[TiffanyS]

I went to the hospital yesterday for my first treatment of the year, and my doctor examined the pimple on my chest wall. She told me that she couldn't feel anything under the sink around the pimple, and that she’s not sure if it’s just a pimple or cancer. At first she said she wanted to monitor it, however, I told her no. I asked for an ultrasound, but she doesn’t think the ultrasound would show her anything. She said the only way to know for sure if the pimple is cancer is to biopsy it, and she’s going to have a surgeon come by during my treatment next week to cut off the pimple. We should know shortly after that if it’s cancer or not. That being said, she does not want to change my current treatment plan even if it is cancer. She said that the Perjeta is working in regard to the cancer on my lungs and in my chest, and that with a few extra doses chemo, this cancer should clear up as well.

I also got a copy of the radiologists report for my CT scan. I’ve read it a few times, and the scan showed that several of the nodules on my lungs have decreased in size or resolved, and that the rest are stable. There are also no new nodules identified. In regard to the lymph nodes in the middle of my chest, the scan showed that there was a reduction in the right lymph node, and that the remainder of the lymph nodes are stable. My doctor told me that lymph does are harder to treat, which is why she wants me to get eight more treatments of chemo (16 more doses) starting with yesterday’s treatment. This means I will get getting chemo until the end of February, instead of the end of January as originally planned, however, if that’s what I have to do to get rid of this cancer, that that’s what I’ll do! The scan could not see the small masses along the chest wall, and also confirmed that the cancer has not spread to any of my other organs!

I have to admit that I’m not happy about getting chemo again after a four week break. The neuropathy in my feet has been so mild, that I sometimes forget about it, and I haven’t had a foot spasm in weeks. I still have shortness of breath though, which I thought was due to my red blood count being low, however, my doctor told me yesterday that my red blood count was good, and that she thinks the shortness of breath, along with the chest congestion and mild cough I started to develop over the weekend, are caused by a weakened heart. The drug Herceptin can cause heart damage, and my last echo test, which was done last Friday, showed that my heart is slightly weak. It’s not so bad that I have to stop taking the drug, however, it may be the reason why I’m experiencing shortness of breath, and what is causing the cough and chest congestion. My doctor gave me a puffer to help with these symptoms, and so far it’s working.

I noticed during my chemo break that the hair on my head has really started to grow and thicken, however, my eyelashes and eyebrows have started to thin out. I’m sure that the hair on my head will start to thin out again now that I’m back on chemo. It’s too bad, as I’m really getting tired of wearing a wig, and would love to be able to cut and colour my hair so I wouldn’t have to wear it anymore. I also lost 2.5 pounds in the last three weeks and I think it’s because I haven’t had steroids since December 6. Now that I’m back on the steroids though, the weight will probably come back. Oh well. As long as everything else is good, these things are the least of my concerns.

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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 normal. 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 one year).
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 scar.
08/16 – 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.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
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 TDM1 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.
10/16 – 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. 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 was located. Scared it’s a cancer recurrence.