Information from those with small size tumors at diagnosis

[panicked911]

Diagnosised by a fluke on Sept 14, 2005 at age 43 -
lumpectomy right - two tumors 1.2 each 0 with one focli. no vascular invasion, sentinal node negative. Reexcision 1/15/06 b/c of question on the originalpathology report - margins came up perfectly clear !

I year of herceptain finished 11/01/06
lupron monthly
arimidex.
No scans except bone density -
achy from arimidex but much better now off herceptain.
Oncoogist beleives greatest chance for a reoccurance is in same breats

MRI 5/06 - clear
digital mamo 12/06 - no change
keeping fingers crossed for MRI scheduled for 5/ 07.

blood work very three months and exam by two separate oncologists

[rinaina]

Here is mine...on herceptin since late August, 2006.

[rinaina]

forgot to list my age...55

[Jean]

Hi,

Will soon complete my 1 yr. of herceptin (two more to go). My signature and
treatment profile is listed below. Prior to dx. I would have a yearly digtal
mamagram. Had my yrly Ditgtal Mamo in 9/04, seven months later I began to have a a pain and ache deep in my right armpit. It continued for over a week so I contacted the dr. who does my digtal mamo and she told me cancer does not hurt. I went in for another digital mamo and she found a 6mm tumor.
Since dx. 3/05 I now alternate between a digtal mamagram and MRI every 6 months. After lumpectomy I was concerned that there could be additional tumors that could have been missed. I decided to have an MRI 3wks. after lumpectomy to confirm status of both breasts. I then had CT/PET scans to insure that there was no cancer anywhere else. Dr. are following and tracking a small 5mm nodule on my right lung which they believe has nothing to do with bc dx. I had broncular pneumonia twice and it could be scarring from the broncular pneumonia (I sure hope so). It has been stable. The dr. did not recommend additonal treatment in view of the tiny size of my invasive cancer which was 3mm - no angiolmphatic invasion. The DCIS was predominantly cribriform type with necrosis, well differentiated. The more I researched and learned about her2 cancer the more concerned I became. My nodes came back negative but there was the possiblity that a T cell could travel through the blood system. I requested the Oncotype DX test. This was considered new to my onc and dr's., the Oncotype was not part of their bible. I still requested the test. I waited for over a month only to find out the Dr. did not send the sample out as requested. I was very annoyed that the dr. did not do as I had requested, I changed oncs. When I did get the test results back and the recurrance score was high risk I flew out to Calif. to see Dr. Slamon. He advised chemo/herceptin. He felt my dr's in NY had "missed the boat" unfortunately I was on that boat!

Through all of this from the first pain and ache in my armpit to the voice
in my head telling me to continue to search (thank god I found this forum)
I know that the presence of God has been protecting me and watches over me.

God Bless All Of Us.

Age 54
Annual scans NED

[Hopeful]

Age at dx: 52, postmenopausal

4/19/06 - annual mammogram, recalled for additional views
4/27/06 - dx mammogram + ultrasound, results "suspicious for cancer" (architechtural distortion and microcalcifications noted, no lump felt)
6/3/06 - excisional biopsy
6/6/06 - dx IDC 1.3 cm, 9mm invasive, 10% DCIS, ER+ 80%, PR+ 50%, Her2+++ by IHC, Ki-67 11% (borderline normal), grade 2, Bloom-Richardson score 7, 1 positive margin
6/23/06 - rexcision for positive margin (no additional cancer found) and sentinel node biopsy, SNB negative, stage 1
8/14/06-9/29/06 - rads 33 treatments
8/17/06 - Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year
10/1/06 - Femara daily; switched to Arimidex 12/06 due to severe tinnitus, to continue for 5 years.

Hopeful

[janet/FL]

Hopeful, did the doctor recommend chemo for you? I have heard they maybe switching to the anti estrogen drugs for you ER/PR positives. If you could expand on this, I am sure that others with like turmors would appreciate it.

[Hopeful]

Janet,

Two oncs reccomended chemo to me, one at a major cancer center, and the onc I am treating with. Based on my research and what I thought was right for me, I declined. I chose my onc, who is in private practice, because he was willing to treat me with Herceptin without chemo. At the time I started my infusions, Herceptin was still only approved for use in metastatic bc patients, and the doctors affiliated with large hospitals or major cancer centers would only prescribe it in accordance with the protocols for the trials of Herceptin as adjuvant therapy in early stage patients, and all the protocols included chemo. He was not bound by any internal administrative rules, and my insurance covered it, so we went ahead.

My onc and his associates have one of the largest private practices I am aware of. Once a month, they have a lunch program in house, where they invite one or two of the oncs from local major cancer centers to do presentations to them and answer questions about treatment. So, I feel that they are as up to speed as any of the docs in the larger centers. Also, I am examined by the doctor every three weeks when I go for my infusions, and have the chance to discuss new drugs and therapies with him. I don't know if other patients get that much "face time" with their oncs.

I know this is a non-traditional path to follow, but my doctors were satisfied I had done good research and was making an informed decision. In the end, the choice has to be one we can live with. I am very satisfied with my treatment plan.

Hopeful

Signature is below. Update, had six month mammogram a week ago. Looks okay. Tumor markers are beginning to go down; still a bit above normal.

[MJo]

Age at diagnosis was 55. I had to stop Herceptin because muga dropped 16 points. I was comfortable with stopping at 9 months. Because I was stage 1 with a small tumor, oncologist tried to balance risk to my heart with the risk of cancer recurring. I asked him, what if cancer recurs and I have to take herceptin again? He said in that case, the risk of cancer would be more dangerous than the risk to my heart.

[Carol H.]

Age 59, post menopausal, I will be finished with my 33 radiation treatments March 6. Refused A/C plus Herceptin at this time. Carol H.

[Patb]

I was diagnosed at 62, June 2006, Stage I, Size of tumor 1.7cent. I had a
lumpectomy, clean margins, no nodes, grade 3, ER+, Pr-, Her2 positive. I had
four A/C's, Radiation 33, Herceptin for one year, now in treatment, and Arimidex
for five years. I have had a chest X-Ray and blood work but no scans. Interesting reading all the other post and the different treatments. I always wonder if I'm doing enough.
patb

[janet/FL]

Always something to confuse us.
In one of the articles posted today, some doctors feel that if you go dose dense A/C, which means every two weeks not every three for the infusions, you will have less heart problems and therefore Hereptin could be given afterwards. Since studies have shown that A/C works better with ER/PR negatives, than positives, we should consider this regime.
Wonder if they will do any studies on this?
Scroll on down to Track 17.
http://www.breastcancerupdate.com/bcu2007/1/norton.asp

[Jean]

starting this thread, a big thank you.

Jean

[janet/FL]

http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=27239

When considering AC, the above study certainly sides against AC and for TCH. At this time I don't know if AC was given every three weeks or dose dense. Please go to this link to follow the discussion

[julierene]

Having 2 primary cancers, I would be looking at genetics...

Most of my info is in my signature. The only part left out is that I have a p53 gene mutation that was inherited. I had 2 primary cancers. The invasive cancer was in the left side, the DCIS was in the right side.

[janet/FL]

Just want to make sure that those of you new to the group can see this thread and post if it applies to you or you have new information.
Hugs
Janet/FL

[caya]

Hi all,

You can see everything in my signature.
Thanks
Caya

[MCS]

i really should add this to my signature


dx at 49
7/05
.9cm rb
1 sentinel node
grade 3
sphase 6.8%
brac 1 and 2 negative
er-, pr-
rb mast 9/05
ac
taxol with herceptin
no rads
herceptin for one year ever 3 weeks, completed 12/06
lb prophilactic mastectomy 12/06
saline implant in rb 9/06
saline implant on lb in 4/07
ovaries removal in 4/07

I've asked Joe, the main man! to place some for of access database so that we could search for those of us with similar dx. Poor Joe, I know, easier said than done!

MCS ( maria)

[Nanc]

Hi,
I was Dx at age 45(Feb 2006):
1 cm, grade two
negative nodes
ER+, Pr+, Her2+
Treated with:
4 cycles of AC
30 rads
2/3 done my year of Herceptin ( finishing in July)
presently on tamoxifen
having ovaries out in June and then will swithch to Armidex

Nancy

[Dinogirl]

Hello

Diagnosed Mar 2006 at age 52, 0.6 cm IDC, sentinel nodes neg 0/3
Lumpectomy
Her2+FISH
ER 100%+, PR 90%+
Grade 2
BRCA 1 and 2 neg
Cytoxan/Taxotere one cycle
Cytoxan/Taxotere/Herceptin three cycles (every 3 wks)
35 Rads
Herceptin every 3 weeks for one year (none for 7 wks when MUGA decreased)
Switching to every week Herceptin tomorrow in hopes of feeling better
Femara since 9/2/06

Dianne in Florida