HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Scans or ways to evaluate cancer after chemo?

tammymarie1971 · 01-25-2006, 10:53 AM

I have to say I disagree with the wait and see approach. The idea of waiting for symptoms is just too risky!!!! My previous onc was of that opinion of waiting and lets just see...Well I was dx'd at 30 while pregnant with the fourth child I had a 5cm tumor with no node involvement. I went through left mastectomy, chemo, rads and tamoxifen. 2yrs later I decided to start the ball rolling for reconstruction so this surgeon sent me for a complete exam it was when she ordered a ca-15-3 that we noticed a slight elevation my GP sent me for another one 3 mos later and it was tripled. Now my regular onc did not send me for these tests and had I not had them I would not have found out about a 3cm tumor in my liver.
My onc was of the opinion whether you catch a recurrence sooner or later it doesn't matter the outcome is still the same!!!YUK!
I disagree...Because my liver was caught early I was a candidate for liver resection..and this was only because of the one single solitary spot on my liver!!! Now almost 2 yrs later my liver is still clean!!! Although I have since been dx'd with bone mets these too were caught early because of the ct scan check up on my liver!!

What I'm trying to say is that we stand a way better chance of if not a cure than at least longevity if mets are caught early..To me it seems simplest to keep track of tumor markers and watch their pattern and if there are suspicions than get the scans to find out what is going on!!..This of course is only my humble opinion.
Tammy

01-25-2006, 10:53 AM	#12
tammymarie1971 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 198	I have to say I disagree with the wait and see approach. The idea of waiting for symptoms is just too risky!!!! My previous onc was of that opinion of waiting and lets just see...Well I was dx'd at 30 while pregnant with the fourth child I had a 5cm tumor with no node involvement. I went through left mastectomy, chemo, rads and tamoxifen. 2yrs later I decided to start the ball rolling for reconstruction so this surgeon sent me for a complete exam it was when she ordered a ca-15-3 that we noticed a slight elevation my GP sent me for another one 3 mos later and it was tripled. Now my regular onc did not send me for these tests and had I not had them I would not have found out about a 3cm tumor in my liver. My onc was of the opinion whether you catch a recurrence sooner or later it doesn't matter the outcome is still the same!!!YUK! I disagree...Because my liver was caught early I was a candidate for liver resection..and this was only because of the one single solitary spot on my liver!!! Now almost 2 yrs later my liver is still clean!!! Although I have since been dx'd with bone mets these too were caught early because of the ct scan check up on my liver!! What I'm trying to say is that we stand a way better chance of if not a cure than at least longevity if mets are caught early..To me it seems simplest to keep track of tumor markers and watch their pattern and if there are suspicions than get the scans to find out what is going on!!..This of course is only my humble opinion. Tammy __________________ Dx'd Dec'01 while 6mos preg. with #4. child (30yrsold)Mastectomy/AC chemo/radiation/ Recur:Mar'04 liver mets: 3 taxol/herceptin /liver resection/3 taxol/herceptin. Cured? Recur: May'05 spine & Hip. New onc treatment in Mexico Feb'06-Mar-06 back to Mexico June/July '06 Currently on herceptin/Zometa/Femara-recently added navelbine Switched to arimidex Nov'06 ovaries removed June '07 ca15-3 in May'06 was 102 ca15-3 summer of '07 holding steady at 23! ca15-3 slowly rising Dec & Jan 36, 38, 41 and Feb was 36 Feb '08 Liver, lung & Brain scan NED... bones are stable with even a couple spots gone. as compared with '06 scans May '08 ca 15-3 is 55. Treatment is zometa, vinorelbine, herceptin and aromasin. No signifcant changes. Feb'09 Started Xeloda with herceptin..no more hormonals Feb'09-June'09 tumor markers coming down again from 155 to 84 May'09 blood clots in lungs vena cava filter put in..Heparin shots daily for now.