 |
11-17-2007, 04:28 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 752
|
Am I stage 3c or 4
This is a silly thing to worry about really and I do know this!! I have always told myself and others that I am stage 3c (because of tumor to supraclavicular node). However my onc and always said....very kindly and softly....that I have metatastic disease. During my last visit he told me that he had presented my case to his group at the hospital because he was debating putting me back on herceptin. My tumor markers were raising....serum her2....CT's were clear (no PET scans in Ontario) but he worried because of my heart. Apparently the expert said that I should be on herceptin and not to forget I was metatastic. Later.....when I got home I suddenly thought....my god....I'm not stage 3c...I'm 4....that's what they mean. Now....I'm ok and feeling a little foolish actually. I'm alive so who cares....but I feel like I need to know and perhaps now I'm ready to know...three years out.....am I 3c or 4?
Bless you all,
Cathy
__________________
Cathy
Diagnosed Oct. 2004 3 cm ductal, lumpectomy Nov. 2004
Diagnosed Jan. 2005 tumor in supraclavicular node
Stage 3c, Grade 3, ER/PR+, Her2++
4 AC, 4 Taxol, Radiation, Arimidex, Actonel
Herceptin for 9 months until Muga dropped and heart enlarged
Restarting herceptin weekly after 4 months off
Stopped herceptin after four weekly treatments....score dropped to 41
Finished 6 years Arimidex
May 2015 diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Stage 1C
started 6 treatments of carboplatin/taxol
Genetic testing show BRCA1 VUS
Nice! My hair came back really curly. Hope it lasts lol. Well it didn't but I liked it so I'm now a perm lady
29 March 2018 Lung biopsy following chest CT showing tumours in pleura of left lung, waiting for results to the question bc or ovarian
April 20, 2018 BC mets confirmed, ER/PR+ now Her2-
Questions about the possibility of ovarian spread and mets to bones so will be tested and monitored for these.
To begin new drug Palbociclib (Ibrance) along with Letrozole May, 2018.
Genetic testing of ovarian tumour and this new lung met will take months.
To see geneticist to be retested for BRCA this week....still BRCA VUS
CA125 has declined from 359 to 12 as of Aug.23/18
|
|
|
|
11-17-2007, 07:24 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 415
|
Hi~
It's my understanding that mets to supraclavicular nodes constitute "regional" metastasis vs. "distal" to lungs, liver, bones, braint etc.
At this point, it seems like a matter of semantics. The important thing is, as you said, you're alive & that's what counts.
I'm Stage IV...have been since my primary dx w/liver mets. I had a liver resection ~2yrs ago & that solved the liver met problems, but recently PET scans showed 2 supraclavicular nodes acting up.
I just had my 85th chemo yesterday.I find dealing w/a couple of supraclavicular nodes to feel far less threatening & scary than liver mets.
Regardless of your stage, each times this disease rears is ugly head, our job is to beat it back...again & again & again...until there's a cure!
Keep the Faith~
|
|
|
|
|
11-17-2007, 09:40 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Posts: 38
|
My onc stressed the words 'LOCAL RECURRENCE'...I choose to believe I am stage 3C. No screw that! I am choosing to believe I am a 1! LOL
__________________
 Age 33 at dx - 9/15/06
L breast, Invasive solid DC w/ extensive DCIS, Grade 3, ER/PR negative/ HER2 neu positive (barely)
-AC DD, taxotere, taxol w/ herceptin
-Bi lat 1/18/07, multiple foci of IDC admixed with DCIS, IDC varied from 0.1, 0.5, and up to 1.6 cm, 1/19 + nodes
Expanders in place
Pregnant when dx
Mom to 4 beautiful kiddos (boys: 5 and 14 mos, girls: 17 and 3)
Recurrence in neck lymph node and 8mm spot in L breast above expander, herceptin stopped
BRCA 1 positive
Clinical trial since 7/23/07 (PARP INHIBITOR)-NED for 9 months, supraclavicle node popped back up,..so we cut it out! Full neck dissection - only 1 positive node ER/PR negative and now HER2 negative
Currently on Xeloda and NED
|
|
|
|
|
11-17-2007, 11:08 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
|
Swanky,
I'm curious, in September,2006 when you were first diagnosed what size was the solid IDC? It doesn't sound like Stage 3c.
Sorry to hear of your recurrence. Please excuse my ignorance---can the neck lymph node and spot above your expander be surgically removed? If not, why?
I hope the ' thisbetterf*ckingwork' pills' will work very f___ing well for you
Click: Staging Explained
Best well wishes to you,
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.
|
|
|
|
|
11-18-2007, 03:16 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
|
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.
|
|
|
|
|
11-18-2007, 07:09 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 752
|
Thank you for your responses. I think I am 3c after all. I know it sounds stupid but I am relieved. I think there have been other things going on for me and this is a boost I needed. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!
Love to all
Cathy
__________________
Cathy
Diagnosed Oct. 2004 3 cm ductal, lumpectomy Nov. 2004
Diagnosed Jan. 2005 tumor in supraclavicular node
Stage 3c, Grade 3, ER/PR+, Her2++
4 AC, 4 Taxol, Radiation, Arimidex, Actonel
Herceptin for 9 months until Muga dropped and heart enlarged
Restarting herceptin weekly after 4 months off
Stopped herceptin after four weekly treatments....score dropped to 41
Finished 6 years Arimidex
May 2015 diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Stage 1C
started 6 treatments of carboplatin/taxol
Genetic testing show BRCA1 VUS
Nice! My hair came back really curly. Hope it lasts lol. Well it didn't but I liked it so I'm now a perm lady
29 March 2018 Lung biopsy following chest CT showing tumours in pleura of left lung, waiting for results to the question bc or ovarian
April 20, 2018 BC mets confirmed, ER/PR+ now Her2-
Questions about the possibility of ovarian spread and mets to bones so will be tested and monitored for these.
To begin new drug Palbociclib (Ibrance) along with Letrozole May, 2018.
Genetic testing of ovarian tumour and this new lung met will take months.
To see geneticist to be retested for BRCA this week....still BRCA VUS
CA125 has declined from 359 to 12 as of Aug.23/18
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:22 AM.
|
Linear Mode
