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Old 04-17-2015, 04:44 PM   #6
Carol Ann
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
Re: can be node negative and still have spread of bc

Yes, I thought that too until my second tumor came back HER2+++ and even at Stage 1 I learned I really needed to do the chemo and Herceptin. But it is a very common misconception, perpetuated by the "early detection is the key to survival" myth that just won't go away.

Maybe your cancer is gone, and you are really in remission forever. And maybe not.

I think the verbiage about early stage cancer being "curable" only adds to the confusion.

Unfortunately, this results in even less money being donated to metastatic research because the media is constantly pushing the early detection/get your mammogram messages. So well meaning people continue to donate to "Awareness" campaigns.

20-30% of early stage women will go on to develop metastatic disease. And no one really knows why. I saw a video of about 10 or so early stage women who went on and about how they "beat cancer" and now their lives would go on and they were fine. The happy, positive, pink message.

Statistically, though ... 2-3 of those women will recur and die. It was a golden opportunity to bring up that they all had a chance of recurrence/metastasis ... but they did not mention it.

A golden teaching "educable" moment lost.

And the beat goes on ...

Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.

Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".

Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.

Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.

Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.

Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.

March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!

March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.

March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)

April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm

May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)

June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia

Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!

Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.

Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.

Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!

January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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