TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

moon - I know, right?  I am having a surreal feeling of deja vu!  Things look less red and more healing-ish today but I used a magnifying mirror and see that there are a bunch of sort of tiny scabbed areas.  I really, really can't stand the thought of losing the implant at this point, what a horrific step backward that would be.

goutlaw! Yay. So happy for you. 

awesome goutlaw!

So happy for you, goutlaw!

Now, just to get those non-cancerous things cleared up or helped to the point that you don't have pain!

Great news outlaw!!!!

SpecialK I pray for good healing for you, I always think of u as being so strong and u'r attitude too so healing will come to you in the right way.

Ashla  I love to see u'r pretty face here.

Linda I can't help I have no idea but being deboobed too I just thought it didn't matter, I never heard about it til I came here. But someone will answer u--just wishing u good luck.

linda505, there are a lot of docs that say the oncotyping will come back high automatically, but I was thinking someone mentioned that newer tests reflect the positivity more accurate.

But, you are correct that if you are going to do herceptin, the current thought is that it works better with chemo.

 I had 12 weekly taxols, a little less common at the time, but now, it is being touted as one of the best treatments with early stagers. The chemo has fewer bad side effects. I had very few and they only lasted for a couple days.  You might ask you doc.

Thank you everyone!  I'm eating protein and being good!

goutlaw - yay!

linda - the purpose of the Oncotype Dx test is to determine whether chemo is beneficial when added to hormonal therapy for those with a ER+ tumor.  This test is expensive and your insurance company might balk at doing it when they will know that you will already be having chemo and Herceptin.  There are a couple of other tests that are genetic assay tests, also expensive, but if your goal in having the test done is to have tumor genetics on record for the future you might consider Mammaprint.  It tests a wider range of genes than Oncotype Dx and is not confined to ER+ tumors.  These tests are the intellectual property of one lab so the price is steep - Mammaprint is about $5,000, I think Oncotype is about $3,000 - so if you are considering this make sure it is covered.

Thanks SpecialK - I will give my insurance company a call.  I don't know if I really care on the oncotype test, if I have it or not, but was curious if any of you all had it being her2+ and if you saw any benefit from it.

goutlaw that's awesome! I just had a feeling it wasn't cancer. You must be so relieved.

Linda505 they don't do oncotype if you are HER2+ because you will be getting chemo anyway. It's an expensive test. I too had no nodes but didn't to the oncotype test.

Linda it's the lack of not know that is what scares most of us at the start. So many of us here are just like you. You have now entered Breast Cancer University.

ashla - I actually got the bill because the insurance denied the claim submitted by Agendia.  My BS is not part of an overarching trial - this is his personal trial, and the test was done on a biopsy sample, not a surgical sample.  That is how I know how much the bill was!  Needless to say I was a bit upset - already in the shell shocked mode of new diagnosis and then I get an unplanned $5,000 bill for something I was not told about.  I made a few phone calls and the bulldog aspect of my personality came out - I called Agendia and requested an AOB form, signed it and faxed it back to them.  The form says they will accept what insurance pays - so they got the $61 and that was it.  I'm pretty sure my BS office also called them to tell them not to try to collect the balance from me because they had no signed documents saying I would be responsible. It was a good lesson to learn early in the process - be very careful what you sign and know all the plans!  Every aspect of treatment I receive requires advance authorization from my insurance - it is due to the type of plan I have through the military - so all who treat me know this - Mammoprint slipped through the cracks at the BS office.  The auth for the plastic surgeon did as well, so the person who is responsible for both of those things is not on my list of favorites, as I had to do her job and get a stat auth less than a week before my BMX - I could not see the PS until I had the auth so did not meet him until Fri, surgery was the following Mon.  He had been specifically selected by the BS for the type of procedure I was having so I really wanted him - he was nice enough to make time to come into the office on a surgery day to see me.

goutlaw.... Yay!

Linda505.... Her2+ known as aggressive and treated so no need for oncotype apparently. 

forgot ... Welcome Linda505 and all the newbies!

Lago... Good one Breast Cancer University. #sadbuttrue

Goutlaw, congratulations!  you must be so relieved.

SK, ashla, I wonder about the mammaprint because i keep reading studies linking various new discoveries to subtypes of cancer that I have never heard of.  does it give you that kind of info?

Ok MO said he wasn't concerned (he is always very reassuring) but that he would order a bone scan.  He said oh it should not be a long wait to get that.  surprise, two more weeks.  Ok, not surprised....  Which is why I asked him to put it in ahead of time, then Icould probably have gotten it next friday.  oh well.

Linda, I think a lot of the women on this thread are like that!  I know I am.  I had to do a bit of my own research to come to peace with having to do chemo, but I did come to peace with it.  For me it is helpful if i understand why something is really necessary....