My sis saw the oncologist

ammebarb · 03-31-2009, 11:33 AM

She called to tell me what happened at her appointment. She will have a PET and CT scan as soon as it can be scheduled. She has decided to have a second surgery to look at lymph again (after two microscopic cells were found), so that will be scheduled as soon as she has healed a bit from the lumpectomy and sentinel node surgery. She will have a port installed during the lymph surgery so that she can do TAC chemo, with Herceptin. As seems standard, she will do the remainder of a year on Herceptin and then do the radiation that is required.

I've been reading that Adriamycin and Herceptin can both be cardio toxic, so I'm wondering if they are commonly given together?

She sounded better than I expected her to sound. Her next big stress producer is the PET and CT, not because of the scans but because of waiting to hear results.

I'm waiting to hear when she will next want me to go home to help....for scans or surgery.

Thanks so much for responding to my prior posts. This is a place filled with compassionate, smart, helpful men and women. I'm sure glad I found you!

Barb

Believe51 · 03-31-2009, 11:44 AM

And we are certainly happy you have found us, cancer aside of course. I am pleased to hear how good sis sounds. Looks like she has a game plan together and a wonderful support system. You are both in my prayers. Let us know when the tests are so I can say an extra special prayer and send positive healing energy her way. Once again you are both lucky to have each other.>>Believe51

ammebarb · 03-31-2009, 12:08 PM

Thank, Believe. We are very grateful for prayers.

Barb

schoolteacher · 03-31-2009, 03:53 PM

Barb,

I will be praying for your sister also.

Amelia

ammebarb · 03-31-2009, 04:38 PM

Bless you, Amelia.

chrisy · 03-31-2009, 06:55 PM

Barb,
Glad to hear your sister is starting to move forward with a plan. For me, just having a plan makes me feel better - makes it all seem a liitle bit more manageable. She's lucky to have such a strong supporter in you, just knowing you are there is I'm sure a great help.

Hope she is able to get the scans behind her soon; she needs to know what she's dealing with but waiting for scans (and then results!) can be quite stressful for sure.

Keeping you both in my prayers,
Chris

ammebarb · 04-01-2009, 06:39 AM

It is so good to have found this caring group. Hearing from each of you is like medicine for the spirit. Your well wishes and your prayers mean so much. Thank you.

Barb

Terri B · 04-01-2009, 08:40 AM

Barb,

Welcome to this site. It will be your lifeline for awhile! It has been for me!

I was diagnosed a year ago in March. My sister was diagnosed 4 months later. So I feel your pain, sister! I was all into myself going through the treatment, then all of a sudden, there's SIS!!
I worried about her more than myself! But your sister will surely take comfort in your support and knowledge.

I have finished surgery, chemo, rads and sis is 1/3 of the way through her rads. At one point, we both looked like egg heads together!

Hang in there!

ammebarb · 04-01-2009, 01:40 PM

Hi Terri. I am so sorry that you and your sis have had to do this path. Hope you are both doing well and continue NED for scores more years! It just helps to know that other people have done this and come through the treatment. We're doing our best to hang in there. Thanks for responding.

Barb

Darlene Denise · 04-01-2009, 06:54 PM

Barb: Adriamycin is not given with Herceptin due to heart toxicity. If you sister is node positive and not metastatic, then she would typically receive 4 AC treatments followed by 4 Taxotere treatments, or she may receive them on an accelerated schedule known as dose dense if her staging dictates. Herceptin can be given with Taxol and Taxotere and is given for 1 year unless she is metastatic.

Hope this info helps.

WomanofSteel · 04-02-2009, 04:58 AM

I think once your sister's test results have come in and she begins her plan of attack she will feel less stressed. I am sorry to hear she has joined the ranks of her2+, but there isn't a better group of people than those on this site. You are both in my prayers.

ammebarb · 04-02-2009, 06:38 AM

Darlene Denise: Thanks for your message. I'd been reading and thougth those two chemo drugs wouldn't be given together, but my sis didn't make any distinction when she told me the plan. She also said that she'd do chemo for sixteen weeks. Could she take two regimens at two week intervals? Guess we'll have to wait to hear a specific plan until after she has those additional nodes sampled and she sees the oncologist again. I'm always trying to cross the bridge before I come to it. Thankfully, she's a lot less like that and will do this one step at a time. (It's really the only way to do it....I'm a slow learner!)

It was good of you to reply. Thank goodness for the patient, friendly and caring women on this site. I don't know how I did this walk twenty five years ago without the company of bc friends.

Barb

ammebarb · 04-02-2009, 06:40 AM

Woman of Steel: I have told her that she will find resolve once she has experienced the chemo and herceptin. Then of course, there is the radiation. But, settling into a plan has got to be better than all the uncertainty on top of just accepting the diagnosis.

You are all amazing and so appreciated.

Barb