Re: Looking for hope
 

@Benk you are NOT reading too much into this initial response to chemo therapy. This is great news and hopefully will continue. My first chemo showed dramatic improvement within three weeks. Your wife is headed in the right direction. Hang in there! Smile! And believe!!! xx

Re: Looking for hope
 

Thanks Colleen that's what I was hoping, my wife's strength like yours is amazing I keep having weak moments but responses like yours give me a huge lift thank you.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Hi Benk,
I am another living well with stage IV, over 4 years since diagnosis with mets to bones and liver. The Taxotere did well for me and now I am stable on Herceptin (and Tamoxifen). I haven't added Perjeta, as my current treatment is working well for me. However, as a fellow Australian, you should know that continuing Herceptin and Perjeta has become usual here and is completely covered by the PBS.
This time on the heavy chemo won't be easy, but things will get better!
Best wishes to you and your wife..... Pam

Re: Looking for hope
 

Hi Pam
Thanks for your post , we are marching towards next chemo appointment Wednesday next week, it certainly makes me feel better about the situation when I read the responses of the incredible people on this site, particularly at this point in the journey.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Hi all just wanted to update you we are having 4th chemo session tommorow the ct scans just done after 3rd session showed reduction in lung Mets and bones healing so currently on the right track ( fingers and toes crossed ) it's still frighting as you all know.
Thanks again for the advice and support. We will hang in there.
BENk

Re: Looking for hope
 

Benk, Wonderful news !!! Keep us posted. HUGS

Re: Looking for hope
 

Great news @Benk! Your wife is heading toward a complete pathological response to systemic treatment. So happy to hear this news!

Re: Looking for hope
 

Great news, Benk - hope the side effects are bearable and that reduction continues.
Best wishes.... Pam

Re: Looking for hope
 

Fabulous news! Continued prayers for a good response and minimal side effects.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Thank you all for the hugs and best wishes and the same back to you.
Pam she is handling them well good days and bad you know how it goes.
Colleen I haven't the chance to look up " complete pathological response to systemic treatment " but I like the sound of it!

Once again I marvel at the strength of all of you.

Love and hugs BEN k

Re: Looking for hope
 

Benz, I just read this thread, but wanted to give you hope if you are still reading posts.i was diagnosed in March with stage 4 her2 positive cancer that spread a lot in my bones. I had it all in my spine and around it, in the bones in my arm, in my sternum bones in front and in my lymph nodes in front. In July after 6 chemo treatments with herceptin and projeta, and surgery on my spine, my scans are coming back clean. Hang in there !

Re: Looking for hope
 

Hi cereisez thankyou for posting , yes I do still come to this blog often. Thankyou also for your words of encouragement it means a great deal when I hear from all if you amazing lady's on here in particular in the down moments which you happend to catch me in when your comment came through so you made an uplifting difference to our day. We have finished our 6th chemo session and are going for pet scans this Friday with onc apointment Monday , so fingers are crossed for further improvement on the last positive scans halfway through chemo. Ned is my prayer. Then continuous herceptin and pajerta. We are hanging in there and I will post an use next week to let you all know how we are going. Thanks again I'm glad to hear your having positive outcomes.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Benk,

Joining you in the prayer for NED!

Carol Ann

Re: Looking for hope
 

Hi all sorry I haven't updated for a little while just thought I would fill you all in on we're we are at.
We have finished chemo about a month and a half ago with resulting pet ct scans showing bone mets " healed " and no new ones, lungs healed and some question mark as to wether it was cancer in lungs or something else although the onc believes it was / is and no visible cancer in the breast! They are saying no macectame at this point ?? I question that one and have some reservations about it. There are two " nodes " in the chest that are still "there" but stable.
The oncologist was pleased with the results and we have another set of scans due mid December. Continuing herceptin and pajerta with bone injections and hormone blockers etc etc .
Keep fighting love and hugs from me.
Ben

Re: Looking for hope
 

That is great news Benk. I’m glad to hear that your wife responded so well to the medication.


¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s normal. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for one year).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene.
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my scar.
08/16 – I am told that I have a “local recurrence” and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that ultrasound and bone scan look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks on, one off for 8-16 treatments.
10/16 – Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancerous, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 – CT Scan scheduled for November 22. I can’t wait to find out if the Perjeta is working!

Re: Looking for hope
 

Great news, Ben! I am glad you updated us.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Great news! I am so glad your wife has had such a positive response. The mastectomy issue is one to explore as the doctors themselves seem to be unsure about the benefits for Stage 4 women. You might get some feedback here if you start a separate thread. I hope the current treatment isn't too hard to take and that the stability continues for a long, long time.
Best wishes..... Pam

Re: Looking for hope
 

Wonderful news, Benk! Thanks for the update.

Carol Ann

Re: Looking for hope
 

Thank you for checking in! It's wonderful news and I'm happy for you both.

Re: Looking for hope
 

Thanks to all of you for the support and well wishes, I'm hoping the response is a sign of the future!!
I'm always thinking of all of you and the support through this forum has meant a lot.
❤️