HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Haven't been on this board for nearly 3 years

CoolBreeze · 03-27-2013, 03:52 PM

I remember you!

I know nothing is going to stop your worry, but a lot of us have nodules and spots inside us that are nothing. You probably do too, as does your husband, your son, and everybody in line with you at the grocery story. We have as many warts and bumps inside as we do outside.

It's only us lucky cancer patients who are able to see them all because they watch us so closely. I have a nodule in my lung that hasn't changed in years; they think it's scarring from an old bronchitis or pneumonia.

Sadly, I do have liver mets but they were 100% certain it was mets even before the biopsy. The biopsy was just to see if it was still HER2+. It was.

So mom, don't jump immediately to cancer. Previous cancer doesn't mean something new can't be benign. Scarring from infection, hemangiomas, other things are most common, and cancer patients can have benign spots too. I've seen it happen over and over and over again.

The waiting period is very hard on everybody though..

Lets say the worst happens and she does have mets. Well, she's 28 now, so you are right, she definitely doesn't need Mom worrying, crying or and hovering. I think if you can project a calm demeanor when you speak to her, you'll be let in more then if you can't. I am a very independant person myself and cannot stand people who cry near me, who hover, who worry, who behave like I'm incompetent because I'm sick.

If it turns out she does have mets, it is crucial that she do it her way. Mets is very different than early stage, almost like a different disease. Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that I had a terminal illness, I stopped putting up with things that I used to just sigh and let go.

Not saying any of this relates to your relationship, but I have drawn lines with family members that I probably would not have done had I not been this sick. I just won't tolerate certain things anymore and told them that - they had to do it my way or not do it. One of them chose "not do it" which doesn't surprise me.

Does your daughter post online anywhere? She may want a private place to discuss the disease and find out what treatment options there will be too, if she does have mets.

Anyway, here is hoping it's all benign and none of this is stuff you'll have to think about. Here's hoping the biopsy is easy for her too! *hugs* Let us all know, okay?

03-27-2013, 03:52 PM	#7
CoolBreeze Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 562	Re: Haven't been on this board for nearly 3 years I remember you! I know nothing is going to stop your worry, but a lot of us have nodules and spots inside us that are nothing. You probably do too, as does your husband, your son, and everybody in line with you at the grocery story. We have as many warts and bumps inside as we do outside. It's only us lucky cancer patients who are able to see them all because they watch us so closely. I have a nodule in my lung that hasn't changed in years; they think it's scarring from an old bronchitis or pneumonia. Sadly, I do have liver mets but they were 100% certain it was mets even before the biopsy. The biopsy was just to see if it was still HER2+. It was. So mom, don't jump immediately to cancer. Previous cancer doesn't mean something new can't be benign. Scarring from infection, hemangiomas, other things are most common, and cancer patients can have benign spots too. I've seen it happen over and over and over again. The waiting period is very hard on everybody though.. Lets say the worst happens and she does have mets. Well, she's 28 now, so you are right, she definitely doesn't need Mom worrying, crying or and hovering. I think if you can project a calm demeanor when you speak to her, you'll be let in more then if you can't. I am a very independant person myself and cannot stand people who cry near me, who hover, who worry, who behave like I'm incompetent because I'm sick. If it turns out she does have mets, it is crucial that she do it her way. Mets is very different than early stage, almost like a different disease. Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that I had a terminal illness, I stopped putting up with things that I used to just sigh and let go. Not saying any of this relates to your relationship, but I have drawn lines with family members that I probably would not have done had I not been this sick. I just won't tolerate certain things anymore and told them that - they had to do it my way or not do it. One of them chose "not do it" which doesn't surprise me. Does your daughter post online anywhere? She may want a private place to discuss the disease and find out what treatment options there will be too, if she does have mets. Anyway, here is hoping it's all benign and none of this is stuff you'll have to think about. Here's hoping the biopsy is easy for her too! hugs Let us all know, okay? __________________ 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.