TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP
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oh I am so glad I asked this question about the ears, now I will bring it up to my nurse, and Dr. Cause the chemo nurse said it's not related. Now I can tell them there are at least 4-5 of you with ear issues. I was heading to the ENT. Next week to find out why? What? Etc?
I asked my yoga teacher today if she ever heard of cranio therapy that was mentioned on these boards, so she had it done to her and advised me that it was done by a massage therapist to her. So at least I know to where to look.
Chemo for me tomorrow so not looking forward to it, but gonna have to do it. Have a good day girls.
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Stephmoen, I pray that this time because you know what to expect.. You can be more proactive
hydrate & get ready for nulesta. It causes loads of joint pain but is great for your counts. you can come on here & complain all you want in the coming days, I'm hopeful it gets better. Remember each day that passes is closer to the finish line. Best of luck! & pretty hats are awesome to wear if you're up for it besides a wig.. Being bald is also sweet at times, cheek bones & facial structure really are accentuated, hehe.
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Good Morning Ladies ... I wish everyone the best day possible ... I was able to do my treatment yesterday ... nine more taxol treatments to go ... H/P treatments until next April. ... It was an interesting day yesterday. I thought I was getting just taxol ... but Surprise ... I got T/H/P because the oncologist is trying to get me back on schedule... He told me he has treated and is now treating a lot of breast cancer patients and most of them have done ok on these treatments. But this time he has four of us that he is having a hard time figuring out what is going on with our very low white blood counts. I have to get the neupogen shots today, Friday, and Monday. They check my blood on Tuesday to see if it's high enough for treatment on Wednesday. I hope the shots work. I dread the bone pain if it happens. He also prescribed Bentyl for the bad abdominal cramps from the taxol. I guess the four of us ladies have turned into an experiment and are putting his skills to a test. I sure hope we all pass it...It's kinda scary. .. But this is where faith steps in and God is in control....
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Sophie I got nuelasta from the start. First one was the worst one as far as bone pain but only bad for a few days. I just couldn't stand up straight. Narcotics make me sick so I didn't take any.
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Neulasta shots aren't given during weekly Taxol treatments. They can only be given every two weeks so it doesn't help with weekly treatment. I had to get a neupogen shot the day before almost all of my weekly Taxol treatments. My WBC count was always perfect the next day. You shouldn't have any bone pain with neupogen. The neulasta shot is equivalent to (I believe) 10 neupogen shots. They helped keep me on schedule during the full 12 weeks
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I got my Neulasta shot every time the day after each chemo treatment no matter what chemo I was on. Until I was totally done with all chemo treatments. And then went on to Herceptin only then no more shots. Athoough I was on treatments every two weeks.
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I got my path results yesterday. The tumor was 3.2cm, 0/1 nodes, margins all clear (4mm or greater on all sides but one, which was 3mm.)
The report also indicates lymphovascular invasion present both in the perinodal adipose tissue, and at the tumor site.
Anybody know how this could be? I imagine they would've wanted me to do all the treatment options just because I'm triple+, but does this just cement it further?
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cheese - the size of your mass and Her2+ is enough to warrant treatment regardless of LVI. LVI as a prognostic indicator is not well understood, I don't think many oncologists would base treatment decisions off of it only. It wouldn't change the recommended treatment for you anyway
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Thanks for that SpecialK. I get the impression you're the encyclopedia around here
I'm sorry for that, but thank you for sharing your wisdom with us newbs!0 -
Cheesequake they used to base recurrence on LVI but they found that node status was more accurate of an indicator. I would ask your MO this question.
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I just recently saw a study that said 4+ nodes meant an almost 70% chance of recurrence. FREAKED me out. I use to research a lot. Now I drink my green juice, exercise, and stay happy. No need to go looking for trouble.
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had chemo yesterday, so today is the neulista shot , I have started my Claritin earlier this weed and will continue on for the next 5 days to see if this helps with the bone pain. Or longer if needed. Thanks for the info on the cranial massage group, I am going to check in on that for a location or specialist near me. I am going for a lymphadema evaluation since I have fluid build up again at the surgery site, this drainage has been ongoing since February. The last biopsy was clear of the bad cells, but guess I can ask if there is some exercise I can do to minimal the fluid, my surgeon thinks I am still doing too much.
Ok gals have a good day and happy Mother's Day this weekend !
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lago that is good to hear! I will definitely talk to the MO about it next week. I fired the first MO, we'll see if this one is any better...
geewhiz, that's a good strategy. I haven't been able to pull myself away from research yet - I keep thinking of questions and potential negotiations with the MO!
Jerseygirl, good luck!!
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geewhiz first 2-3 years are highest risk for recurrence. Then first 5. So far you've made it through the highest risk period! Also remember you had Herceptin.
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Good Morning Ladies ... Happy Mother's Day weekend ! ... I feel like I have been run over by a truck ... Oh well, I think I have just nine more Taxol treatments to go. The chemo nurse said I would be getting Herceptin and Perjeta for a year. I thought I would only have 4 Perjeta treatments. I'm going to ask the oncologist what the plan is... I have had 2 Neupogen shots and will get another one Monday. My blood work will be Tuesday and next treatment Wednesday... I hope my white counts will stay high enough.... The chemo nurse said to get prepared to have the Neupogen shots every week if the counts stay up ... My old body hurts all over ... I don't want to be touched anywhere ...I told my husband if the PA says these treatments are going to be so much easier one more time I might slap her. ( of course I wouldn't).Yesterday I felt like I might not make it .... the chemo nurse said oh yes I would , and I would be back there Monday for another shot. Did any of you get tired of going to the chemo center everyday? .... Take care everyone ....
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Anyone find it true that hair grows faster after herceptin is finished? I finished two weeks ago, and as happy as I am to have hair again, I can't wait to get a little more length.
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Debiann, my hair did grow faster after finishing herceptin. I also took, and still take, Biotin (vitamin B-7) everyday which is helpful for hair and nail growth. Check with your doc. I think there are a number of women on here who take Biotin.
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Debiann,
I'm still doing Herceptin, every three weeks. My "head hair" is growing at a decent clip. But, my eyelashes are still sparse, and I no longer need to shave my legs, my armpits, or elsewhere.
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Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I don't think I realized we were at the highest risk the first 5 years, I thought with ER after 5 years it was a level playing fireld with Her2 with all the same risks. Glad I am wrong, and if I am not I will stay in my bubble today. I have 3 kids and about to shoot my husband. Every year on Mothers Day, he brings his mom over to celebrate (and he has 6 siblings who NEVER take her on holidays, other than the one who gets paid to be her caretaker). She is in diapers with dementia. And he doesn't change her, I do. So I found out that he did it again this year, and I smiled and made lunch reservations at a huge buffet for me and my 3 kids. So instead of sulking, I smiled and said, "Have fun with your mom, I will be spending the day with my kids". Think that was a mean move? I think cancer did it to me, lol. I am definitely not dependent on others to be happy. I know me and the kids will have a great afternoon!!!
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Debiann, a coworker of mine who's about three years out from her diagnosis and had Herceptin said she thought her hair started growing faster once she was done with Herceptin. That gives me hope.
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geewhiz, you are awesome!!
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gee whiz glad you had a day too yourself with kids, if he loved his mom so much he would get someone else to deal, he is using you, as most men do, my dr finally reamed out my hubby cause he thought I was not sick enough to be fatigued, when I finally went off on him, the dr said its all true, plus each body handles different side effects differently. Don't be taken advantaged of, we are all pretty sick from this horrid disease. Feel better all!
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Some very hopeful news....
A new type of blood test is starting to transform cancer treatment, sparing some patients the surgical and needle biopsies long needed to guide their care.
The tests, called liquid biopsies, capture cancer cells or DNA that tumors shed into the blood, instead of taking tissue from the tumor itself. A lot is still unknown about the value of these tests, but many doctors think they are a big advance that could make personalized medicine possible for far more people.
They give the first noninvasive way to repeatedly sample a cancer so doctors can profile its genes, target drugs to mutations, tell quickly whether treatment is working, and adjust it as the cancer evolves.
Two years ago, these tests were rarely used except in research. Now, several are sold, more than a dozen are in development, and some doctors are using them in routine care.
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Thanks - I should probably add, (so that I dont sound like a complete monster, just an exhausted mom) that other than her primary caretaker, I am the one who takes care of her the most. Her kids ignore her, or "can't handle the pain of not being recognized". I mean, wth? We had always been somewhat close, and she remembers my name. She seems to have forgotten most of her kids. But still, I have my own 2 parents to take care of, not to mention 3 kids. I am now very over my in-laws seeing me as nothing more than a sitting service. When they need me to take her for the week etc., they dont even bring her to me. I have to drive an hour, clean her up etc. And the cost of care would bankrupt her - its precarious. There is a lot of longevity in her blood (parents and most siblings live to 100 years old. Dad was 103, mom 101) and she is 88 and in good health OTHER than complete dementia.So a facility is 7k a month minimum and a nurse is $25 AN HOUR!!! So take that times another 10 years, and well...UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rant done -sorry : )
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You don't sound like a monster at all, geewhiz, I completely understand. My mil had dementia too and we were the only family who helped her. While she stayed in her home, my DH ran his business only part time so he could care for her and he slept at her house many nights for a couple years. When she passed his siblings finally came around, wanting to know what they were getting.
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still sorry for your unshared responsibilities, I am really big on stress and cancer, and wholeheartedly agree that added stress does not help us recover as we might like to, or can! Please consider that her responsibility is NOT yours alone. Tough ! You have responsibility to your own children and self. Tell them they need to have a family meeting and make a decision, life is not fair, but you have your share already and if you want to get better, than you need to care for yourself, if you choose to care for her, I will pray for your complete peace of mind and health to do this job.
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geewhiz people don't understand the stress of caring for an elderly relative especially with some form on dementia. I know my mom cared for my grandfather. He lived with us. She cared for her mother when she was dying of cancer. Then cared for my other grandmother when she was dying of cancer. My other grandfather was upset when my mother wouldn't take him in too. (Note her father was still living with us). He never spoke to us again. Note that there are 5 kids in my dad's family. He went to live with his oncologist son (who had plenty of money to take care of him. Wife is a nurse).
Her father lived to 89. My other grandfather lived to 95!
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we all make choices in our life, we need to understand the choices we choose. Ignoring is not a choice by them, it's using you because they are probably selfish, I understand the part about not wanting to watch a parent drift away or forget them, yes it hurts, BUT. You have your own issues, and they won't go away magically either. Hugs to you and take care of you and your children and tell hubby to get a reality check, your doctor can intervene for you, mine did.
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Hi everyone - I have a few questions. My stepmother who was recently diagnosed with cancer is currently undergoing surgery and will be facing a long stretch of Chemo.
My dad said all three indicators they look at came back positive. I am not 100% sure what all that entails and I have tried to look up information but it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Can anyone help me? My dad also said that when all three numbers come back positive it is not curable....Is this accurate or is he misunderstanding her doctor?
Thank you for any help you can provide.
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Hi FullerMomma!
"Triple positive" means that a cancer is fed by hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and that its growth is stimulated by the overproduction of a protein (HER2). That may or may not be what your Dad was referring to.
If your stepmother's cancer is triple positive, that doesn't mean that it can't be eliminated to the point that there is no evidence of disease. Indeed, many women diagnosed with triple positive cancer can be said to be "cured" if they never suffer from recurrence. But, such cancer is typically Stage I, II, or III.
Now, if your stepmother is Stage IV, that means that her cancer has metastasized. It has left the breast and near-lymph nodes and has made a home in her bones, liver, lungs, brain, or elsewhere. Stage IV cancer is typically treatable but not curable. Many women do live years with Stage IV cancer, but there's a good chance that they will succumb to the disease at some point.
Hope this helps!
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