Starting Chemo September 2015; join us!
Comments
-
revised - path reports says 78% and 75% and now I feel crazy because I know I read 99% and I can't find it!!!!
0 -
Go by your final sx path report as what's reported there is the most accurate of all the exams.
0 -
99% sounds more like an estrogen receptor result.
0 -
we will go with 78. Still really high. Anyone else?
0 -
I have 50 and was told it's high. I think I read on my result that over 20 is considered high.
0 -
My Ki67 score was 72%. But fast growing tumours are supposed to respond well to chemo.
0 -
My MO said you can't just go by Ki67 score. It's a combo of things like the size of the tumor, grade and other factors.
0 -
My pathology didn't even show a ki67 score. Kinda glad about that. My doc spoke about numbers and she started at 50/50 (for the first 5 yrs) before treatments. So every treatment and move we make lowers our reoccurance rates.
best to do everything we feel is necessary and keep up beat. 0 -
Hi I don't know what these ki scores are.My ononcologist didnt talk statistics she just said we're going to give you the best chemotherapy out there, sounds good to me. Don't read to much into statistics Im no doctor but I think we're all getting the best treatment available to which most respond very well. Thats keep that stat in mind.
On a totally unrelated matter...fuck I love not having to shave my legs.
Have the best week you can girls Im dreading round five still gave recovered from four but the end if chemo is in sight.
0 -
right, it's just a cell proliferation number, but it indicates an aggressive cancer (along with other factors all of which I also have), but I was really just wondering if anybody had heard of prophylactic chemo after chemo for breast cancer treatment for highly aggressive tumors?
0 -
Cajun - my ki67 is 50, so not quite as high as yours. My MO's opinion is that ki67 is more important for node negative patients, because it can guide decisions on chemo. His view is that once you already know the cancer has the ability to spread to lymph nodes, the ki67 doesn't give you a lot of additional information (except likely better chemo response, as others have mentioned). I don't necessarily agree, but I'm trying to accept this view as part of staying positive.
I have not read much about moving to another chemo regimen immediately after AC-T, in the absence of mets. I don't know whether it's because it is considered unnecessary, ineffective, or just because the body is too worn down. I do know there is a lot of research on using PARP inhibitors for BRCA+ breast cancers after the initial course of chemo. From what I have read, the general idea with PARP inhibitors is that they take advantage of the cell repair defect with BRCA mutation by closing down an alternate repair pathway, so the cancer cells cannot be repaired and ultimately die.
0 -
When I asked my MO how she came up with 4 AC and 4 Taxotere for me (the # of infusions) because I was thinking with how large my tumor was that it'd make sense to do more, she said no. There's only so many times in your life you can have chemo because it is so harsh on you. If we look at each others regimen, it looks like we are all on about the same # of infusions. So I highly doubt there is such thing as prophylactic chemo because you're going to be killing a ton of good cells, blood and organs. Not worth the risk that way. If it comes back, then you deal with it at that time.
0 -
My ki67 numbers are low: 8% and 10%. But given my age, positive node, grade 3, hormone negative, Her2 positive, chemo was going to happen anyway and they talked about it being an aggressive cancer. Thankfully it's been responding well to the chemo.
0 -
I forgot to mention in my rave for Goat Milk Stuff soaps, they understand our concern for soybean oil as ER+ people. So they have soybean oil free soaps too!
0 -
Because I had a positive node, they didn't bother with ki67 or onotypes as it they didn't need it to determine my treatment. Some chemo drugs have lifetime limits. Adriamycin is one. Others don't have limits. It varies by drug.
It was such a nice day that we went for a bike ride 4-5 miles). I couldn't have imagined doing that while on AC. Taxol is much easier so far.
0 -
I don't know my ki 67 and now I'm afraid to ask. Anyone know if it correlates to the oncotype score? My oncotype was 33 -- in the high zone.
Headed for DD taxol #3 on Thursday. No improvement in the neuropathy in my fingers and toes. Not sure what doc will want to do. Anyone else in this boat?
I must shop for new deodorant.
0 -
Shelly52 - Agree. I am not asking for a ton of data. I trust that I'm getting the best chemo science knows for my overall profile. (I'm on the same 8 weeks A/C followed by Taxol that so many here are getting.)
I too have Taxol #3 on Tuesday (although mine is low dose). My finger and toe neuropathy is responding to 10 grams of L-glutamine, three times per day. I can feel the neuropathy start. Within an hour of taking the L-Glutamine, it goes away. I'm currently taking a capsule supplement while I wait for Juven powder to arrive. Be careful when looking at L-Glutamine supplements: many come in relatively small doses (ex: 500 mg per capsule), meaning you'll have to take a ton of capsules to get up to 10 grams per dose.
"Sticker shock" warning: I estimate taking 10 grams three times per day is going to cost me about $1,000 over the twelve weeks of low dose Taxol treatments. (Less for you on DD for sure!) Good luck, let me know if you try it and how it works for you.
0 -
I've heard about PARP too, for trip neg.
It wouldn't be right after ACT, but rather a couple of years after. Not something my MO suggested, just read about it and was curious.
Waiting in the chair for Taxol #2 and I may not even get it. My counts are STILL low after 3 injections, wtf?!? I may have to switch to DD, just to get Neulasta again. This is SO frustrating!!!!!
0 -
Southern: So glad to hear you're feeling so much better! I hope you get to do all the fun stuff you've got planned! Grab life by the horns and GO!!!
0 -
Grade 3 is the highest aggression of a tumor. You should have on your final path report another series of codes. Mine is PT3 PN1Mi. The first series of codes means: P = primary tumor and T3 means the tumor is more than 5cm across.Next series of codes is regional lymph nodes. PN1Mi. The P isn't defined however I think it means primary node which = a sentinel node which some mets was found in mine. Some places distinguish between sentinel and axillary lymph nodes and some don't. N1 means 1 lymph node had some cancer in it. The Mi part is micromets found in it.
0 -
Treatment denied. 3 more neupogen shots and I start DD Monday + Neulasta. I cried like a baby in my chair, I feel like I'm just losing control. Why not just invite the cancer into my bones while I wait?
0 -
There are different "scoring systems" available for determining the grade of a breast cancer. One of these systems is the Nottingham Histologic Score system (the Elston-Ellis modification of Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grading system). In this scoring system, there are three factors that the pathologists take into consideration:
- the amount of gland formation ("differentiation" or how well the tumor cells try to recreate normal glands)
- the nuclear features ("pleomorphism" or how "ugly" the tumor cells look)
- the mitotic activity (how much the tumor cells are dividing)
Each of these features is scored from 1-3, and then each score is added to give a final total score ranging from 3-9. The final total score is used to determine the grade in the following way:
- Grade 1 tumors have a score of 3-5
- Grade 2 tumors have a score of 6-7
- Grade 3 tumors have a score of 8-9
0 -
Agree with jclc. I scored a 9. it's very possible that i only had breast cancer for 6 months before it had completely taken over 2 lymph nodes and spread to the fatty tissue (it was a tiny tumor, it's amazing something so small can move so fast).
I'm over myself. What a blessing to have caught this early. I saw my holistic doc who gave me a k-12 supplement to boost WBC and I'm going to push hard for treatment on Thursday if counts are up after my 3 Neupogen shots.
Hang in there ladies and thanks for the support! God is faithful through all of this, even in the dark, dark days.
0 -
Cajun - I would cry, too. Push for treatment asap and hang in there. You're so brave and so worth this fight. Holding a good thought for treatment for you Thursday.
Southern - This is a "good" day for me and I'm checking off my To Do list "like a boss"!! Thanks for sharing your positive energy and enjoy the heck out of this week.
0 -
SouthernCharm, I'd ask your MO, but that is likely: the path report can change after surgery...
I hope all have a good week!
Octogirl
0 -
I got my final staging when we met with the RO for the meet and greet. 2 tumors and 1 LN put me at 2b. I think she was also the one that went over grade with us. My RO, MO, and BS work together for quite a few patients and all attend the bimonthly breast cancer conference, so I don't read anything into which one told us.
0 -
cajunqueen: I'm crossing fingers that your counts are good for chemo Thursday; having to wait for chemo on top of enduring the chemo itself sucks
I won't know tomorrow morning's lab results until Weds afternoon, but if my counts are ok, and if the oncologist isn't worried by the rash or theoff/on breathing problems that have bothered me for two weeks, my next dose is Thursday also --- I'll be thinking of you ((((hugs))))0 -
What about make up foundation any good ones out there?
Florida ladies where do you live in Florida ? I'm south of St Augustine . Palm coast
0 -
So glad you are having a nice day, Southern and Lisa!
As far as cancers being "aggressive," I know that Her2 is pretty much always considered so as well as triple neg. Which again, doesn't mean poor prognosis, but it does mean that if you have rapidly multiplying cells, chemo is REALLY important, which is why I cried (that and the menopause, which is making me a basket case). Plus, we all know how hard it is to get mentally amped up for treatment twice only to be sent home with more shots and isolation.
0 -
Oh Cajun- so sorry to hear about your delay. Hoping it is very brief. It sounds like you are doing all you can do. You have inspired me to find a holistic doc -- particularly for when this dang chemo is over. Tips on how to find one?
MNLisa- thanks for your response. I am taking L glutamine. I just double checked that I am taking correct dosage. I am using the powder and taking 15g morn and eve. I don't notice any change when I take it. 😕 also taking 50 mg B-6. It has not gotten better since it showed up. Worried. Glad you are having a good day. Lots of snow here in the cities. Very pretty, but bad travel.
0
