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11-10-2008, 02:32 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 4
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Last Chemo now what?
Hey ladies, this thursday is my last scheduled chemo! Although, I'm excited, I'm a little nervous. Although I hate chemo, I love that it is killing cancer cells. Just wondering what happens next? My doctor scheduled a PetScan just to make sure everything looks good. Is that normal? I was talking to some ladies in my support group and their doctor only ordered a bone scan after their last chemo. I'm kinda nervous why my doc ordered the PetScan. I have had rib pain throughout my whole chemo, maybe that is why. I did have a bonescan about 3 months ago as well. Just wondering, what is the normal protocal. Is it normal to have a Petscan after completetion of chemo?Thanks!
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11-10-2008, 05:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: New Boston, NH
Posts: 275
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The only thing I have had was a mammo/ultrasound/MRI when I was first dx. I just finished chemo in Sept. and have been continuing with my Herceptin every 3 wks. My onc (along with others) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute do not recommend scans after treatment is finished. They look at it like you have had surgery and chemo and/or Radiation and they believe you are all set now. Of course, I am Early Stage, so I'm not sure how this applies with others. Every onc is different and requests are different for each situation.
__________________
-Sarah-
Jan '07 felt lump (PCP "thought" it was a cyst)
Nov '07 "bloody nipple discharge" (OB-GYN "thought" I had fibrocystic breasts and told me to take 400 IU's of Vitamin E)
Note: Mother was dx w/BC in 2004 (ER/PR+ & HER2+) & mets to brain April 2007 (she passed away June 17, 2008)
2/1/08: Biopsy Dx: DCIS (age 34)
2/22/08: Surgery R-side Mast
2/28/08: 1st Path Rpt Dx: IDC 1.8cm tumor & DCIS 2.1cm
2nd Path Rep DFCI - IDC (0.9cm) & DCIS (2.1cm)
Stage 1b/Gr 3; ER+(5%), PR+(2%), HER-2+++
5/5 nodes NEG; Clear Margins
Chemo: AC 4 rnds (1st one 3/31/08) finished 6/2/08
TH (Taxol/Hercepin) 12 weeks (1st one 6/25/08) finished 9/8/08
Herceptin 9 mos (every 3 weeks) finished 6/8/09
BRCA 1/2 NEG
Bio: Age 39, married to James 1999, 2 boys 12 & 10 yo
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11-10-2008, 07:08 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Paige,
Different oncs do different tests, so I wouldn't read anything into the fact that your onc is doing a PET scan. Some oncs don't do any tests, while others will do any number of tests.
Ending chemo is a little scarey, like loosing one of your security blankets. But remember, one large step is behind you!
My best to you,
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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11-10-2008, 07:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
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Yes, my onc ordered one after chemo...sort of like getting a clean bill of health...or to re-stage a patient. Best of Luck and congrats. Ceesun
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11-10-2008, 08:47 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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My onc ran a PET/CT as a baseline before I started chemo...and then once I finished chemo ran another one. So I wouldn't worry about it. Myself I was relieved that they ran one especially when it came back clean which is what I expected.
So Thursday is your last chemo...BIG congratulations...you made it. Almost time to celebrate. 
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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11-11-2008, 05:33 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Paige, I think it just depends on different onc's so would'nt read anything into this scan. Some Dr's do tumour marker's and scan's as follow up while other's feel this is only warrented with symptoms or pain. (as mine does)..it can be a difficult transition to go from the end of treatment to trying to get on with a new normal and hope the cancer is gone but you'll get there. I had no tests at all after chemo but refuse to hang around waiting for a recurrance and just live daily enjoying life and believing I've beaten it.
Many congrats to you on getting through!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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