Sorry about your Dad.
Cancer almost never shows up as a recurrence in the feet, ankle or under the knee. So you likely don't have to worry about that. It definitely sounds like a skin invasion of some sort, maybe bug bite (my son just got bit by one that swelled his eye shut and he needed antibotics to control, cellulitis)
Herceptin isn't know to cause neuropathy but even if it did, that isn't the way it presents so I think the nurse, rude as she is, is right.
Why is the nurse deciding? Isn't a doctor going to look at it first? It could be something to do with tendons or inflammation - I've had a chronic problems with my shoulders because of that. That doesn't mean that is your issue but it isn't something to completely dismiss.
Why not call your PCP? An oncologist is going to look for cancer and its side effects but your PCP will look for anything that could cause this - he won't be so focused.
We have to remember that just because we are cancer patients, we can have other issues too! Maybe has nothing to do with cancer.
And yes, if you can't get through to your Onc and have to always deal with a nurse you don't like, you should switch oncologists. It's a relationship that can span years and unfortunately, I see mine monthly or more often. While I hope for you it doesn't end up that way, it's one where you really must feel trust.
Oh, and a PET is not the solution you think it will be. First, it only shows cancer that has grown to a certain size and it also has a lot of false positives. LIke all these tests we take, it is not perfect and can sometimes leave us with more questions than answers. So I would probably not go there if I didn't have to - take your bumps and pains and see what happens locally first.
Becky is right - NO TOUCHING!!!!
Let us know what happens!
__________________
http://butdoctorihatepink.com
08/17/09 Dx'd.
Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS
HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative
10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE
12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy
03/31/2010: Finished chemo
05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever
11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed
12/02/2010: Finished herceptin
05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen
06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin
10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure!
11/26/2011: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years"
03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa
10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa.
01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa
03/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta.
04/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success!
05/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo.
06/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT
07/03/2013: Chemo discontinued, on Perjeta, Herceptin and Zometa alone
07/25/2013: SBRT (gamma knife) begins
08/01/2013: SBRT completed
08/15/2013: STABLE! continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
06/18/2014: ***** NED!!!!***** continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
01/29/2014: Still NED. continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin. Zometa lowered to every 3 months instead of monthly.
11/08/2015: Progression throughout abdomen and lungs. Started TDM-1, aka Kadcyla. Other meds discontinued. Remission was nice while it lasted.
5/27/18: Stable. Kadcyla put me right back in the barn. I have two teeny spots on my lungs that are metabolically inactive, and liver is clean.
I’m beating this MFer. I was 51 when this started and had two kids, 22 and 12. Now I’m 60. My oldest got married and trying to start s family. My youngesg graduates from Caltech this June. My stepdaughter gave me grandkids. Life is fantastic.