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05-14-2007, 03:41 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: new york
Posts: 8
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Sandy, As I also have a pleural effusion and ibc and am on doxil, I am wondering if you have the ca 27.29 which would indicate somewhat how you are doing on the doxil. I had pleurodesis done, has anyone suggested this to you. You do not want to continue to drain the lung because it builds up scar tissue and makes the pleurodesis less successful.
It improves quality of life and I would think sob. I would definitely get another opinion. I will be getting another tm test my 3rd or 4th round of doxil. If I were to guess, I would tell you it wasn't working but my onc says be patient. I really don't think I have sob but I do cough.
I think you need another opinion. I have been on many chemos but this can be controlled. Good luck to you. Ellen
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05-14-2007, 03:46 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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A simple hug and love from my heart I send.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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05-14-2007, 04:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Dear Sandy -
Sorry about the shortness of breath - I had that myself each time I was on the hard chemos. Seemed to go with the lowered red count as not as much oxygen circulating.
Some deep breathing exercises helped a bit, especially as we tend to get more sedantary and it can be a viscious cycle.
Yours breathing difficulty is made more so by the fluid, but if they did not see much it may be from the fatigue and those effects of the doxil. What does it say for side effects in the paperwork on that drug??
Is there a good pulmonologist or cardiac specialist you could see?
__________________
"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.
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05-14-2007, 04:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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I second Steph's suggestion to seek treatment for the shortness of breath if not caused by obvious fluid buildup...my husband was treated for pneumonia back January, and is STILL on an inhaler twice a day as per followup with his primary care, who stated after his physical this spring that other than the aftereffects to his lungs from this episode of pneumonia he's "healthy as a horse"! He has to keep using the inhaler until he can walk up a flight of stairs without being short of breath, and he hasn't been dealing with darned old cancer, so Sandy, it may be time for a visit to yet another specialist who may be able to treat the symptoms. I wouldn't take an ER doctor's word for this.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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05-14-2007, 10:13 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear Sandy
i agree with Sandy.it may be worth asking your Oncologist to help with this symptom. If there is something to be done makes us feel better and more in control.
love
linda
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05-15-2007, 06:49 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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I will ask about another opinion tomorrow. The Doxil is such a slow working chemo that its hard to know if it is doing anything. Maybe, I should have tried something else-who knows. I have to wait another 3 weeks before I can change to another chemo. Time will tell. Thanks for all you replies and I wil keep you updated. hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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05-15-2007, 09:58 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greendale, WI
just outside Milwaukee
Posts: 211
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Sandy, I know I don't post much myself, but I do read the postings and I feel there is a definite change in your spirit after your trip to the ER for SOB. I just wanted to let you know that I feel just terrible that you are feeling so weak. I pray that this is temporary. Please, Please get a second opinion. No offense to ER doc's, but I would venture a guess that oncology is not their major area of expertise. Peace Karen
__________________
04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst
04/05 E & P + HER2+++
05/05 Mediport
05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4
08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr
10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice
10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa
11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla
02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40)
03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects
05/06 Started Tamoxafin
06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction
12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal
01/07 Bilat Saline Implants
07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07
07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site.
09/07 Started Femara
10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39
06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32
09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.
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05-15-2007, 01:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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I do have an appointment to see the oncology PA tomorrow so she will get an ear full. The E.R. doc said they talked to my oncologist and that is what he was told. We will see what happens tomorrow. I am sure it will be lots different! hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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