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11-20-2007, 10:25 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 188
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Bye-Bye Port
Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to share some happy news...Last Monday I had my last Herceptin Tx (Hooooray) After a visit with the onc I decided to have my port removed right away also. (Had that done yesterday)
Really feeling GREAT ! Not spending even one precious moment dwelling on the past or worried about the future....Time now to LIVE !
LOVE TO ALL
Susan V
__________________
Susan V - Pittsburgh PA
DX Age 37 on August 3, 2006
Stage 1 Grade 3
ER/PR + (Highly Positive)
Her 2 +++
1.3 & 1.2 tumors right breast
node negative
lumpectomy 8-15-06
A/C Began 9-5-06 Finished A/C 11/6/06
Port Placement 9-15-06
Negative Test for BRAC1 & BRAC2 10-25-06
Began Tamoxofin November 21, 2006
First Herceptin November 27, 2006 Continues every 3 Weeks
First Radiation Treatment December 11, 2006
35 Rads Completed
Final Herceptin Treatment November 12, 2007
Port Removal November 19, 2007
Living Life to the Fullest !!
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11-20-2007, 10:33 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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Susan,
Congratulations and thanks for checking in. Best of luck to you from here on out.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Hopeful
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11-20-2007, 11:08 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 368
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Congrats on the port removal. It does mean moving on to another phase in your life.
I spent the first 5 months wanting my port gone because it was sore, but now I'd be a little ambivalent about getting it out.
I don't have to decide that for 7 more months, at least. By then I may be ready to get it out.
__________________
12/12/06- IDC Stage III, 4x A/C, 35 rads, Herceptin 1 year
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11-20-2007, 11:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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congratulations on this momentous occasion. i am so happy for you and know just how you feel. my last herceptin was aug 9 and my port came out the following week. continued good health.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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11-20-2007, 11:24 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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From one Susan to another, I'm so happy for you, I'll bet you feel as great as you sound! I get my last one in three weeks, still trying to decide about the port. Maybe within the next three weeks I'll start feeling a lot more positive. You have a great outlook and attitude. Again, Congratulations!
Big Hugs
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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11-20-2007, 11:26 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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one word for ya
CHOW!! Keep us updated. Continued Prayers>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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11-20-2007, 11:35 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 8
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Yeah for you! Mine is making things so much easier but I still feel uneasy that it's in my body.
__________________
Stage I - 1.9 cm, Negative Sentinel Node
Triple Positive ER/PR/HER2
April 2007/dx & lumpectomy
May 2007 re-excision
4 DD A/C
36 Radiation tx - done 11/6/07
Starting Tamoxifen & Herceptin 11/8/07
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11-20-2007, 12:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Although I just had mine "installed" a few weeks ago I am curious how it is removed. Is it another surgical proceedure?
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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11-20-2007, 12:46 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
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I too had my last Herceptin on Monday. I plan to keep my medi-port exactly where it is in my chest. I've learned to love it. It has been there for 14 months and has been a life-saver to safely administer chemo. Since I only have a few good veins on my right arm and can't use my left arm for IV or blood draws. I will get it flushed once a month. I know many patients that have had their port in for many years. I also know many patients who had it immediately removed and some of those had to have it implanted again.
Best to you Susan V,
__________________
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.
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11-20-2007, 01:02 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Congratulations. Now it's time to start living again!
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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11-20-2007, 01:07 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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BonnieR, it is removed exactly the same way it was put in, surgically, but really no big deal, although my port was in my lower forearm not my chest.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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11-20-2007, 01:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Thanks Rinaina. I have heard people refer to it as an "office proceedure". But I had it installed in surgery. I was OUT! And that is how I want it removed!
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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11-20-2007, 06:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bedford, Virginia
Posts: 134
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I too had my last Herceptin injection last week. Bought my Oncologist a new lab coat to replace his soiled one. Told him I was in retail, and I just couldn't help myself. Bought a half sheet cake with the BC symbol for the nursing staff. I was lucky that my favorite nurses were all working. It was like a celebration!!! They were truly happy for me.
The nurses recommended I leave my port in for a year! I fussed at them for being Negative Nellies. My oncologist recommended I wait until my next mammo in Feb. I am envious of you. Congratulations!
Louise
__________________
- Diagnosis 06/06 - Stage II-A BC; BC was 2.5 cm, grade 2; ER/PR negative & HER-2/neu positive;
- Mastectomy w/ reconstruction (implant) in 09/06;lymph nodes - negative;
- AC/Cytoxin combo - 4 treatments (dose dense);
- Taxol/Herceptin combo- 12 weekly treatments;
- Completed chemo - 2/07; completed restruction 02/07; reduction of left breast.
- BRCA 1 and 2 negative - 6/15/07;DX high risk for distant recurrence
- MRI, 08/02/07 - NED
- 1 year Anniversary - 09/07; completed Herceptin 11/07.
- Mammo 02/14/08 - NED; MRI - 08/2008 - NED
- 2 year Anniversary - 09/08
- Mammo 02/09 - NED; MRI - 08/09 - NED
- 3rd year Anniversary - 09/09
- 5th Annivery - 09/2011 - NED
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11-20-2007, 06:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Congrats on being all done with treatment!!!!!! I have 2 more herceptin treatments to go. I tend to be on the cautious side and have decided to leave my port in awhile as I hardly know it's there. I certainly will celebrate when I'm done with treatment though. Plan on having a big glass of wine!
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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11-20-2007, 11:03 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Congrats Susan. I kept mine in for 3 mos only because I didn't want to take any time off during the holiday season which my onc thought was odd, like I was pessimistic. They knocked me out, more or less the same as install.
I just had a grudge with the port. Did not like having a big wart on my chest. Good riddance. Best wishes, Bev
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