Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

I am so sorry to hear this. I can only imagine the anger, frustration and fear you must be feeling. You CAN do this, you've done it before. You know what to expect this time and how to prepare. You WILL do fine. Set your mind to it right now. You WILL do fine. I will keep you in my prayers.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

linn65 - oh, man, have I been in your shoes. I was initially stage 3c, went through taxol & herceptin, then adriamycin & cytoxan, than double mastectomy & hysterectomy, no reconstruction, was finishing up my herceptin when the oncologist did a PET "just to make sure". There it was - a big old goomba in my liver. I was so mad! What did I just go through and why if it wasn't going to work? I was literally like, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! But the rage helped me carry on, and you will too. We're all here for you. Come here to vent, rant, whatever.

You're included in my prayers.

- Penny

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

This SUCKS indeed. But I can't understand why your doc would say you will never be free of treatment. There is no way they can know that. You could reach NED (no evidence of disease) or be stable for years and years. So, like others said, just try taking it one step at the time. They have to find out whether you have any other spots of cancer in your body, because that would determine your best treatment options for now. But after you've had all those tests, you will be able to come up with a plan of action. Depending on what they find, they will probably suggest some options and if you need help deciding, there are lots of knowledgeable people here who can help you with the pro's and cons of each treatment.

TDM1 could be a very effective treatment, so I'm glad they suggested that.

It will take some time to let this news sink in. It is very tough to deal with, so take all the time you need. You can do this and we will be right beside you.

Hugs

Jacqueline

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn,

Not only can you do it, you are going to do it!

There are a lot of us who never imagined that our cancer would returned but it did.

Now, lift your chin up and get all the information needed before you embark
in a treatment that will benefit you the most.

Your stage IV sisters will be here for you, supporting you and providing
the best advice we can based on our own experiences.

Please keep us posted.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn, I'm praying for you. So sorry to hear you're going through it. Prayers for hope and healing.
Loren

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Sorry to hear your news, Linn. I can only echo the others and say that statistics tell us nothing about the individual - we live in hope, supported by this community.
Warm wishes.... Pam

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

LINN LINN LINN!!!
So anxious to assure you that i have yet (will do so) to read others' replies!
I, too, upon first diagnosis, however, was told the cancer had gone to that exact same lymphnode!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Special radiation machine totally erased it in nine radiations!!!!!!!

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

My doctor is wonderful, And I am so glad I switched oncologists. I have this board to thank for even giving me her name because I wouldn't have even known to go to her. My previous qONC didn't hear me but she does. I saw her the first time in February and this past Thursday was supposed to be a mammogram and see ya in idk 6 months or a year. I don't even know the protocol for it. I am still in shock that it's happening. I had them take my stupid port out on 3/14/14 because I wanted to believe I was done. Just the thought of putting my port in again sounds YUCKY......on the bright side she felt it, and my other ONC never really felt me. Just asked what I was doing for fun and nurse Ratchet acted like I was annoying with all my questions.

Dr. Miller told me and promised me she will always listen to me and for me that was huge. She pulled all kinds of strings to do an ultrasound guided biopsy on the same day last Thursday she found the lump. She didn't want me to wait, drive 3 hours round trip and truly cares about me. Then to be a researcher, knows about trials, explains things before I even ask, is honest, and I know she cares, I wasn't a number, she held my hand, and hugged me and through in she is extremely intelligent, and I thank God this board told me about her because she could very well save my life.

I go Thursday for results and with her I feel I will never need a 2nd opinion....

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn, I'm so sorry.

But you know, you can do it again. That first chemo you do when early stage is difficult because they throw everything at you. It's more gentle the second time.

I've been on it for 5 years now and I'm doing well. They have so many great drugs for us now.

As about Perjeta and Herceptin, with or without docetaxol. It worked for me.

But I know how sickening it is to hear that you have cancer again. You must feel so betrayed. I hope they clear this up and it is the last time, and they don't find it it any organs or bone. *hugs*

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Beautiful Linn...just want you to know I love you and am praying for YOU...HUGE HUGE HUGS!!!

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Hugs Linn
Praying it is local only

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linm,

So glad to hear you found the right oncologist, this is going to make a huge difference in your treatment and well being, also. Take it one day at a time, you don't need to know everything at once, things will works out. Happy for you.

Hugs. Please keep us posted.

Adriana

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn,

Glad you switched. Wasn't sure what was going on, and was a little surprised that you were told you would be on treatment continuously for the remainder of your life, before the extent of the cancer was determined. And surprised that you were taken off treatment for ER, especially since you are so highly expressed.

I am waiting for more news. Hoping that it is just that one little node, and that is very treatable with a short time back to NED for you.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

My friend, who is er+/pr-/no her2, recurred with liver mets 2 yrs after she was finished treatment. Her oncologist immediately took her off arimidex because it was obviously not holding the cancer at bay.

Linn, thinking of you all the time. Our journeys began about the same time. As many have said, let's hope this is localized.

Xoxo
Janis

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

It is in my lymph nodes under my arm too. She said it is stage 1v and most likely it is through my whole body but microscopic and wants to keep it that way. I had my port put back In today and am getting herceptin And projeta. She said the goal is to get it to stable. She will do 3 cycles of this and if lump above clavical bone has gotten bigger we will do tdm1. She said lymp nodes under my arm with cancer are very deep under my arm so being able to feel his one above clavicale is a good thing.

My neck is really sore where they port in and bruised. I haven't felt any side effects from treatment yet but it seemed SE came on day 3 but maybe I will get lucky and it won't.

Elizabeth I have been taking tamox until lump was found 8/14 and she took me off it and said it wasn't working.

Also, how can one be going from stable disease to NED??

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

So, you are saying that a Pet scan showed cancer in the nodes in the axilla, but these are inoperable? And you have cancer in the supraclavicle nodes too.

http://www.cancer.net/sites/cancer.n...iiic_print.jpg

And the ASCO explanation of Stage IV:
http://www.cancer.net/sites/cancer.n...eiv1_print.jpg

Chrys - I'm really worried because my friend did the same thing, went off the estrogen treatments with a recurrence because the Tamoxifen "wasn't working". Maybe it was working.

I strongly like the suggestion of the Herceptin/Perjeta combination to start. I strongly dislike omitting any treatment for ER positive characteristic of your recurrence tumor - due to your former experience with the increase in the ER characteristic of your tumor during your initial treatment.

I am skeptical about the about the "microscopic" cancer throughout your whole body. This is speculation. Currently, on the information you have shared, you seem to be a stage IIIC. Perhaps there is something that I am missing?

Because your oncologist is in the mindset that you are Stage IV, she has chosen a goal of "Stable". Traditionally that was the best outcome for decades. We Her2 ladies have been blessed with Herceptin, Perjeta and TDM1, along with Taxanes, Carboplatin and many other options.

I've been on this board a long time, and I've seen ladies with liver mets, brain mets, and bone mets reach the coveted NED.

You have evidence of regional mets, and a good chance of eradicating them.

Frankly, I just want to be stuck with your craziness on this board for many decades to come. I'm truly sorry you are going through this.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn,

I'm with 'lizbeth on this one. From what you've told us it sounds like a local recurrence, not Stage IV. Also, there are other aromatase inhibitors besides Arimidex. If I had ER+ disease I'm pretty sure I'd want an AI.

Don't worry about anything until you have to. Stay in the now as much as you can.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Hi Linn,

I noticed in your signature that you are stage iv. However, I had cancer in the lymph nodes in my arm and in my neck and was stage 3c. I'm wondering why you are considered a stage iv? My understanding is that recurrances are only stage iv if they travel to other areas besides the breasts and local lymph nodes (including those in the neck).

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

Linn,

I hope you're feeling less overwhelmed and anxious. Please let us know how you're doing.

I am on just Herceptin and Perjeta, and I find it quite easy to tolerate. It's not chemo, but two antibody treatments to help your own immune system handle the cancer. Again, if I were you, I'd ask to be put on an aromatase inhibitor as well, unless they've biopsied the lymph node and found it is no longer ER positive.

Re: Went for mammo and cancer has returned...
 

As the other ladies have said, it isn't Stage IV if it's not in an organ or bone, you would be IIIc. I wouldn't want women like thinkpositive to get scared or be misinformed.

I have a friend who was diagnosed IIIc almost five years ago now - like you, she had it in her lymph nodes as well as her chest wall. She is doing fine now. She's been on lupron but is about to finish that up. (She's young).

As for being on treatment forever, that's just not always true even for Stage IV. My doctor has said that if I remain NED as a person with Stage IV cancer for a year on the therapy I'm getting now, we may stop it. Perjeta is such a new drug that we don't know what long term effects are.

My cancer spread to the liver; I had a liver resection, a liver ablation, SBRT, 7 different chemos, and Perjeta/Herceptin is what made me NED. And I have a chance to be off treatment, so you certainly may get that chance!

The theory of cancer cells spreading through the body is not one that is proven. In fact, there is a term called oligometastases which means that even in metastatic women, cancer may only be growing where it landed and isn't necessarily everywhere. And, I may fit that category as cancer has never spread beyond my liver. The truth is, there is still a lot of unknowns about the mechanisms of metastases.

I don't think it is wise for any oncologist in 2014 to predict any long term prognosis for anybody in any stage of disease, with the exception of those in the last few months of life. There are so many new, effective treatments coming up - these days, you never know. I certainly never expected to be where I am today and there is no reason this can't be true for you as well.

I hope you have relaxed into the news. I know it's horrifying to hear you have to go through it again but you do learn to accept it and manage it - I hope you are in that stage now. *hugs*