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Old 08-02-2016, 06:28 AM   #1
jra40
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA.
Posts: 260
Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

So it's been a struggle for me health wise since I stopped all treatments in 2013. From GI problems, to joint pain, to failing eye sight - not one doctor attributed my issues to the lingering after affects of chemo, but I always felt they were wrong. This article gives us validation that we are not crazy hypochondriacs!!!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ear-about.html

Doctors need to focus on after care of cancer/chemo survivors for our quality of life!!

Jessica
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11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+
12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative
12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks
3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily
6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol
7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo
8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo.
10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks.
11/8/11 - Finished radiation
3/21/12 - Last Herceptin!
3/26/12 - Port removed!
Tamoxifen for 5 years
8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer!
8/8/15 - Started Arimidex
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:23 AM   #2
suzan w
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Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
Re: Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

That was an interesting article. I continue to have side effects from my chemo...11 years ago. For ex. now I am experiencing some GI issues, related to GERD, which developed after my mouth sores from Adriamycin/cytoxin affected my esophagus. These side effects do not go away. They seem to get worse with time. I was curious to see that they mentioned the Oncotype DX as a new tool. My onc. used that in 2005 to determine that I was a good candidate for chemo.
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Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year

as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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Old 08-02-2016, 09:30 AM   #3
jra40
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA.
Posts: 260
Re: Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

Susan - I too have symptoms of GERD and just recovered of a sore that developed my throat from acid reflux. My GI issues have been awful since 2011. No one tells you the lingering side effects you may have after chemo, guess they don't see it as a necessity. It has wreaked havoc on my brain though, kept thinking it was cancer somewhere!
__________________
11/17/10 - Diagnosed with 4.5cm tumor in right breast, IDC, Stage 2, Nuclear grade 2, ER+ PR+ HER2+
12/13/10 - Lymph node biopsy - negative
12/28/10 - Started neo-adjuvant treatment along with clinical trial with 4 rounds of AC chemo every 3 weeks
3/15/11 - Began weekly Taxol/Herceptin infusions along with 750mg of Tykerb taken by mouth daily
6/28/11 - Finished last cycle of Taxol
7/27/11 - Breast MRI shows tumor has dissolved, remarkable reaction to chemo
8/31/11 - Lumpectomy, Sentinel Node biopsy. Node negative, clear margins, 7mm of cancer left over from chemo.
10/05/11 - Started radiation, 5 days a week for 7 weeks.
11/8/11 - Finished radiation
3/21/12 - Last Herceptin!
3/26/12 - Port removed!
Tamoxifen for 5 years
8/4/15 - Hysterectomy & bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Due to large fibroids. No cancer!
8/8/15 - Started Arimidex
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Old 08-02-2016, 01:06 PM   #4
thinkpositive
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: San Diego
Posts: 411
Re: Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

Jessica,

Thanks for posting this article. Although I haven't had many of the specific issues that are mentioned in the article, I do feel like my energy level isn't what it was before treatment. It also seems like I constantly get cold sores and catch more than my fair share of colds!

I agree with you regarding your comment on aftercare.

Take care,
Brenda
__________________
8/2013 Diagnosed IDC Left Breast ER-/PR-/HER2+ Stage 3C, DCIS ER+/PR+/HER2- Right Breast (54 yr)
8/2013 PET/CT scan shows mass in uterues and suprclavicular nodes
8/20/13 Begin 6 rounds TCH chemo, Perjeta added for rounds 4-6
9/2013 After 1st round of chemo, mass in neck and breast no longer able to feel
11/2013 Hysterectomy, mass from PET/CT scan not cancer (adenomylosis)
12/2013 Finished chemo
1/2014 Double mastectomy with chest expanders
1/2014 Pathology report from surgery and SNB show complete pathological response!
3/2014 Finish IMRT radiation
8/2014 Fat transfer to radiated breast
8/2014 Completed 1 yr of Herceptin
10/2014 exchange surgery expanders removed implants placed
6/2015 3D nipple and areola tattoos
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Old 08-05-2016, 08:14 AM   #5
Donna H
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Posts: 307
Re: Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

My oncologist never believed my watery eyes were a result of treatment. She blamed it on allergies. She still doesnt believe my lack of hair growth is a result of chemo. And she is on the fence about the osteoporosis being a result of treatment of just me being older. For me, I was in shock or a fog when I was first diagnosed and during initial meetings with my doctors that I dont think I fully understood all the possible side effects. I just knew I needed treatment and I didnt have time on my side. In hindsight, I wish I had asked more questions and not just went along with the treatment plan. I sure hope I am never faced with this again because I dont think I will be as agreeable or complacent.
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Old 08-05-2016, 01:35 PM   #6
bluequest
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Posts: 4
Re: Validation of chemo after affects - finally!

I really do recognize the watery eyes, poor eyelashes, joint pain and stiffness, poor sight and hearing. My oncologist and onco-nurse says she recognizes all of these things as a direct effect of chemo-therapy. Oh, failing nails on both hands and feet and numbness in fingertips.
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