HonCode

Go Back   HER2 Support Group Forums > her2group
Register Gallery FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-18-2014, 01:26 PM   #1
linn65
Senior Member
 
linn65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Attica, IN
Posts: 371
Re: Asked why I am stage IV again - clearing up??

It doesn't appear any of the people that responded need an infusion every 3 weeks. This is making me so confused about treatment. My doctor is supposed to be one of the best in Indiana. She is at IU simon cancer center Dr. Kathy Miller which I saw for the first time in February 2014 for a second opinion about simply taking tamoxifen vs. armidex.

I liked her, and I switched to her. Exam in August found a lump and it was a complete and the most depressing thing that has happened in my life. I had hope despite the continued side effects which were getting better from acupuncture. I thought I beat it and to be told it had reoccurred, put my port back in again and no end game anymore....it felt like I was handed a death sentence.

Now, I do get afraid of bumps or different little things going on in my body. Thinking what if it went somewhere else, and I down play things I suppose to her because I am not ready mentally to hear a bad report even if it was good report because what if it's bad.

It seems I am hearing you say you think I am stage 3C and my doctor is wrong. If she was then I wouldn't need all this treatment? Or is she not telling me something.....it all is unknown and that sometimes is harder then the known.
__________________
myleftlump.wordpress.com - started blogging my
IDC breast cancer
7/2012 diagnosed with multiple solid lesions
7/20/12 biopsy done. ER+ 30 PR -, HER+++,k167 80% Grade 2
9/2012 biopsy on lymph node - showed malignant

9/2012 Pre-adjunctive TCH chemo.

12/6/12 MRI after Pre-adj.
Results: Modest Decrease in size of left breast malignancy As well as the associated satellite lesions and auxiliary Adenopathy compared to prior study. Doctors hoped for better but good response it didn't grow.

12/18/2012 left masectomy with axillary nodes
Size 3.2 CM, Nottingham score 9/9
Grade 3, no evidence of in situ carcinoma
Areas of angiolymphatic are identified
Carcinoma is 0.5 cm from inked deep
Margin of excision
Attached axillary lymph nodes: metastatic
Carcinoma in 6 of 8 nodes.
Size of largest node 1.5 cm
Extracapsular
ER + 73%, PR+2%, HER2+

2/27/13 6 weeks of IMRT radiation finished

2/2013 Started on Tamoxifan 5 years.

8/2013 will take last Herceptin, 17 treatments total every 3 weeks.

BRCA1 & BRAC2 - Negative

August 28, 2013 DIEP flap on the left breast.
February 2014 Nip & Tuck
March 14, 2014 nipple reconstruction and removed port.
August 14, 2014 lump in lymph nodes under arm and above clavicle. Stage IV
August 28, 2014 herceptin And projeta starting and port put back in.

3/18/15 stopped arimidex.
3/18/15 progression....Tdm1
linn65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-18-2014, 02:55 PM   #2
sassy
Senior Member
 
sassy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
Images: 4
Re: Asked why I am stage IV again - clearing up??

Linn,

It is my understanding that Herceptin is administered on a three week cycle with active disease regardless of your stage. A different administration time frame would be as she said, after your disease is stable, or you reach NED (no evidence of disease). Perhaps the other folks that you have talked with that do not have 3 week dosing have already reached stable or NED status?

I understand your confusion over being classified as a stage IV and psychologically staging has meaning to each of us. However, I don't think your stage classification in and of itself will have any effect on your course of treatment. That would be determined by the evidence of disease and pathology. So even if your staging was changed to 3C, it would most likely have no effect on your course of treatment.

I am sorry that you are having to deal with recurrence and confusion, but hang in there--you are getting great treatment.

Best Wishes,
__________________
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.......
14YEARS NED!
sassy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:28 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright HER2 Support Group 2007 - 2021
free webpage hit counter