[TiffanyS]

I got my appointment for a CT Chest scan, and it’s on March 13. Right now, my last chemo is schedule for March 21, and, after that, I’m supposed to go off of chemo and continue with just Herceptin and Perjeta. If my CT chest scan results are not good however, I will be continuing with chemo for another four to eight treatments, with a four week chemo break when I got to Europe at the end of April. I am hoping for good results! After that, my next full body CT scan will be in June.

I still have the small pimple on my chest well, and, there’s another small one that has shown up across from it. My doctor is still monitoring them, however, she thinks they may be scar tissue. I’m a little hesitant to believe this, as that’s what they told me the last time a pimple grew along my scar-line, and it ended up being cancer. It’s also at the end of a stretch mark, and my doctor advised that it could be part of the stretch mark, and not a pimple at all. It’s hard to say, as the area where the old tumours were located is changing. Radiation opened up the previous scar-tissue (which was really a tumour), and the area is now red and caved-in a bit. It’s changing, and my doctor says that the area is healing and the red, caved-in area, is filling in. The good news is, the small pimple hasn’t grown since I noticed it on Christmas day. The CT chest scan may show this area, however, my doctor advised that she won’t know if it’s cancer or scar-tissue from the scan. Only a biopsy will tell her that, and she doesn’t want to do one right now. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

I also have a second brain MRI schedule for the end of May, however, my doctor is trying to get me an earlier appointment. She seems rushed to get me a brain MRI, and when I asked her why, she just said I should get one every six months, and April puts my at the six month point. I don’t think one extra month is a big deal, and I’m worried that there’s a reason she’s pushing for an earlier scan. I know that HER 2 positive means higher chance of brain mets, but would scanning one month earlier really make a difference if I have brain mets? I guess she thinks so.

So, I’m now counting down the says until my CT chest scan. I know it’s a little over a month away, however, I’m anxious to get the results, as it means will determine if I can finally stop taking chemo!


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12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my chest wall. I am told that I have a local recurrence and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM-1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6
11/16 – Second CA-15-30 bloot test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
03/17 – CT Chest scan scheduled to see if there’s improvement to chest and lungs. If results the are good, I get to stop taking Taxol!
05/17 – Second brain MRI scheduled