TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

My worst days were 4-7 and I scheduled off work due to fatigue and pain from Neulasta. Like others flying high from steroids and if I was scheduled to work weekends after my infusion on Wednesday I would extend my taper by a day or two. C was my issue caused by the Zofran so I took colace and magnesium citrate starting the day prior thru day 3. (chemo day is day zero)

Yes, the term abortion is used for a miscarriage too. I learned that when I miscarried with my first pregnancy. I also learned that some people in the medical field should be more sensitive and know what they are taking about before opening their mouths.

It started with an ultrasound where the female Asian doctor announced, "oh, baby dead." Yep, just blurt it right out like that.

I needed a D&C. The woman at the hospital registration desk saw the word abortion on my file and snarled, "Why don't you want this baby." I broke out in tears crying "because they told me its dead."

I guess we all have our own  list of stupid or hurtful things people have said to us. Those two have topped my list for the last 31 years.

This weeks issue of Time magazine arrived today. Interesting article-the cover actually-about breast cancer.

I want our group back. I don't post as often but I read every few days. I miss you guys.

ElaineTherese.

Ha! I would strongly recommend continuing at least until you meet "cute young partner"! I am older than dirt and I want to plan a trip with ladies on this thread to someplace with hot and cold running maid service AND cabana boys. Old. Not dead.

I haven't talked with my OBGYN yet, but my BS is not keen on me removing my uterus and/or ovaries. I am a long ways out from menopause though, and she says to focus on the cancer I have and not to worry about a cancer I may get. She is not willing to do two surgeries in one when I have my lumpectomy so I guess there is no rush in deciding or even talking to my OBGYN. Then again he is getting up there in age and he hasn't mentioned a "cute young partner" taking good care of me.

Is Tamoxifen the only option for pre-menopausal? Other than a hysterectomy? Talked with my PP today about needing to switch off Paxil in the next year--this is tricky territory in my case. Really need to explore all my options--granted, switching a med is a lot less invasive than surgery, but I will do anything to protect my mental health.

So I went to see my OB/GYN to discuss an ooph. He told me absolutely not, no way. My MO said the same thing. they said that my ovaries provide a lot of other benefits, and that I was far too young to have them out. Sooooooooo current plan is ovarian suppression for at least the next two years and take it from there.

I don't know who was asking about Herceptin only - there are a couple of the people on the board on Herceptin only. They are rare though, but some MO's will ok it. For what it's worth - I had only 1.5mm of IDC. I went for the Taxol/Herceptin combo. I was too young, and her2 was too scary - for me, I wanted the protection even if it was overkill.

SpecialK, thank you for the info! I will ask my MO this week what he was thinking. None of the options sound particularly appealing. Just another benefit of joining the club no one wants to be a part of!

zjrosenthal I'm doing much better on Exemestane (Aromasin) than Anastrozole (Arimidex). Been on it almost 1.5 year now after 3 years on Anastrozole.

Cause for much optimism for all of us. Lots of promising research on the her2 Pos front

The latest..

..http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-two-hit-ther...

I have been going back and forth on what to do for hormone therapy I am 30 but after reading that soft trial again I definitely think I'm going for oopherectomy I would rather deal with complications from ovary removal than cancer again I can't go through this agai

Hi all,

I am writing on behalf of my mother. She was diagnosed with extensive DCIS in July and just had a mastectomy two Fridays ago. Path reports showed there was a small amount of IDC (<1cm) and also micro metastases to 2/3 sentinel lymph nodes that were removed during surgery (.22mm). She is triple positive and is entering a clinical trial (ATEMPT) at Dana Farber next week. We are still unclear whether she will need radiation. Anyone have a similar diagnosis? Her surgeon said she is cancer free and this is only to prevent recurrences but I don't see how that is possible. What if there are more cancer cells in axillary lymph nodes or that have spread to other parts of her body? This is all so new to us. Any opinions would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Kira sorry you are here for your mother, the chemo is the tried and true for BC now that she has had surgery, I have triple positive and for now they can at least fight this scourge .All the major research hospitals are trying to eliminate this disease so they will treat it aggressively, unless you mom is to weak, hopefully she will be cancer free soon.

Quick question: do the chemopause hot flashes dissipate after chemo is over, or do I need to learn to live with them for the 10 years on Tamoxifen, too? Figured I'd ask the experts.

I'm halfway done with chemo, and trying not to entertain dark thoughts about statistics and mets and whatnot. It's just hard for me to get my head around the idea that there's a possibility that clean nodes doesn't necessarily improve DFS stats. My fingers (and toes) are crossed that 1) Herceptin/Perjeta is the wonder combo it's touted to be, and 2) that today's echo shows good LVF and I can keep getting HP.

lago, I find myself returning to your two "speeches," so I thank you again for posting them.

During my last infusion, I had a weird reaction to the Carboplatin (my stomach started to feel like it was eating itself). My doc--who is wonderful--put me on Protonix, but I'm seriously considering asking her to reduce or drop the Carbo. From what I've read, it's the taxane that's most important--is that correct?

In the interest of my own education, I've been watching the Ken Burns/PBS Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies. It's fascinating and well worth watching, if you're so inclined.

Kira - for most of us surgery removes the cancer, and systemic treatment is an insurance/mop-up situation. She will receive appropriate treatment with either arm of the ATEMPT trial, but you always have the choice of opting for Taxol/Herceptin and withdrawing from the trial if you have concerns. There are a couple of threads here that have ladies who had that combination for small Her2+ tumors. If you put Taxol Herceptin in the search box they should come up. It is possible that since your mom had micromets in the axillary nodes that radiation may be recommended if there is not a recommendation for further axillary clearance surgery. It would be worth a consult with a radiation oncologist. Good luck!

Kate - maybe your MO could do a dose reduction on your Carboplatin? Since the FDA approval for Perjeta is for use with both T and C I think it matters, just not sure how much. Def a query for your MO. Did you feel this just during infusion, or did it continue

SpecialK, I had a lot of stomach (and intestinal) problems with rounds one and two. Third time around, I had the reaction in the chair, and then it waned a bit. I've been taking the Protonix, and I think it's helping. . . . I'll ask her to consider reducing the dose. I'd just as soon not get the Carbo at all (I've also got some mild anemia going on), but I definitely want to stay on the Perjeta for the full six rounds. I'll check back in to report what she says.

She told me rounds 4-6 are easier other than the fatigue (maybe because I know what to expect), and I'm going with that. Three was definitely the least horrible so far.