HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Oh shoot! Got something needing checking out ...

StephN · 08-27-2007, 03:00 PM

Dear, dear friends -
I am much relieved to report that TWO doctors doing separate ultrasounds of the area all around my neck and collar bone area could not find anything to account for the hardened, raised area I told you about.

The doctors each said that all the nodes they imaged were normal in size and shape (shape is important), there is no thickening of my skin (which could signal another disease process), and even my tissues do not look inflammed to them. I am not surprised at the last as there is no tenderness.

So, we seem to have a little mystery on our hands. These doctors did not think the radiation I had almost 7 years ago would have this effect on that area, but I may have to call my rad onc about that just to rule it out.

Thanks for all the prayers for "nothing." Having now had the scanning, I feel a weight lifted that had been deposited with the discovery of this "new muscle." We just never know when our bodies will decide that the cancer is sneakier and smarter!

08-27-2007, 03:00 PM	#27
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Nodes NORMAL Dear, dear friends - I am much relieved to report that TWO doctors doing separate ultrasounds of the area all around my neck and collar bone area could not find anything to account for the hardened, raised area I told you about. The doctors each said that all the nodes they imaged were normal in size and shape (shape is important), there is no thickening of my skin (which could signal another disease process), and even my tissues do not look inflammed to them. I am not surprised at the last as there is no tenderness. So, we seem to have a little mystery on our hands. These doctors did not think the radiation I had almost 7 years ago would have this effect on that area, but I may have to call my rad onc about that just to rule it out. Thanks for all the prayers for "nothing." Having now had the scanning, I feel a weight lifted that had been deposited with the discovery of this "new muscle." We just never know when our bodies will decide that the cancer is sneakier and smarter! __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.