Stage II w/Lymph Node Involvement
Comments
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Glenna I have no regrets getting the port. They can't seem to find a vein in my hand. Use the numbing cream on the port 45min before your appt. you will not feel a thing. I never read this site before very interesting. I have had my exchange with not ideal results so having it done over in Nov.
I was told by my onc Dr. I would need rads all a long but when I went to Radiologist he said no. This was all before this new study. I had 26 nodes removed. I have to go with the mind set they got it all with chemo.I have 4 Grandchildren that I need to dance at there wedding some day.
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I was never told about vein issues or offered a port.It has taken 3 years but finally my veins are starting to recover.They may be uncomfortable but you will not have as much problems with bloodwork or scans down the road.I have never been bothered by needles but when your veins are shot bloodwork is a nightmare.
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Hey All,
I stayed home today. I had a temp (99.5) with nausea and vomiting. I pushed fluids and rested. I feel much better. Is this what I have to expect as far as the temp? I'm supposed to go to the ER if it gets to 101.
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To Beads..... What do you mean by exchange? Sorry new to the lingo.
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Hi Glenna - I hope you're feeling better! Did you call the on-call doc or your doc to be safe and let them know what's going on?
Exchange is the surgery to swap out tissue expanders for saline or silicone implants.
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Thanks Kasi for explaining exchange to Glenna. I have been away.
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Thanks for the explaination. I emailed my onc. and they said that what I'm doing is fine. I should not take tylenol as it would nask a fever. If it gets to 101 I have to go to the emergency room. So far my tremp is back to normal and I feel much better. Tomorrow I get my port put in.
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Thanks, Claire! I'm glad to hear that - I have ER+PR- also and have been on Arimidex for a little over a month even though my ER receptors are only 5-10%. I'm having joint pain and am a little discouraged but grateful if it helps me! I used to cycle 20-30 miles 3-4 days a week but a couple years before diagnosis I was so tired and working a lot so I got out of shape. I've started back walking 4 miles several days a week and hope to start cycling again soon. I may be having more chemo in a trial setting, not sure yet - but am due to start radiation soon, too.
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Hi everyone,
Everything went well with the port. I ahd my 3rd Taxol and is feeling fine. I'm going to rest this weekend. My white count has dropped considerably. It is now 3.4. The range is 4.0-11. Any ideas of what to eat or do to keep it up? Or do I just live with it and limit contact with people, wear a mask etc....?
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Glenna56 - your white count is generally not affected by eating or doing anything. Your count should increase with Neulasta or Neupogen injections. Your onc should make a decision about that based on your lab results. Limit contact with anyone you know is ill, avoid crowds and wash your hands A LOT!
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Thanks SpecialK, thats what I thought. I'll keep doing that. I'm sure my onc. will let me know when it's too low.
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Anyone have positive lymph nodes with extra capsular extensions?
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Michele - My sentinal node was 2 cm with extracapsular extension and I had a 2nd positive 1 cm node also with ECE. It still kind of freaks me out. My MO, BS, and RO were all in agreement that agressive radiation was in the cards. So, that's what I did.
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What is extracapsular extension? I had 4 nodes involved and a couple of them were 2 cm or more.
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It is a positive lymph node that has gone "outside" of the node, making it extra capsular. I had very aggressive treatment, 4 dd a/c, 4 dd taxol/herceptin, 28 rads, every 3 weeks herceptin for a year. I'm hoping that took care of it!
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hrf - ECE is when the cancer cells have broken through the capsule of the lymph node and extend into the surrounding tissue.
michele - I had dd AC and dd Taxol along with the radiation too!
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Thanks for the explanation. Nothing in my report indicated that. I had 4 cycles of TC followed by 25 rads following bmx.
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Michele - I had extracapsular extension in one of the two nodes positive. Freaks me out. But I'm getting aggressive treatment and rads so hopefully if any cancer cells broke out of the node, they are being demolished.
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knowing that the cancer had made it to my lymph nodes is the scariest part for me. The bs days it looks like the nodes caught it all but hate the worry in the back of the mind..Seeing the MO on Tuesday to get the chemo/rad plan. Can't wait til this nightmare is over and my new boobies are here!
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wow Mags... you were just diagnosed... where are you in the process? I gather you have not had surgery yet, right?? One day at a time.
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That's what the nodes are supposed to do...catch it!
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bdavis...I have already had the bmx on the 23rd of August. The initial path report listed my tumor grade 3 trip neg and metaplastic. Researched that night what that meant and kinda freaked out a bit. Guess it is super aggressive. I went back to surgeon on the 19th and expressed my fear and he had just had a cancellation in his schedule that enabled him to do the surgery 6 days after official diagnosis. It has moved quickly from the beginning, a real whirlwind but glad it did as the tumor went from 1.7cm at biopsy to 2cm in 2 weeks. I will find out my chemo treatment plan and about rads Tuesday at my first MO appt with MD Anderson in Orlando.
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Thanks, ladies. I sometimes feel like I'm alone. I have yet to meet anyone with + nodes.
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Thanks, ladies. I have not yet met anyone with + nodes, nevermind ECE. It's comforting to know others know how I feel. I'm thinking positive.....and movinnng on!
Kasi - Sounds like you are almost to the middle of your treatment. Hope you are feeling well.
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MAGS... I had been told that my tumor was 1.5 or 1.7 from imaging and biopsies, but when it was removed it was 1.9cm... my surgeon said it did not grow in that time, but rather, the tests are estimates, and until they remove it and measure it there is no exact science... so maybe yours did not grow as fast as you think...
Glad you could get your surgery in so fast...did you have recon?? I had my second surgery for recon on Aug 23, so looks like we are on same schedule?? Sort of... My BMX and first recon was July 21, but then had complications and they had to rebuild my right breast on Aug 23... had hip flap surgery first, then DIEP.
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bdavis...no recon yet
gonna wait til done with chemo and rads0 -
Week #3 of taxol, and my hair is starting to fall out. I'm ok with it though. I'm also very nauseous, so I've taken the compazine and waiting for it to kick in. My taste buds are really bad. Everything tastes nasty.
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Hi Everyone:
Anyone here had the oncotype. I know most oncs do not feel its safe to use if node positive to make tx decisions. But some say their oncs did use it. Also did anyone refuse chemo? I keep getting different opinions from the oncs. rad- no rad, hormone therapy 5 yrs verses rest of my life, chemo yes by all so far but I may refuse. Do not judge yet. I have a 10 cm cyst on my liver (for years that is blood filled) I have been so careful not to take many meds because of being absorbed by the liver. Was told if it burst would bleed to death but it is inoperable, My onc said bs. Getting 3rd onc opinion tomorrow. Confused and not sure what to do!
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Dixie... aside from the cyst, I say get the chemo... it was easy (for me)... had Taxotere/Cytoxan///... BUT of course, you can't make a decision aside from the cyst...I am surprised it is inoperable... is it intermixed with the liver? I had heard you can cut some of the liver out and it regenerates... I would get 5 opinions.
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Thanks bdavis: its nice to hear someone say they did fine with the chemo. Im so scared of side effects!
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