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Old 03-20-2015, 11:17 PM   #1
cjjhero
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 15
Great news!

My sister had a double mastectomy on February 5, 2015. She also is having reconstruction surgery. 5 weeks later she suffered a small setback with a MRSA infection in one of the drain sites and had emergency surgery to have the left breast expander removed. She is doing very well. The plastic surgeon believes that she can have the expander replaced in a few months. The right expander is doing well.

The good or great news is there was no evidence of cancer in the breast pathology report. The breast surgeon reported that she believes she is cancer free since there was no evidence of the cancer anywhere except the right breast. They did take 1 lymph node and it was also biopsied. Her CT and MRI scans were clear. She had chemo prior to the mastectomy.

The breast surgeon recommended to stop herceptin but her oncologist still wants her to finish her course of treatment for 1 year. She will return to the herceptin treatment once her infection is cleared up.

The oncologist did mention that he is pleased to have a HER2+ success story.

She fought hard through this demon called HER2+ breast cancer.

I am so very grateful to all those who have given needed advise when faced with the uncertainties of her treatment.

Now, it's a new road to becoming a survivor of breast cancer for her. I pray all those on this site may one day be free of this beast called cancer.
Blessings and hope to all the warriors and survivors.
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Old 03-22-2015, 07:47 PM   #2
Lucy
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 293
Re: Great news!

I know you must be so relieved at the good news. Thanks for sharing and I'm glad she's doing well.
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Old 03-23-2015, 04:57 AM   #3
JessicaV
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 206
Re: Great news!

I too had a setback with an infected drain. But these do heal and I hope your sister's will heal quickly and well. I am so glad to hear that her oncologist is ensurung she gets the full 1yr of herceptin. Do you know what kind of chemo she had prior to surgery? It is hard to have someone you love going through this tough experience. I wish you both well
Jessica
__________________
1997-2004 many cysts, many MG & U/S: polycystic breasts.
Sept 2013 found lump,Cyst?? forgot lump.
Dec 2013 GP check, Referred for U/S, MG,FNA.
7 Jan 2014 Radiology: Radiologist turned screen away from me. When asked she said "Not a cyst, very suspicious.See your GP asa results avail."
Cancelled my psych clients for the week.
8 Jan 14 GP: 2.2cm IDC in 6cm DCIS field. FNA=malignant cells. Referred to Surgeon.
Cancelled my psych clients for the month.
13 Jan
14 Surgeon said L mastectomy not lumpectomy, offered neoadjunctive trial, agreed adjunctive chemo after surgery a good choice for me. Booked Body scan and bone scan for staging (both fine) Surgery for16 Jan,
16 Jan 14 Surgeon also agreed in preop meeting to also remove 6cm fatty cyst in job lot. Good job done.
19 Jan 14 discharged home with 1 drain.
22 Jan 14 drain partly pulled out overnight, serious seroma (600 ml reducing removed every 2 days for a month) Serious staph infection because nurse said wait 3 days for yr surgeon appointment.
26Jan 14 pathology: 2.2cm Grade 3(3,3,2)ER-, PgR-, HER2+2 so to be confirmed by Sish test. Node negative. No vascular or lymphatic involvement. No metastases in scans.
30 Jan 14 HER2+ high amplification, 13 gene copies per cell.
21st Feb 14 Began 3wkly TCH adjuvant treatment at The Mount Hospital Perth, with 3monthly MUGA heart tests +Oncologist or Surgeon full physical check-up.
Cancelled my psych clients for 6 months.
Feb 14 First MUGA test: 71%,
First C15.3 test: 20
7th March 14 began Neulasta self-applied injections 24hrs after each TCH treatment. Bonepain helped by spa, heatpacks and
Claritin, reflux/indigestion helped by Somac.
July 14 completed docetaxol and carboplatin, ongoing herceptin to 12 months. Severe cognitive deficit/fatigue after 1pm daily.
Sept 14 Second MUGA test: 69%
Cancelled my psych clients for 2014
Dec 14 Third MUGA test: 70%
Second C15.3 test : 20
Cognitive fatigue delays return to work.

March 2015 Tachycardia pulse 168, night in hospital. Cardiologist says no heart disease, ALIVE ECG attachment for my mobile phone now regular monitoring.
July 2015 Worktrial, up to 8hrs per wk. Fatigue ongoing
Aug 2015 Heart good, no evidence of cancer, just Fatigue.
May 2019 Melanoma 1.5cm Stage 1 by right collarbone(was present as large freckle in 2014 and cut through by breast surgeon to remove fatty cyst at same time as mastectomy.) Melanoma removed leaving scar from shoulder to breastbone. In hospital twice for IV antibiotics. Told catagorically this could not be BC mets.
Dec 2019 Still NED, still fatigue in late afternoon, but have my brain back in the early mornings. So most days I watch the sunrise and hear the birds morning chorus in my bush backyard and am glad to be alive and to be me still.

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