TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
Comments
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Patin, yes it was LeeA, and where the heck is she anyway??
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Just chiming in on the TCH for node-positive.
Flyjune - my MO prefers TCH I think because of the heart issues with AC ->TH. I had one identified node prior to chemo, and two others that had identified cells (but no measurable tumors) in my pathology after surgery.
Being +++, and 37 my MO wanted to treat aggressively.0 -
A Scientist Debunks The 'Magic' Of Vitamins And Supplements
http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/07/23/204525108/a-scientist-debunks-the-magic-of-vitamins-and-supplements?ft=1&f=1007&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nprscience0 -
Did anyone here have just one tumor? I had 2 sites plus multiple satellites and focals. Just sounds really horrible and keep wondering well if it made all this imagine what else it did
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Sasha, I'm feeling pretty good, but still not my old self. I actually trimmed bushes this weekend, which was a huge accomplishment for me because I was so weak after chemo. I don't seem to have any side effects from herceptin alone (except the reduced ejection fraction). I don't have side effects from the arimidex either, yet. Only real side effect left from chemo are hemorrhoids and from radiation is an achy breast.
So I'm keeping positive. I'm heading home to Philly to see my family and friends for a week, and when I get back I'm going to start treadmilling at the corporate gym. I need to keep trying to build strength. I know I can do it if I don't get discouraged. I'm used to being a little chunky powerhouse...
Fly, remember, all exercise is very good for your heart muscle, so if you can, keep being active during whatever you choose and during herceptin. I haven't been so much and my left ventricular ejection fraction went from greater than 70% down to 50% on herceptin, so I'm on a 6 week "holiday".
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Goutlaw, I could be wrong but I think the majority of women here had only one tumor..
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Hi my friends....Tamoxifen vs AIs.....I'm 50...hysterectomy when I was 42..still have my ovaries...how do docs decide if your pre or post menopausal and what drug you should get?
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Dana, I was 74 when I started Tamoxifen long past menopause,however I have osteoporosis so my MO would not give me an Al due to the possible bone issues it could cause. August 1st will be one year since I started Tamoxifen. I will see my MO on August 28th for a reassessment. I would love to stop Tamoxifen due to my persistant vaginal discharge side effect,it is annoying but I can live with it if I have to.. I do wonder if the Tamoxifen is as good as an ALfor someone my age but I do trust my doctor...I have lots of questions for my MO...
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chickaD u know the value of flipping a coin? Well think about it. LOL
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Dana, they measure your blood estradiol, LH and FSH. Usually if you have no FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) they call you post-menopausal. Most docs are more comfortable with measuring these analytes twice, so you might get a second blood draw a few weeks later, since the hormones are cyclical.
Eileen makes a very good point though. AIs are tougher on the bones than tamoxifen. I had to have a dexa before they would give me the prescription and I now take calcium with D every day.
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Oh I did have 2 large tumors in one breast and told it was different kinds of can cancer---whatever that means couldn't be that different just some I think. I always thought cancer was cancer but maybe not.
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ChickaD - I'm post menopausal (60 at diagnosis, but didn't hit menopause until age 57). My oncologist told me two years on tamoxifen, and then switch to an AI. I never asked the question why, but I think it's because of the bone-protecting qualities of tamoxifen. Build up the bones before tearing them down on the AI. Remember, it wasn't that long ago that tamoxifen was all that was available - both pre- and post-menopausal women took tamoxifen. I haven't looked into the benefits of the AI class of drugs over tamoxifen for post-menopausal women. Anyone have a summary for us?
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Did anyone else's doctor say they only count the invasive part for staging....Mine says it go by the size not just invasive ?
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OK does anyone know if MRI or path report from biospy or other tests how much is invasive? My one report biospy showed at least 1 cm other site showed at least 0.7cm invasive? Or do u really got to wait for surgery for this?
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ChickaD, I'm 58 and was postmenopausal at diagnosis. My first MO wanted me on Als even though Im periosteopenic. I opted for a second opinion and my MO now agreed that I should use the Tam for at least 1 year before switching to the bone sucking Als. I've been on Tami for 14 mos now and am tolerating it pretty well and my MO has agreed to let me stay with it. She said there are studies (don't know how to find them) that the Als work "a little bit" better reducing recurrence. I'm opting for keeping as much bone mass as I can for as long as I can......like PatnMN says, it used to be the only option.
Goutlaw, I'm not as knowledgable as many on this site, but my experience was that the biopsy report showed a tumor of over 1.3 cm. After my UMX, that pathology report revealed multi-focal turmors, the largest that was only .3mm
That final report is what made the difference of having Chemo/Herceptin or not. Now my fingers are crossed that skipping that treatment will pay off with no recurrences.
In the last MRI, I had a pancreatic "lesion" that has increased in size over the last 8 months. Don't know if its the Tamoxifen or ??? I go on the 1st for an endoscopic ultrasound. I'm praying that it is nothing!
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Goutlaw - I had more than one tumor and one had a satellite nodule. I was told that for staging they only go by the invasive component. After ultrasound I was told there was a 4.5 cm tumor. Following surgery I was told I was stage 2 even though there was 7 cm of DCIS in addition to the IDC and lymph node involvement. Sounds like you are on the right path with your treatment and your final staging will be after your surgery.
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Goutlaw my 1 tumor is bigger than the total of many women's multiple tumors. You are getting treated. Treatment doesn't care if it's one tumor or several tumors. The only difference I see is many tumors is more likely to have an MX and not a Lumpectomy.
And yes they only count the invasive part in staging… meaning they say my tumor is 5.5cm but in total with the DCIS it was 6.5cm. You really need to wait for surgery. going in they told me my tumor was 7cm. They also go by the largest invasive tumor. They don't add them together if you have more than one.
I was 49 at diagnosis. Turned 50 two weeks PFC. I was peri-menopausal (like who isn't at that age) but my periods were regular till chemo. Then they stopped. I didn't want to go on Tamoxifen due to the blood clot issue. I don't have that issue but my mom did. My mom started menopause at 51, sister finished at 53. I am a former smoker (not super heavy but still worth mentioning even though I quite 8+ years ago because smokers usually go into menopause 1-2 years earlier). My onc felt that my periods weren't coming back. She tested me for 5 months. I have the esterol levels of a pre-pubescent male. Also, although my SE aren't terrible I do have some from Anastrozole. Also put on a little weight in the middle. So I know I am done for sure now.Eileenohio at one time everyone got Tamoxifen. AIs are newer. They work slightly better but Tamoxifen is still a great drug.
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Yes...I'm gonna need ativan until Nov. when chemo is done ...Well then surgery and herceptin for the year!
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Thank you everyone for the info xoxo
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For those who are/were node positive, could you tell that you were? Where I am getting treatment, they do not do the sentinel node biopsy until the time of surgery. Since I'm doing neoadjuvant chemo, I won't know for awhile, but the oncologist suspects that I may have positive nodes. I have noticed that the arm on the same side as the affected breast has been feeling different lately - in the armpit area and a little lower down towards the elbow. I know that sounds completely vague, but I think it might be a sign of positive nodes and wondering if that's a good hypothesis or an overactive imagination. If you have any insight on this, I'd love to hear. Thanks!
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Flyjune - I had two nodes positive for macrometastases. What you describe is how my arm felt. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have positive nodes though. At the time of my mammogram/ultrasound/biopsy the radiologist also biopsied a lymph node so I knew from biopsy results prior to surgery that I had at least one positive node.
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I had the same time chemo before surgery--I had mine weekly from June til the end of Sept. and I didn't feel any different with my arm so I'm sorry I can't help u and nodes were tld to me after I think. except I had a biopsy and they just said node positive--but I again didn't ask or think about it---I think that I was told before.
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flyjune It is not unusual for HER2+ to have positive nodes especially if you have a larger tumor or multifocal yet so many of us HER2+ gals do well in spite of those positive nodes.
My BS pretty much assumed I would be a stage IIIA with at least micromets in the nodes. So there a few of us with bigger tumors and no nodes but I think we are the anomalies. You have to remember you have many treatments working here: chemo, herceptin, Hormone therapy and/or rads. That's a hell of a lot of treatment.
Have you seen this thread: Any ER+, Her2+, node positive 3+ years??
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Not sure who asked, but I had TCH x 6 on a three week schedule. I also had Herceptin every week in between. I also had a drop in EF, from 60 down to 48% after my 2nd Herceptin only tx, and was pulled permanently off Herceptin. However, I also had a pacemaker before my chemo tx, so that may have added to my problem. My cardiologist followed me along, and my latest EF was 64% . So back above what it was before tx. I was one that had some trouble with TCH and needed to have an adjustment in dose. They do the dosing usually by a formula, by height and weight, but it doesn't take into account how sensitive you are to drugs. So if you have side effects, call, they can make changes. Much love to all.
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Good morning.
This is from a beautiful website called " Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer". Those of you newly diagnosed and in active treatment may not be able to grasp the meaning right now. I will save this and repost again and then hopefully you can appreciate it's truth.
http://journeyingbeyondbreastcancer.com/2013/07/23/a-poem-to-stir-the-soul/0 -
Innovative technique seeks to prevent lymphedema in breast cancer patients
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/263828.php0 -
Read post
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Hi all,
Ok I had a needle biopsy of that hard pelvic lymph node on friday and I am still waiting for the results. However, I had a urinalysis today and I have those results back -- someone medically inclined can hopefully fill me in on what this means? I have an appoitnment with MO tomorrow morning but I'm feeling very anxious about the results. I guess I paced myself through tuesday afternoon and now it's late Wed.! Anyway this looks to me like I probably have a urinary tract infection, which of course (if true) makes me REALLY happy, because that would definitely explain the swollen pelvic lymph nodes, would it not?
it says WBC'S, UA/HPF -- 0-5 standard, mine is 11-25
trace bacteria
a few squamous cells, which could be a contaminated urine sample i think?
positive for LEUKOCYTE ESTERASE, UA, which could relate to cancer but could be a uti, which seems more likely.
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Cypher - it is most likely a UTI
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