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Old 01-03-2012, 07:25 AM   #1
Ellie F
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Bugs and more bugs!
Hi all,
Not been posting like usual as have been in hospital for a week with a central line infection.
Started off on the big gun antibiotics as they were really concerned about the severity of the infection systemically.
As part of the plan I was given iv vancomycin and proceeded to go into anaphylactic shock which was very scary.Fortunately the response from the staff couldn't have been better and an hour later I was feeling more 'normal' again.
My friend read me Coolbreeze's post about c diff which really made me take note of everything and everyone looking after me.
Eventually the bugs were identified and after 2 days on the right antibiotics I am now home on oral meds.
Interestingley the bugs are quite unusual strains but are sensitive to common antibiotics.
The microbiologist was certain I had picked them up from the hospital whilst having herceptin.
So after agonising for months the line is out and I am having a power port fitted as soon as all the infection is cleared.
I wanted to share this as though obviously not as serious as what happened to Coolbreeze nevertheless shows you can't be too careful when receiving treatment!
Ellie
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Old 01-03-2012, 07:33 AM   #2
NEDenise
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Re: Bugs and more bugs!
Poor Ellie!
I'm so glad things are starting to look better for you now. What a scary ordeal!
We'd all be smart to heed your good advice about germs during treatment. Thanks for sharing.
Happy, Healthy New Year!
Denise
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1/11-needle biopsy
 2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
 3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
 4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
 8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
 10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
 11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
 1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
 2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
 4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
 6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
 7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
 “ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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Old 01-03-2012, 10:47 AM   #3
Vicky
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Re: Bugs and more bugs!
Ellie, that is really scary! And such a good reminder to be prudent about hand washing and sanitizing for bugs. So glad to hear you are on the mend and were able to go home after your ordeal. I have had anaphylactic shock as well, and that is extremely scary!

Wishing you well in the New Year!
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3-16-11 dx IDC 4.4 cm tumor, right breast,HER-2 neu 3+++, Stage III
3-25-11 PET scan shows 3 mets to liver and 1 to spine, Stage IV
4-12-11 start clinical trial of TDM1 infusion 1x every 3 weeks.
6-14-11 CT scan after 3 cycles shows NO liver spots, reduced spinal met from 18mm to 13mm and right breast mass from 4.4 to 4.2 cm.
8-12-11 Mastectomy rt. breast.
10-11 scans reflect stable cancer
12-11 MRI reveals area of concern in brain, CT scan reveals 3mm spot on lung. Watch and wait and rescan in a few weeks. Round 13 TDM1 complete.
2-21-12 Scans reveal progression in lungs with 4 new small mets. Officially off tdm1. Start halaven and radiation for single brain met, 1 spot in spine.
3-13 stereotactic radiosurgery for single brain met.
5-31-12 Halaven stopped due to low blood counts. Start tamoxifen and cont. Herceptin 1x3 weeks.
7-11-12- brain mri shows shrinking brain met and no new lesions. Cont. Herceptin and Tamoxifen
10-2-12 Stable tumor markers. Continue Herceptin and Tamoxifen
4-9-13 progression in lymph node under arm and new lung spots. Stop Tamoxifen. Add Xeloda to Herceptin.
6-10-13 Stereotactic radiosurgery to two new brain mets. Stop Xeloda due to lung mets progression. begin Tykerb 7-2-13.
10-29-13 Begin radiation to my lungs and one lymph node under my arm. Stop Tykerb until completion and then recommence.
1-31-14 Progression in lungs. Oophorectomy performed.
2-18-14 Begin Arimidex and continue Herceptin
7-7-15 progression with spots on colon, in pelvic region, and in lungs. Begin Taxotere, Perjeta and Herceptin.
11-15 Switch to weekly Taxol, and continue with Perjeta and Herceptin.
12-23-16 PET scan shows Complete Response with no new spots. Continue on with TPH indefinitely.
3-16-16 Still no evidence of disease, break from Taxol. Continue on with Perjeta and Herceptin.
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Old 01-03-2012, 01:23 PM   #4
tricia keegan
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Re: Bugs and more bugs!
Ellie I'm sorry to read this but so glad you're on the mend and the Power Port will be great for scans too, thanks for the heads up and feel better soon
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Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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Old 01-03-2012, 01:33 PM   #5
CoolBreeze
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Re: Bugs and more bugs!
I'm glad my post warned somebody about the danger! If you are on vanco you won't get c-dfff - matter of fact, I'm never allowed to take any antibiotic again without concurrent vancomycin. Did you finish your course or did your anaphylasis stop it? C-diff tends to come back.

Anybody can get it when on antibiotics though so if you end up having diarrhea, your ears should perk up and you should call and get a stool test ASAP.

I'm so glad you are better and home! Infection is something we never think about but it's a big problem.
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08/17/09 Dx'd.
Multifocal/multicentric IDC, largest 3.4 cm, associated ADH, LCIS, DCIS
HER2+ ER+/PR- Grade 3, Node Negative

10/20/2009: Right mastectomy, reconstruction with TE
12/02/2009: Six rounds TCH, switched to Taxol halfway through due to neuropathy
03/31/2010: Finished chemo
05/01/2010: Began tamoxifen, the worst drug ever
11/18/2010: Reconstruction completed
12/02/2010: Finished herceptin
05/21/2011: Liver Mets. Quit Tamoxifen
06/22/2011: Navelbine/Zometa/Herceptin
10/03/2011: Liver Resection, left lobe. Microwave ablation, right lobe - going for cure!
11/26/2011: C-Diff Superbug Infection, "worst case doctor had seen in 20 years"
03/28/2012: Progression in ablated section of the liver - no more cure. Started Abraxane, continue herceptin/zometa
10/10/2012: Progression continues, started Halaven, along with herceptin and zometa.
01/15/2013: Progression continues, started Gemzar and Perjeta, an unusual combo, continuing with herceptin and zometa
03/13/2013: Quit Gemzar, body just won't handle it. Staying on herceptin, zometa and perjeta.
04/03/2013: CT shows 50% regression in tumor, so am starting back on Gemzar with dose reduction, staying with perjeta/herceptin/zometa. Can't argue with success!
05/09/2013: Discussing SBRT with Radiology due to inability of bone marrow to recover from chemo.
06/07/2013: Fiducial placement for SBRT
07/03/2013: Chemo discontinued, on Perjeta, Herceptin and Zometa alone
07/25/2013: SBRT (gamma knife) begins
08/01/2013: SBRT completed
08/15/2013: STABLE! continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
06/18/2014: ***** NED!!!!***** continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin, Zometa
01/29/2014: Still NED. continuing with Perjeta, Herceptin. Zometa lowered to every 3 months instead of monthly.
11/08/2015: Progression throughout abdomen and lungs. Started TDM-1, aka Kadcyla. Other meds discontinued. Remission was nice while it lasted.

5/27/18: Stable. Kadcyla put me right back in the barn. I have two teeny spots on my lungs that are metabolically inactive, and liver is clean.

I’m beating this MFer. I was 51 when this started and had two kids, 22 and 12. Now I’m 60. My oldest got married and trying to start s family. My youngesg graduates from Caltech this June. My stepdaughter gave me grandkids. Life is fantastic.
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Old 01-03-2012, 07:50 PM   #6
Laurel
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Re: Bugs and more bugs!
Ellie,

I am so glad you are on the mend. Now, Girlfriend, this yank recommends putting your feet up and watching a Dr. Who marathon while you recuperate! Cheers!

Laurel
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Smile On!
Laurel

Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara

15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
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