TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
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LaughingGull and SpecialK, thank you for your wise words! I am grateful! SpecialK, I've got mega chores to do today in preparation for a crowd of 22 at my house for Thanksgiving dinner! I will use that technique as I'm cleaning today!
I finally signed up for a free massage at my cancer center next week and I'll talk to the ladies there about the different classes, etc. that they offer for free. I remember several listed in the brochure were for stress reduction so it's time I look into that! 0 -
Two years ago today (Tuesday before Thanksgiving) I got call from the lab confirming I had breast cancer. It has been a rough two years but I am still here. I finished my treatment in April and I'm doing okay. Now if I can just start looking to the future instead of the past.
Wishing you wonderful ladies Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you Suburbs for the healing thoughts. Thanks Hapa for the information. I'm probably going to take Taxotere if my oncologist gives me the option. This will mean only 2 doses of Taxotere and I'm done. Then I can receive radiation treatments For 4-5 weeks. One good thing about having an Oncoplasty was getting a breast reduction and that may shorten my radiation treatments. Happy Holidays to all
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As always SpecialK - thank you for your thoughtful advice. As a recovering alcoholic (for 35 years) I use what many recovery programs call "the serenity prayer."
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Taco
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taco - kudos to you for your sobriety, it shows your strength! I actually have a medallion with the serenity prayer engraved that has been on my keys for many years. For me it is a succinct statement about an approach to life that provides clarity for me in times of trouble. When I was diagnosed I never prayed not to have cancer, I prayed for the grace to deal with whatever the future would bring.
I join you in wishing all on this thread a happy day of thanks, we all have a lot to be grateful for!
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Hello ladies, sorry I have been out of touch - had the flu for 3 weeks and dealing with some difficult family situations. You are all in my daily prayers for strength, healing and peace.
Welcome to all the newbies; this is a wonderful community of encouragement, hope and inspiration.
I had my annual oncology check up and I am NED, good for another year. Stressed out just a little bit this time around so it does get better over time. Battling severe body pain and two trigger fingers (thumbs) but walking and keeping active helps me both physically and mentally.
SpecialK - thank you for your wise words to live in the moment. You are always an inspiration! I am a firm believer and this is what keeps me thinking positive. It is a hard concept to grasp initially but with practice it helps minimize fear, anxiety and stress. I walk 7-8 miles a day and I call this my solitude, silence and serenity time - I really have learned to enjoy God's beauty and the many blessings He provides each of us every day.
Wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones. We have much to be thankful for.0 -
Congrats deni!
Did you get any scans? What does your annual oncology checkup consist of?
I am going to take meditation classes too. And as someone who cooks daily and has no dishwasher I can attest to the therapeutic value of washing dishes!
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Taco that is amazing!! My poor mom never could kick it and it got her in the end.
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deni - I developed trigger thumb/fingers and found that an anti-inflammatory diet and wrapping the finger or thumb in this type of tape helped. Wrap tight enough to keep it from bending too much but loose enough that you still have adequate circulation and can move it somewhat.
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What is this "trigger finger" ?? I have noticed lately that my knuckles hurt and my middle finger occasionally gets stuck in the down position (better than up I suppose ha!) Is that what this is? Is it Herceptin related? I don't remember this happening with my first Herceptin go 'round.
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BigPeaches,
Google "trigger finger" and then look at the images. Yes, it can involve having your finger get stuck in the down position. It is not related to Herceptin but to aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex (which you seem to be taking).
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Hi deni1661. Excellent news about being NED. Very sorry to hear about the flu and trigger finger and pain and family issues. When it rains it pours! I recently received a card that said I will not be speaking of the long journey unless I am taking you on a cruise. No doubt that phrase journey applies to us TPs. But we are all here and that is something to be thankful for. And in my darkest hours of the fight, this group was here for me and I remain eternally grateful. There are many who have left our group and I pray that that is because they are feeling great and busy making up for lost time. 😀 wishing everyone who is celebrating today a happy thanksgiving.
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Hi ladies- Happy Thanksgiving and holiday to those who are celebrating today!
Just wanted to drop by to say my thanks to all of you; since being diagnosed in June, you ladies, your kind messages and advice have really helped prepare me and strengthen me more during this difficult time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Update: I had my surgery exactly 1 week ago. I had a lumpectomy (tumor shrunk from 1.8 cm to 1.1) and left axillary node removal. I received the results yesterday: my breast tumor was removed with clear margins, and of the 4 lymph nodes removed, the one we already knew had cancer was still positive for cancer but the other 3 were negative. I will have to receive additional axillary node dissection surgery in about a month to make sure none of the other nodes in that area are positive with cancer. If they are, at least they'll be out.
I'm thankful for my life, and the incredible strength my body and mind have demonstrated to have throughout this. I know I have a longer journey ahead that can very well get tougher and be more trying, but I'm living in the "now".
Again, I couldn't thank you ladies enough for all of your inspiring stories, words and perseverance throughout your own journeys.
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BigPeaches - I'm sorry for your loss. My Dad was only sober sporadically in his later years. I firmly believe that addiction is a disease too and not all recover. I try to always be grateful but some days it's hard. A friend posted that this is "gratitude week" and I have been adding mine to my facebook page. Hope I can keep it up - not on line but in my head.
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I sincerely hope the holiday was good for all. I had wonderful Thanksgivings. My youngest daughter cook most of the dinner. I got to go to my grandson football game in the rigid cold weather. Well since I’m triple positive and developed neuropathy. Today I was started on Emtansin every 3 weeks for 2 doses. Then I will be done with chemotherapy. Next on to radiation. Some time in the summer I probably will have a second surgery
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Hi! I was in a similar situation as you are, 38 and was just diagnosed with 2 small kids at home. It will be difficult but it, honestly, won't be as bad as your imagination! The hair loss is what I was most terrified for and , while it was not the most fun time of my life, I didn't mind as much as i thougth I would. My last chemo was February and I have already had to get a hair cut, plus my hair came back MUCH thicker! Hang in there, you can and will do this!
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Hello, all - Sorry I've been absent for quite a while. Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgivings.
I had my FINAL Herceptin/Perjeta infusion on Monday, and surgery to have my port removed on Tuesday! NED and ongoing treatment now limited to Arimidex. So had much to be grateful for this year.
Not least of which is the wonderful information and support that this group has provided, and continues to provide. Thank you, thank you!
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I have been changed fromTaxol to Kadcyla due to neuropathy. I wonder has anyone had to take a Kadcyla? It is usually used after a recurrence of breast cancer while on Taxol or Taxotere or after treatment for metastatic cancer. I do not have mets
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Magari- CONGRATULATIONS on finishing your treatment. What a celebration. I wish you all the best in all your new adventures
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magari - yay!
asknomore - how many infusions of Taxol have you had total?
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Hi All,
I am not new here as I've been poking my nose in for the last 18 months since I was diagnosed. I was 28 when diagnosed in the same week as my daughters friends mum who was 34. She was diagnosed with stage 4 de novo triple positive, and recently passed away. She had 3 children under ten. It’s just not fair.
This has really shaken me, and it's made my fear of recurrence SO HIGH. I am terrified. She passed away about 9 months after a brain mets diagnosis. I am absolutely terrified.
Can anyone shed some light on long term survivorship. I am generallly doing quite well, but I've definitely noticed that my anxiety is at an all time high right now. I am worried because I had positive lymph nodes (2/20) and LVI. Any words of encouragement would be so very appreciated!!
Thank you all in advance!!
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Hi all, happy holidays, and wish you are have a wonderful holiday season.
I was diagnosed with triple positive in July and just finished my 6th chemo yesterday. Will go through another MRI and talk to my surgeon about the surgery in 3 weeks.
My chemo was delayed for one week because of DVT around my port area, so my Dr suggest I remove the port during surgery.
The current plan is a mastectomy on the left, but I am considering doing bilateral mastectomy. Would like to know how many of you decided to donbilatery even though the other one still look an healthy?
Thanks
Hong
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I elected to have a bilateral mastectomy and I am very happy with my decision and I feel as it was the best option for me. I wish you the best.
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Hi, Hong - I have a strong family history and have always had very dense breasts, so I chose bilateral mastectomy when pre-surgical imaging showed cancer only on the right. It turned out to be the right decision for me because post-surgical pathology showed more cancer on the right and DCIS on the left.
I've just completed my final Herceptin/Perjeta infusion and had my port removed the next day. I'm taking Arimidex and will be doing so for at least 5 years.
Gemma - your profile doesn't show your stats, but I'm guessing that you caught your cancer much earlier than your daughter's friend's mother. I assume you also have done/are doing everything your doctors recommend in terms of treatment. That is really all you can do. You might also try mindfulness/meditation, therapy and/or medication to calm your anxiety, since stress isn't helpful. But enjoy your health and live your life!
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Thank you sisterstrong. I will talk to my surgeon, although they don't recommend but I will try to look at the statistics
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Thank you Magari, wow, it’s good that you choose the double mastectomy. I don’t have a family history and my gene test doesn’t show any mutation , but I do have unknown variation in PALB2. I heard that the recovery process is kind of painful for bilateral, how long will it take usually?
Thanks
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Hi SpecialK
I have had 7 doses of Taxol. Developed neuropathy and my Oncologist was afraid if she lower the dose of Taxol my neuropathy woube worse or permanent. So she switched me to Kadcyla every three weeks for 2 doses. The bone and muscle pain I had on Taxol is much less but still prevalent. I have a headache that eases with Tylenol and Motrin but never really goes away. Chills but no fever.
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Asknomore, Kadcyla is a combination of Herceptin and emtansine (chemo). Because the chemo is bound to the herceptin, it is better at targetting only the cancerous cells, and not all the others that cause your neuropathy. It is believed to be close to approval as a frontline therapy in early stage Her2 positive cancer. There's an ongoing trial, about to end, results to be published in 2019, and I understand the results have been quite positive. There is a thread here about that trial, where you can read about some other members that were participating. It's called the ATEMPT trial.
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I guess I should put my stats in my signature. I was diagnosed last month with Triple positive in one tumor, and ER/PR+ Her2 - in a second tumor (same breast). I have undergone a simple mastectomy and am currently deciding on treatment options.
Taxotere, the synthetic Taxol, is stronger, but a non-starter for me. Not only is there a class action lawsuit currently being fielded (for nondisclosure of the risk of permanent hair loss), but I'm very nervous about side effects.
I am the poster child for rare side effects. Have been all my life. I can rarely take any medication successfully.
Doc has proposed paclitaxel and herceptin, but there are side effects there also, including neuropathy. That's why I'm so interested in the ATEMPT trial, since it is less toxic than either of the others.
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Thanks. As my PCP and neurologist would say my body doesn’t follow the typical pathways. I’m allergic to some unknown deviratives the use to buffer injectable or IV meds so I ‘m alwary leery of any new IV meds. Most if not all Chemotherapy has the side effects of neuropathy. Kadcyla has neuropathy listed as a side effect. The good thing in this,I only have one more treatment. What I would have like from my Oncologist is the information that a trial was currently ongoing on using Kadcyla for low grade breast cancer.
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