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08-29-2013, 11:30 AM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Re: Recently diagnosed @ 33 and scared
Lovemyboys3,
Wow, what an experience. I am so happy for you that the nodes were negative. That is awesome news.
I am sorry about your positive margins. A second surgery sucks - but this time hopefully the recovery won't be so exciting, yikes!
I can see with the KI67 score and your age, etc why your oncologist is leaning toward chemo. But I wonder if you can do 4 treatments of Paclitaxel instead of 6 of Taxotere. Or perhaps she has something else in mind? Definitely the year of Herceptin.
Or better yet - has she suggested a clinical trial?
Good luck with your next surgery. I will pray that no IDC or DCIS cells will be found in the margins.
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08-29-2013, 01:18 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands
Posts: 835
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Re: Recently diagnosed @ 33 and scared
Hi LMB3
Clear nodes is excellent news, but I'm sorry you need re-excision. Stage 1a is about the best one can get. I had 1b 9 years 9 months ago, aged 44. I didn't have chemo, but did have rads with my lumpectomy. I think, in your case, I would have gone for mastectomy too.
About the choice for chemo or not: when I had to decide, they said: definitely not necessary, even though I had rapidly multiplying cells. They didn't even suggest hormonal therapy. But when I insisted, they gave it to me. I had young children and for me the bottom line was: could I explain to my kids why I didn't take this option, if it turned out I got a recurrence? Could I live with the decision if the disease metastasized?
For me, at the time, the answer was: I could explain why I didn't do chemo, but not why I didn't do hormonal tx.
I am lucky, so far, for not having had a recurrence. When I was diagnosed Herceptin was not an option here in the Netherlands. If I were diagnosed now, and I could only get Herceptin in combination with chemo, I think I would go for the chemo. You have to make sure that you are ok with whatever decision you make. Chemo is tough, but it is doable, I've been told.
I wish you wisdom and good advice!
And ofcourse: feel better soon and get all of this behind you. We will be with you all the way.
Love
Jacqueline
__________________
Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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08-29-2013, 01:24 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 265
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Re: Recently diagnosed @ 33 and scared
Hello!
So glad to hear how you are doing...what an ordeal with the morphine!!
I'm sorry about the margins...however, it sounds like you have a wise oncologist who is looking at different options in your "unique" situation!"
Know I'm praying for you and medical team!!
__________________
10/18/12 Found pea size lump right breast
11/7/12 Biopsy
12/14/12 Lumpectomy
1/4/13 Rexcision, NO CLEAR MARGINS!! :(
2/11/13 Mastectomy with Expander Placed
2/15/13 INFECTION at Mastectomy site...emergency Surgery!!! Expander removed :(
DX: DCIS, IDC, Stage 2a, 2.7cm, 1/5 nodes positive
ER/PR-, HER2+++
3/28/13 Port placed
4/1/13 Begin 6 Cycles TCH Therapy
4/1/14 Finished Herceptin!!
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09-08-2013, 02:32 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Madison, Connecticut
Posts: 638
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Re: Recently diagnosed @ 33 and scared
Welcome LMB3!
I am so so sorry for all of this kick-in-the-gut news and treatments you have had to deal with - just a tsunami of life changing events; on stage for all your kids to see. You have shown such strength in the face of so much adversity. How fortunate for them to have you as an information seeking and yet I am sure, loving supportive role model.
How lucky for us you have joined our group. Please keep us posted on your progress. Maybe in the end a Stage 1A dx is a gift along your path in life and God willing it will not recur. Hit it with everything you've got and with grace, you will not have to hear a cancer diagnosis again.
Godspeed to you and your heart filled family.
Love Kim (from CT)
__________________
2001 - Stage 0, lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxifen
2004 - Stage 4, mets to 4 lobes of lungs and liver, lumpectomy, er/pr -, her2 neu+++, Herceptin and Navelbine then Herceptin only.
2005 - Breast Ca vaccinations with the Tumor Vaccine Group in Seattle
2011 - Still Herceptin only and NED
2011, June - STOPPED Herceptin and kicked up my heels!
2012, February - 1 small tumor came back to haunt me in my lungs - back on Herceptin only, tumor stable.
2015, November - tumor on lungs removed (Segmentectomy), back on Herceptin only
Received U of W vaccine clinical "booster" Vaccine
2022 On Herceptin and NED continues - WOOT WOOT!
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09-10-2013, 09:13 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Boulder Colorado as of January 2013
Posts: 389
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Re: Recently diagnosed @ 33 and scared
My wife, Nina, had breast cancer surgery in July 2005. I can tell you that her roller coaster ride has had a lot of downhills, but has finally seemed to be back at the start, with Nina ready to look to return to the workforce in either working as a RN or as a massage therapist. I work with many of the drug manufacturer's to help their facilities run smoother. I would suggest that you go through chemo, in particular TDM-1 as part of your treatment regimen. This is one of those it is better to be safe than sorry times.
Paul
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