytime- I am glad I did because I had to work through treatment. I drank water, sucked on jolly ranchers during treatment. I also exercised. There were times when I didn't think I could do it, but taking the medicine as prescribed was very important. I did have nail issues and discovered that slathering my toenails and fingernails with bag balm helped out. INow two years later I feel better, but have had issues with low wbc and I am concerned about that. I will find out the 29th if my blood counts are better. I also have issues with nueropathy-especially my feet. Oh btw, I don't think I'll ever be able to suck on Jolly Ranchers again!
Ginadmc's point about drinking water is very important. I also made sure to take a sleeping pill and that helped too.
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Jess: I also did 3 FEC and am having my second of 3 taxotere's tomorrow. Four days after my last taxotere, I had some pain in my legs. Did you get that? What did you take for it? The nurse was not real helpful last time, said to take ibuprofen, which didn't seem to help much. When did your neuropathy start? So far I haven't had any, but it is a SE I worry about.
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I did have leg pains and was told to take ibuprofen for the pain. I discovered stretching and real easy walks helped. The worst part was when the nails were affected. I had funny black streaks along my thumbnails and I lost my two big toenails. The neuropathy actually started after the 1st taxo(terrible!) It would start in the morning when I got up and then as I started to exercise- my hands and feet were numb and tingly. I don't have it so much now, though if I sit for a while and when I get up in the morning, I hobble about.
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thank you all for your responses. yes, the onc mentioned the neulasta shot. my biggest worry is that i want to look good in front of my two little ones when they are home during the week end. they go to preschool during the week, full day. i want to feel good and play with them, do things with them during the week end; in that case, what would be the best regimen and most importantly what would be the best day to get the infusions ? thanks for your inputs, they really help me A LOT !!!!!!
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I had all my chemo TX's before my surgeries.Ac round first then Taxotere round.Used the icepacks on my hands and feet really helped with the nails.Even kept my gel fingernails all through treatments.
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could you please elaborate on your neuropathy? I have had my first paclitaxil treatment and deveoped neuropathy. I'm not sure the chemo is worth it if I have neuropathy permanently.
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Oh yes, I used ice packs as well. I held onto packs and rested my feet on ice packs. It definately helped. Forgot all about that.....
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Hi all!
I had a lumpectomy and axcillary dissection in 12/08. The following morning the surgeon said the nodes (other than the sentinel node) looked perfect, but the pathologist thought differently; 4/14 nodes were positive. I also had triple-negative receptors, and so I wasted no time starting chemotherapy. Did 6 rounds of Taxotare and Cytoxin at three week intervals, followed by 7 weeks of radiation.
I lost my hair, eyebrows, eyelashes and some fingernails, and had some of what I called "sleeping on the bathroom floor sick" nights, but more or less worked through it and two years later all appears well.
When people remind me that what I had was a really scary beast that had "already" moved on to the nodes, I remind myself that I'd rather have the maximum treatment at the outset than be told that wasn't necessary, and have the stinker come back later.
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Hi All - I am new to this site, just diagnosed on the 20th of November. Had a 'normal' mammogram last year. Gyn found a 'thickening' this year at my annual exam - this year's mammo was about 370 days from my last one and they found a large (approx. 4 cm) tumor and one large (1 cm) positive node - the radiologist was fairly sure it was cancer when I had the mammogram; biopsy confirmed it's IDC. I don't yet have receptor status or grade or anything else. I have an appointment with the surgeon on Monday and I will (hopefully) get those details from the pathology report? The surgeon mentioned that I would have an MRI of my breasts (they found what they think is a cyst in the right breast) and a PET scan to look at my entire body. Did any of you have a PET? Based on what I've read, it seems like mine might be growing faster than 'normal' - anyone else have a 'good' mammo followed a year later by a bad one? I'm a bit overwhelmed right now and have a couple more questions:
Did anyone choose neoadjuvant chemo? The surgeon says there's no difference in overall survival so I will have a choice - can't find much info on pros/cons except that if it shrinks it might allow for a lumpectomy rather than mx - is that an option if you have lymph node involvement?
Are the chemo regimens based on specific tumor characteristics? the only person I know that went through chemo was positive for the gene and triple negative so she had a pretty tough protocol. I am trying to figure out what I will do with work - I commute to SF from the East Bay (2 hrs/day commute) and am not sure if I'll feel well enough to do it or not. Sounds like some of you have worked, and exercised, through chemo - is that typical? Maybe I'm imagining this as worse than it will be (or is that wishful thinking?)
Mostly I'm freaking out due to lack of information - knowing that it's in there, maybe spreading, and I'm just waiting for appointments is making me crazy - sure hope to move things forward in the next couple of weeks! Also - I'm 47, have a 13-yr old daughter and a 9-yr old son. My son is a cancer survivor (he had a rare kidney cancer when he was 3 and is almost 6 years out and still NED). I hope to join him in the survivor category!!
Glad to have found you guys - I'm sure I'll have more questions once I have more details.
Donna
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I already got goosebumps about your son, of course u will be a survivor , you r already a survivor , sorry that u are here but be happy that u already know about it and let me tell u something when u get your report and go on with your treatments u will feel much better , i have been diagnosed just 2 months ago and i ahd the worst feeling at first and the most fear when i was doing the pet scan to see if its anywhere else in my body. I was also thinking its spreading everyday. I am living in CA and i am getting my treatments in the best cancer center in CA . I am doing chemo before surgery but i wanna do mastectomy anyways . I got 2 more opinions and they all agreed by doing chemo before surgery u can see the respond of the tumor by shrinkage and plus u can start the chemo as soon as possible without waiting for recovery after surgery and by doing so u can stop it from spreading ASAP. But again there are cases that they prefer to do the surgery first . And there are lots and lots of survivors who did so .
Just remember to overcome your fears first and remember that u have to do whatever u can to be there for your kids . I have a 3 year old daughter and i am fighting just to be there for her with hair or no hair !
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