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Chelee · 08-03-2010, 02:39 AM

Jenny, Sorry you have to deal with so much...I know it's not easy. I was dx stage IIIA back in 2005...but much later found out I really was stage IV from the get go. I had a 3.5 cm tumor so had a mastectomy and SNB. I also did chemo (TCH). Then after a yr had a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side because of the stress of waiting on results of my mammo's. I thought just remove it and its one less thing to worry about. (But everyone has to make their own personal decisions as you know.) I also decided to have and ooph...ovaries removed to help reduce the estrogen that feeds the cancer.

You will find some onc's are against mastectomies when stage IV...I personally do not agree with that. If it was me...I would have a mastectomy as I believe it lowers the tumor load in the body and that's always good. In your case I might even do 6 cycles of TCH and kick your cancers butt. I got 3 1/2 yrs of NED (No evidence of disease) after doing that...and again..I was stage IV at that time. Also I believe it would be good to have a bone biopsy to see if you have any any changes since orignal dx? I had my femur biospied and there were changes. Someone here recently posted some good articles on mastectomies on stage IV's. These studies showed benefits for removing the tumors. Maybe I can find those links for you.

Since your current trt is working this will give you more time to research and get some more feedback so you can decide what direction you want to go in. Just remember...always be pro-active. Push for what you want. Your off to a great start because your here asking great questions. I'm sure more will chime in here.

Chelee

08-03-2010, 02:39 AM	#6
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	Re: new here suggestions welcome Jenny, Sorry you have to deal with so much...I know it's not easy. I was dx stage IIIA back in 2005...but much later found out I really was stage IV from the get go. I had a 3.5 cm tumor so had a mastectomy and SNB. I also did chemo (TCH). Then after a yr had a prophylactic mastectomy on the other side because of the stress of waiting on results of my mammo's. I thought just remove it and its one less thing to worry about. (But everyone has to make their own personal decisions as you know.) I also decided to have and ooph...ovaries removed to help reduce the estrogen that feeds the cancer. You will find some onc's are against mastectomies when stage IV...I personally do not agree with that. If it was me...I would have a mastectomy as I believe it lowers the tumor load in the body and that's always good. In your case I might even do 6 cycles of TCH and kick your cancers butt. I got 3 1/2 yrs of NED (No evidence of disease) after doing that...and again..I was stage IV at that time. Also I believe it would be good to have a bone biopsy to see if you have any any changes since orignal dx? I had my femur biospied and there were changes. Someone here recently posted some good articles on mastectomies on stage IV's. These studies showed benefits for removing the tumors. Maybe I can find those links for you. Since your current trt is working this will give you more time to research and get some more feedback so you can decide what direction you want to go in. Just remember...always be pro-active. Push for what you want. Your off to a great start because your here asking great questions. I'm sure more will chime in here. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.