A place to greet and meet newbies to stage III
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It is ductal, grade 1
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Hi, gatorgrad. Yup, I had neo-adjuvant surgery as well, although it was sort of backwards. We thought my lump was teeny, so I had a lumpectomy, but the path report revealed lots of nodes involved. So the plan moved to mastectomy, but my onc wanted to insert the chemo beforehand.
It's commonly done this way in Europe, and becoming increasingly common here. For many women, it's a great idea. If chemo is delayed until after the mastectomy and surgery winds up with healing issues, the chemo will have to wait.
Good luck and come here when you need to!
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Gator - Sorry you have to join us but welcome. I'm sold on neoadjuvant. It not only shrinks the tumor (s), it helps to kill off all those micro-mets that may be roaming around. Do you know yet if your HER2+?
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Gator: I am doing chemo first. I am getting the impression it is becoming more common here.
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i had chemo after surgery because I had dbl masectomy . a friend in chemo is also having a dbl masectomy and using the same surgeon and is having chemo before surgery?. We both had large tumors. I had enough margins to do skin sparing for recon so maybe didn't need chemo before. I know we are ea unique in our situations and the little detail differences determine our care process.
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I'm having chemo after surgery as well. My tumour was small so there was a good chance that chemo might not have been needed. The results of the pathology report showed a bunch of nodes were involved, so chemo is definitely indicated. I have not even met my oncologist yet. My consultation appointment will be on Wednesday. All of our situations are definitely unique.
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I was glad that I wasn't borderline for chemo. It made it so much easier to accept.
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Tomorrow, 5/6/15, I am going to have a port put in to begin chemo on Monday. Very scared. I am T3 N1(right now). 16 weeks of chemo every 2 weeks. Then surgery, then radiation, then reconstruction. Have a feeling I am going to be doing this for a long time! I will gladly go through all of the pain and suffering if I know I will be okay. My youngest son just finished his first year at the University of South Florida (Tampa). Today I went to get a wig, etc., and he insisted upon buying my first scarf. "Happy Mother's Day, Mom." I know he is very nervous. David has mild cerebral palsy and we went through many years of PT with him. He told me, "Now it's my turn to take care of you, Mom." I guess I'm rambling. Hope I can sleep tonight, have to be up at 5:20 in the morning.
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Gatorgrad,
Your son sounds like a keeper! ;-) My 3 sons were all there for me too. Oh our mothers' hearts.
Please feel a hug across the miles. I was so thankful for my port - a very tiny Bard Power Port.
There are so many firsts when you step into this breast cancer treatment arena .... I pray that your port insertion surgery goes smoothly as you prepare for chemotherapy.
Diana
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Gator - Good luck. I love my Power Port. I started chemo 24 hours after my port was installed. I too have a son who came to town to be my major care giver for each surgery. I'm grateful for him every day.
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Gator, I didn't have neoadjuvant therapy, but sometimes I wish I had. I had a big tumor. I wish we could have shrunk it. It would also have been nice to know if the chemo was effective. I had chemo after surgery so there's no way to know if it helped. Hang in there. I'm sorry you had to join this "club." I hope you can find some comfort knowing that others have gotten through treatment before you. Just take one day at a time. Trite advice, I know, but it does help.
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gatorgrad ...will be thinking of you today - I know it will all go well. Your son sounds like a fabulous young man and it speaks highly of the type of Mom /woman you are! Sending hugs, Candy
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hi gatorgrad and welcome. Please know we are all thinking of you and all others going through this cancer ride. We have all been there or going through it too. Its scary and overwhelming. These forums are very helpful for our mental therapy. Have you joined a chemo group? I couldn't have done it without being in one. I'm a control freak and knowing what's coming and preparing helped me immensely. Let us know how we can help. Sons are great aren't they?
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jenw4kids, ur helping me out. That's exactly how I feel....I have my last rad this week.
Hi Gator, welcome to this board, lots of women have chemo before surgery to shrink the tumor. ur not alone.
Happy Mommy's Day to all the Mommy's out there.
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Hi Everyone,
I'm stage IIIB, post surgery, just finished dose dense AC. My doctor said I had the option of doing weekly Taxol vs. Taxol every 14 days based on my age (46) and my overall health. From the studies I read both regimens seem to be both equally effective. Were other people recommended either the weekly or 14 day cycle of Taxol, and if so, based on what criteria?
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My MO told me the side effects were less intense with weekly. I made 9/12 doses.
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My MO offered me both weekly and dose dense Taxol based on my age and health. I was told that most do better with weekly Taxol due to the side effects were less intense. I choose weekly and glad I did. I'm was one of the few where Taxol was a lot rougher on me than AC. I did make it through 12/12 but barely
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I had 12 weekly taxol and 4 AC every three weeks. The weekly taxol has less side effects. Celebrating one year post chemo Thursday!! Next up is Lat surgery with implants. Ready and a bit nervous.
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hi pbgraham,
I wasn't given a choice for weekly taxols. I'm 43 and they didn't affect me all. The first week I was a bit dizzy but then that cleared up.
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I posted a study not long ago that said the results are the same and weekly is easier to take. I start Tuesday and I am terrified.
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Trvler, I was terrified too. That's how I found BCO, actually. It was the night before chemo started,and I had googled 'I am terrified of chemo' and BCO were all the topmost results. And I read deeply and widely, and was a little calmed by knowing so many other women had done it. I had always considered myself to be a 'tough girl', but this really scared me. Not the DX so much, but the solution... It is absolutely normal to be afraid. But do it we must. You will see! It's actually kind of interesting at first, and then decays into boredom with it... I wasn't even offered weekly.
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I did dose dense Taxol, every 2 weeks. I finished March 27. My sister has just finished 12 weekly doses of Taxol. Her side effects were much less with the weekly dose. I had quite a bit of bone pain and neuropathy which still bothers me in my feet. However, I only had to go for treatment every 2 weeks, which worked well for me since I am working through this and the fewer appointments, the better. Also, I was done in 8 weeks versus her 12 weeks. Definitely pros and cons to each. If the 12 weeks vs 8 doesn't bother you and the weekly appointments are manageable, I would probably choose weekly treatments.
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good feedback on taxol dosing. I am half way thru dose dense taxol every two weeks. Major side effect is bone pain which was much less severe this 2nd time but still lasted as long. I can't imagine getting infused every week so glad I am doing dose dense . They did not offer me weekly dosage. I did dense dose ac too.
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I had 4 rounds of AC and was offered the weekly 12 eounds of Taxol as part of a study. However I chose to go with the 4 rounds every 2 weeks to get it over with! I had minimal side effects however the body aches were exhausting....Claritin helped with those.
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If this is of any help to someone making a decision in regards to Taxol...my treatment plan from MD Anderson had me doing Taxol weekly for 12 weeks. I knew several others that sought an second option there and were also recommended weekly! Sure either way is affective! Cheering you girls on through treatment..there is the other side and you'll get there!!
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Regarding Taxol regimens
Both are effective but there are more toxicities ("neurological events" and "muskoskeletal pain") associated with the 4 dose dense bi-weekly regimen.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/805220
Diana
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I have always wondered why some of us were offered AC-T and others like myself were offered FEC-D. I know. The difference is the frequency of treatment (2wks Vs 3wks). Not that. It makes a difference now but just curious.
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And I had Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin & Perjeta first - every 3 weeks for 6 sessions. Then after surgery, had Adriamycin & Cytoxan - again every 3 weeks for 4 sessions. Couldn't manage the 4th one. I have noticed the drugs prescribed in Canada seem be different.
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MinusTwo - I agree that Canada seems to favour FEC-D. But in US even the east and west coast like different regimens.
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Inks - Interesting observation. I haven't paid attention to who's doing AC vs. TCHP. I'll start watching.
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