TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
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I know this don't have to do with us triple positives but thought it was interesting.Drug helps breast cancer patients keep fertility
Posted:
May 30, 2014 2:04 PM EDT <em class="wnDate">Friday, May 30, 2014 2:04 PM EDT</em>Updated:
May 30, 2014 2:22 PM EDT <em class="wnDate">Friday, May 30, 2014 2:22 PM EDT</em>
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
AP Chief Medical WriterCHICAGO (AP) - Doctors may have found a way to help young breast cancer patients avoid infertility caused by chemotherapy. Giving a drug to shut down the ovaries temporarily seems to boost the odds they will work after treatment ends, and it might even improve survival, a study found.
"They're really exciting findings" that could help thousands of women each year in the United States alone, said the study's leader, Dr. Halle Moore of the Cleveland Clinic.
"This has implications far beyond breast cancer," for young women with other types of tumors, too, added Dr. Clifford Hudis, breast cancer chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
He is president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which featured the study at its annual conference in Chicago on Friday. More than 30,000 cancer specialists from around the world are attending.
Chemotherapy often causes premature ovarian failure, or early menopause. Doctors think that active ovaries are more susceptible to chemo damage, and that making them go dormant and stopping a woman's monthly cycles might help shield them from harm.
"It's basically a temporary menopause to prevent permanent menopause," Moore explained.
The study involved 257 women around the world under age 50 with breast cancers whose growth is not fueled by estrogen. They all had standard chemo and half also had monthly shots of goserelin, a drug to lower estrogen and temporarily put the ovaries at rest. Its main side effects are menopause symptoms - hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Doctors then tracked the women to see how the treatments affected fertility.
After two years, full results were available on 135 participants. Only 8 percent of those given the shots became menopausal versus 22 percent of the others who didn't get them. There were 22 pregnancies in the drug group versus 12 in the other one. That's encouraging, but firm comparisons can't really be made because not all women may have been trying to conceive, and other factors such as a partner's fertility play a role.
Still, "the difference was enough that in spite of all the limitations in the study, we were pretty convincingly able to see an effect," Moore said.
The benefits go beyond preserving fertility, said Dr. Kathy Albain, a breast cancer specialist at Chicago's Loyola University and one of the study leaders.
"Some women don't care about having children" after breast cancer, but would like to avoid "being jolted into early menopause" by chemo treatment, she said.
Surprisingly, doctors also saw better survival among women given goserelin. About four years after treatment, 92 percent of them were alive versus 82 percent of the others. Again, an encouraging result, but the study was too small to determine whether ovarian suppression truly affects survival.
The National Institutes of Health sponsored the study and researchers originally aimed to enroll 400 women but had to scale back because of government budget cuts.
"The findings are quite provocative," said one independent expert, Dr. Sharon Giordano, a breast cancer specialist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "Using goserelin is an option I would discuss with selected patients" but it doesn't guarantee fertility preservation.
Women may want to consider other options, such as creating and freezing embryos to use after cancer treatment ends, Giordano said.
The goserelin approach worked for study participant Christy Wolford, who was treated at MD Anderson before she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, a few years ago. She was only 28 when her breast cancer was found, and she wanted more children besides the 5-month-old daughter she had at the time. Her ovaries were suppressed during cancer treatment and she has had three boys since it ended in 2006.
"I'm the poster child" for the study, she said.
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Online:
Cancer info: http://www.cancer.net
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what are cold caps?
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Cold cap link <---info on cold caps!
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Fluff, not sure if others answered you on this because I'm behind on this thread, but the AI's inhibit our body's production of estrogen (what we biochemists call endogenous production--meaning what we make ourselves). If you apply vaginal estrogen, (or exogenous meaning from the outside), the AIs won't touch it. So you'll be ok with that if your MO thinks so :-)
And Cami, thanks for your info which is always so helpful. I work for a big pharmaceutical giant and they are a great company to work for, but my Indianapolis contingent is so focused on youth and talent potential. I work with young go getters.. I'm older (54) have medical experience, am being recruited about 2-3 times a day by other companies. But these youngins are rolling their roller bags into work everyday to show they took their computers home and worked at night. I was bald...am older...am wise...am seriously good at what I do...but it is corporate America. I have some thinking to do.
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Hello ladies , my TEs had to be removed today . PS did it in the office . Going to take some time to heal , so exhausted physically n emotionally 2 months wasted .
Well wishes to you all , enjoy the weekend !
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Awe Momx2-so sorry for your day. Get a trashy novel, real popcorn (with butter), and find something mindless on TV for distraction. And sleep.
Pbrain. Youngins. Love it. Let them roll their travel bags/suitcases in and out. You have battle scars and brains. I love the recruitment calls/emails I get. And laugh. If I was younger-yes I would like to go whereever and run your program and do this that and chickenfat.
Work keeps me from focusing on pain. I like what I do. Pbrain-I think that is the big decision. Do you love what you do? Still have passion? I tell my students it is called work because it is not fun everyday. But on the days it isn't fun if you have passsion and love what you do the bad days are still good. If not it is just a job. Good luck pondering.
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momx2, I'm sorry they had to be removed. I'm surprised it was in the doctor's office but then again, I've wondered about going under anesthesia to have this stuff done when I have little to no feeling left on either side. I had some stitches done in the doctor's office and didn't feel a thing when he reopened the incision with his scalpel.
Now you can get on with the business of healing and when the time is right you can get back on the tissue expander saddle. I had to have my first ones removed and replaced with new ones and I had a total of three expanders on the right side (I had issues after my BMX and issues after radiation, etc.).
I've read so many accounts about getting them out once they've failed. For whatever reason you had trouble with these but I bet the next ones will be just fine. Have a good weekend and get some rest.
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Welcome to those have joined us. We are the club that no one wants to be in, but are so glad that we have found each other. There are wonderful ladies here who will listen to your rants, try to answer your questions, calm you when you are fearful, encourage you when you are down and have a wealth of great information and tips to share. I know I am so thankful I found this group a year and a half ago!
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Linda... I did four cycles instead of six. I'm a beauty school drop out! After the fourth cycle I was feeling pain in my hands to second knuckle and a feeling that they were swollen and numbness. My nail beds were purple from blood pooling under them and painful. My finger tips were actually swollen. So I stopped
When it was time for my next cycle, if I had kept going, I looked at my hands. Still about the same. That's when I really knew I would have had severe permanent damage if I had continued.
But I am 5 weeks pfc and I feel pretty good. I just trimmed and mowed a half acre and didn't die. Lol
I saw radiation onc yesterday. I will had rads. 6 weeks states increased not having a recurrence by about 35%. I need slow long treatment as I have a small seroma still and even with only sentinel mode bx I developed LE and cording. So shorter stronger treatment has an increased chance on causing fibrotic tissue which can reduce range of motion. I am a runner and need to be able to move my arms for that and lots of other things too. Lol
Welcome to the new girls. Sucks ass to be here but at least you have us sisters. Happy Saturday everyone!
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momx2 I was afraid that was going to happen. Reconstruction can take many detours (that they don't tell you about at the beginning.) You'll get there though. Go eat some chocolate. Chocolate heals everything
Pbrain working long hours doesn't mean they are working efficiently. I've seen this "spinning of wheels" before. Also they burn out and move on in a couple of years.
princessrn sounds like you had the nail issues I had. Did they smell too?
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pbrain, Hugs. Just Hugs.
Princess sorry about your nails.
Momx2. Oh d*mn! That sucks. I know you are angry, upset, dissapointed, horrified, and just plain sad. Been there. It does get better. But you will make it. As you can see from my signature I understand. I can't believe your PS did it in the office! Another person gad that done too but it seems strange. Mine were all in OR s. Bit the ONE thing that is true on this thread is EVERY P'S is different! LOL Now just take the time you need to get better. Oi was on IV abx after my infections. Are you on Abx?
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Thanks Princessm - glad to hear that you have most of your energy back and hope the nails and hands are recovering - I understand your concern for long term issues. My first does of TCH I had horrible neuropathy for 5 days - ran the whole gambit up to numbness and pain and the inability to zip thing and button things and clumsy walking - My MO reduced my carbo by 15% and that seemed to make a world of difference the 2nd treatment with almost no neuropathy - hopefully that will continue for the 3rd treatment.
Still dealing with this lower back pain today - over two weeks now - went for my walk this am and had to cut it short as midway through the pain was increasing - prior to 2 weeks ago I had no back pain at all when walking/sitting/laying. I had achy muscles and bone pain from the shot but this is not the same - I hope this subsides soon as it worries me - I don't mind the pain so much but I don't like not knowing the cause. I took an aleve to hopefully make it so I don't feel it and therefore don't think about it - but there is no relieve it at all - still the same dull ache.
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mine was several weeks. But did improve
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Susan, I think we should all go find Jiffy Pop. Man, that stuff is good. Probably full of tansfats!
I am very passionate about what I do. I'm currently working on a 3 blood tests for cancer screening. I love battling with the FDA. I just hate being ignored by my company for being old.
Ok gals, got my first Brazilian Blow Out yesterday since chemo. It smoothes and calms my hair (on my head, not pubes). Feels like being back to normal. Not sure if I ever told you guys this story, but when I first met with my MO (and NP and nurse navigator was there) he told me I'd need chemo because of the Her 2 positivity. I looked at him and said "Ah crap, I just had a Brazilian Blow Out!" Everybody in the room just kinds of stopped and stared. I was confused why. I mean I'd really just paid 200 bucks for the smoothing treatment that would last for about 3 months.
Months later I realized they thought I was talking about just getting a Brazilian Wax...on the pubes...Har!
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Well I thought that too!
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Me three...
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hysterical!
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Hilarious!
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I can always count on a laugh when I read posts from Pbrain !
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Make that me 4! Although I would have paid to see their FACES!!! LOL.
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Pbrain-I didn't even read the blowout part. Saw Brazilian and thought that you were very forthcoming with your grooming habits, lol! I started to ask how badly it hurt until I reread it.
I achieved all my corporate goals, had fabulous jobs that were so much fun they weren't even always like jobs. I walked away in 2006 when I was just burnt out, expecting to miss it. Didn't much. I took about a year off and then got my real estate license. I really enjoy it, and especially enjoy the flexibility. I'm not the top person, but I probably could be if I worked 60 hours a week. I don't think I could ever go back to a 8-5 job anymore. Just don't have the interest and like you mentioned Pbrain, we know too much. If I can't be the boss, I would probably know way more than who I reported too, which would drive me crazy.
Day 5 Arimidex...so far so good.
Oh...had a call from the GYN's medical assistant. Said the endometrial biopsy didn't show anything one way or another. They didn't think they got a good sample, and he wanted to repeat the vaginal ultrasound. Apparently I sounded cranky when I asked what another one was going to accomplish when they just did one 4 weeks ago. I got off the phone and called my PCP to ask about a second opinion. they got the ball rolling with a gyno onc that is supposed to be fabulous. Then GYN calls, saying he heard I was annoyed, lol. I explained my thoughts on doing another Vag US. He said I was probably right, but that he wanted to do it himself to look at the lining (tech did it last time). Said he could do d and c, but that he thought Arimidex would solve all the issues. He said my endometrial cells were not atypical, just cells. Told him that was an easy comment for him to make for a drug that has serious QOL side effects. Told him I was going to get a second opinion before I made any decisions. He was good about that. Said the only way to know 100 percent was to have a hysterectomy and he thought that was way overkill. I reminded him that the two times I let the hospital he was affiliated with do treatments, they screwed it up and were wrong in diagnosis, that could have cost me my life. He is aware of what went on and has been great.
So....I don't have any new info, but I am going to check with another doctor. I really feel like I should at least have a d and c, to reassure myself, but trying to not go to the overkill side of things.
Now that Pbrain mentioned going back on tamoxifen if I did a hysterectomy, I feel like I have that option in my back pocket. I have some large uterine fibroids, so I don't think it would be too tough to convince someone to do it. Just kind of tired of surgeries, and short of the pseudomona attack, I have been pretty lucky in recovery. Don't want to jinx myself over something that could be totally optional.
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But I guess I'm an idiot because who would "blow out" your pubes? tee hee.
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And Fluff, maybe I'm one of the few, but besides my concerns for bone mass, I'm currently not having any side effects from my AI. That's not to say I didn't have an absolute ton of them for the 6 months after starting (my poor Mom watched me climb the steps of the commuter train to get home from Philly after Christmas, and she called me about 12 times before I arrived home because she was worried about how I handled the rest of the trip--I was seriously crippled with bone pain and neuropathy). But now all is good and I don't even know I take this drug except for a few warm flashes. So see how it goes :-)
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fluff - a GYN onc is going to have a very different perspective. Glad you were able to get a recommendation.
I hope I don't ever need any more surgery, but if I did you'd better bet it would be a GYN onc doing it.
Pbrain - oh, my!!! I, too, would have paid to see their faces.
Momx2 - ~ hugs ~
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Jiffy Pop! Had forgotten about that deliciousness! I grew up with twin brothers and a sister in the middle of Iowa. Jiffy Pop was a treat because we needed several-by twin brothers were essentially giants who ate everything! Generally it was popcorn in the pan. With melted crisco and THEN butter. Oh my!
PBrain. I uderstand the younguns. Interviewed a young whippersnapper today to run a program in my division. Felt like I was part of the Ark.
The blow out. Cannot describe my initial visual of how that would even happen. And initial thought of why! I am obviously too old to laugh like that without peeing first!'
Love to all.
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Pbrain - re: "who would blow out your pubes" -
I bet the Kardashians have a pube blower-outer on staff and on the ready at all times. :-)
I knew what a Brazilian blowout was because there were signs advertising them all over greater Los Angeles when we lived there. I once had a Japanese blowout/straightening treatment and it was great. For some reason, my skin cleared up in the month or two following the treatment.
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Ok - now i gotta google brazalian blowout LOL - too funny
Here is my work situation. I run a small art publishing business - meaning we make limited editions of artists works and sell them to galleries. This business used to be huge - we still published two of the top wildlife artists in the world - but the reproduction market is about dead. We struggle each month to make payroll, rent etc. To supplement our income there about 5 years ago I added framing - not for individuals - but for organizations like Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and National Rifle Association (i know controversial). Anyway that part of the business does ok and turns a small profit. In January of this year - right before I got diagnosed, the majority stock holder told me to begin to wind down the business. He told me that I could have all the framing equipment and framing customers, inventory etc and could start my own business as a thank you for working there for 27 years. So that was my plan - that way I could keep about 70 percent of the people and maintain jobs and insurance for them also. Now I don't know how I am going to find the energy and desire to do that. I have been going in and acting like nothing is going on, business wise, and in fact in the last month have gotten contracts for framing jobs for next year - 2015 that will increase sales in that area by almost 100k. Running a small business is stressful but if I drop everything everyone around me suffers and I need to work to afford insurance and to live in general lol. BUT I don't know that I want that kind of stress - believe me running this company during this horrible economy has aged me bunches - I know why all the presidents hair goes gray after 4 years in office lol. So - I find myself at one of those forks in the road - I know what is down one path -but have no idea what is down the other. what to do what to do....
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lago... No smell and NP lifting or loss yet. Judy painful and ugly. Lol
Pbrain... Pube blow out. Fab!!
Linda... Geez. That is a tough decision. Think on it a bit if you can.
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Linda hire someone to help you run it.
princessm I hope you don't get the smell and loss but it might happen since you have the lift ugly and pain.
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Good Sunday morning.
Oh Linda what a big decision.==Like Lago said to hire someone to take u'r place, or if there is someone akreadywrking for u with the qualifications u want and u truly trust that person, put them in charge--since they already know the business. If u can do this it would be ideal after all it's hard to give up what u love after 27 years. But still a lot of decision.
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