TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Miss Cypher...sending you hugs and patience!

Cypher, I am so rooting for you!  Remember, the lymph system is kind of considered the landfills of the body.  All sorts of crap gets dumped there.  The macrophages are the garbage men, except unlike real garbage men, they eat so much garbage they go to the lymph to die.  So the nodes *can* be enlarged for awhile from a past infection, one you might not have known about.

My father died of advanced adenocarcinoma of gastrointestinal origin 2 years ago.  He had enlarged lymph nodes in odd places on his body, but none were bilateral.  I think you are dealing with an old infection that drained into that area, so try not to worry.  {{{{{Hugs}}}} from the Hoosier State :-)

Thanks Pbrain!  I did notice something called toxoplasmosis, which you can get from eating undercooked meat esp. if your immune system is compromised, says it can be fairly asymptomatic.  So I'm focusing on it being that!  In fact statistically speaking it's probably a lot more likely that I have some kind of largely asymptomatic infection than that I have some other cancer (since I am told this is not a likely route for it to drain into for bc).  Right???!!

Cami, it's interesting that you say that.  I have read on "alternative" (as in contrast to complementary) sites that they don't cure cancer at any higher rates than they used to, but we're just diagnosing it earlier so people live longer.  I don't see how that's possible when I look at the stats of recurrence rates with various drugs -- I haven't seen chemo v. nonchemo, but for ex. herceptin v. not herceptin.  I don't understand the argument -- not sure if it's b.s. or if I'm just not understanding it properly. 

cypher Always be careful of "facts" posted on any of these boards that are not  backed up with legitimate scientific studies. I find on a lot of the alternative websites, they take fact based science and just post only the part of the information that supports a point they want to make… but out of context is not truth.

We all know that Herceptin has made a huge improvement in our survival. Treatement does delay death. That's exactly what it's supposed to do because ultimately we all die someday. It's a SE of living

We also know the AIs and Tamox has helped many of us. Will we be cured? Who knows but keeping us NED for years, decades or is better than playing the roulette wheel going alternative IMO. Complimentary is a real option though IMO.

My onc gave me stats on treatment vs non treatment. With surgery only, bases on my diagnosis and age 40 women out of 100 are alive and NED in 10 years. With chemo & Anastrozole 84 women are alive and NED in 10 years. Given most recurrences happen in the first 2-3 years, then before the first 5 I would say that treatment is helping me. BTW that stat did not include Herceptin. I don't believe the have the 10 year stat for early stage on Herceptin at that time. Early stage use was only approved in 2006.

Well the wellness nurse and ICU nurse has told me below 50 is low for vitamin D. 50-70 is optimal but 70-100 is best to treat cancer and heart disease.

Also says overweight women have more trouble observing vitamin D BC they need more for weight! So y do skinny ppl get it and who are out in sun all day.

My oncologist don't do much of anything was this after chemo? I am asking primary one to see what it is! Hell last chemo guess they didn't want to give me the nausea meds before chemo...I'm sicker and ain't hungry now. 4th treatment is Aug. 7 which is last of AC Yay...I hope this chit don't come back...

I wonder what is the percent that microscope tumor cells can't b detected on bone scans etc?

So does anyone know...If u have a complete response with chemo how likely is cancer to recur?

Gout law

There is a special website for young breast cancer survivors

http://www.youngsurvival.org/news/overview/#sthash.cko9CQdf

Don't leave us Goutlaw but this group can be an additional support for you.

Hi.  I'm supposed to make a decision tonight about which chemo treatment (ACTH or TCH) to go with and while the information has been helpful, I'm just not sure what to choose. Please help.

I have been diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma with Lymphacitic Infiltrate, Stage II (it's a bit over 2cm), and looks like it is in my lymph nodes.  I will be getting chemo first, then surgery (lumpectomy), followed by radiation, herceptin, and afterwards, tamoxifen (recommended for the next ten years).  

My doctor recommends ACTH. While I do want to treat the cancer aggressively, I am concerned about the potential for heart issues, leukemia, and the small possibility that I would not be able to take Herceptin if heart issues were to materialize.  I am 34 and up until now, have always been very healthy.  My doctor says that I should make it through fine and that I shouldn't worry about the heart issues because it is unlikely to happen.  Reading in the forums, I saw someone else post that their doctor told them the same thing.  Although the chance is small, I would like to avoid a chronic heart condition as I imagine it would have a decent impact on one's life.  Does anyone know what the extent of the impact might be?  I like to be active. 

Because of my concern, I am considering TCH.  I have looked at the BIRCG 006 study and the two protocols seem to have similar efficacy.  But, in pure numbers, the recurrence rate is higher.  In the end, I'm not sure if a chronic heart issue or the possibility of recurrence is worse.  

To add to the complexity, I currently live in NY, but am contemplating moving to LA to be closer to family while in treatment.  The philosophy for treatment is different in both places (NY tends to use ACTH and LA tends to use TCH). I am starting treatment in NY and making the decision about moving after I have an idea of what to expect from chemo. I have some concerns about going with a treatment that is less commonly used in a particular location.  For example, if I start with TCH in NY where the hospital uses ACTH most often, I'm concerned that things might not go as smoothly in the administration of the protocol.  Should I be worried about this?

Lastly, I am in an intense design program and wondering if I will be able to handle it while going through treatment. I've read that some people don't experience much in the side effects department while others do.  Any advice on making this decision?  

Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences with me!

flyjune  Both protocols are typical for us HER2+ gals. My onc prefers TCH but she worked with Dr. Slamon so I guess that would make her more east coast. I believe part of the theory with TCH is you get herceptin sooner. BTW technically chemo is a carcinogen. There is a risk of getting some other cancer with many of these chemos but it's very low. The only person I know about is Robin Roberts.

As far as starting a design program right now. I would take this semester off. You will be tired. Maybe not wiped (depending on which chemo regiment you choose and how your react) out but you will have less energy. I have 2 design degrees so I know what these programs are like. Educations is costly. You want to be able to get the most out of your education. Cancer is a time suck but it's only a short detour. Granted you can try to get through it but you really don't know how you will react. I do have one friend that had almost no SE from chemo other than losing her hair… but that's not typical.

My SE weren't too bad and I could have worked through it but not at the usual pace. And as far as school, no way. Last time I was in school I was sleeping only 5-6 hours a night.  I wouldn't have  had time to do chemo treatments.  Did you ask your onc?

Flyjune of course everyone is different but as far as school that's a big stretch--I worked before surgery getting chemo but I could never work the full week I was using sick time, but I just was knocked out to go to work.--So As Lago said this would just be a detour but chemo usually has side effects no matter what it is. Good Luck

flyjune, I agree with SpecialK and the others.  I have never heard a compelling argument for Adriamycin given that you will also be on herceptin, 2 drugs that can damage the heart.  Maybe there is one, but a small potential decrease in recurrence v. a much increased likelihood for a serious heart problem—doesn’t seem like a good trade off for me.  I was lucky and my side effects were pretty mild.  I work for myself out of my home so I was able to have some reduction in my schedule without it being too obvious.  I think you should take the semester off.  This is a bfd and you need to make sure your body has all the rest it needs to fight the cancer and deal with the harsh drugs you’ll be on.  On another note, I kept my hair thanks to penguin cold caps – they are an expensive PITA but were worth it for me.  You can check out the cold caps thread.  I was node negative and I know Lago was as well.  Special K, Bren, and TonLee all had positive nodes and were given TCH.  You can scroll through this thread and see....  Sorry you have to be here and good luck whatever you choose to do.