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05-12-2007, 05:42 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posts: 365
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negative outcome of procedure
I had surgery Wednesday to remove fluid from the pleural cavity of my left lung. They were then to talc the outside of the lung to aid as glue so the lung would re-expand. There was so much evidence of metastasis and scar tissue that the procedure failed. Am I near the end of the road? Has anyone else had mets to the outside of their lung? Thanks for all replies? Lu Ann
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05-12-2007, 06:16 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 127
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Lu Ann - I was hoping and praying the surgery would be a success. I am so very sorry. The doctors are going to have to find another option for you. You are NOT at the end of the road. You are still ON the road. It is time to regroup and find another way to kick the cancer in the butt!
love - kim
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05-12-2007, 06:17 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Lu Ann...
I'm sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, I have NO experience, but I DO have BIGGGG huggs and prayers. Take care and God bless.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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05-12-2007, 07:42 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 84
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You are still on the road, so keep going!!!!!
__________________
3/2003-Dx'd Stage 4 Her 2+++
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Dum spiro spero (Latin: while I breathe I hope)
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05-12-2007, 08:02 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Lu Ann,
I'm so sorry to hear that your procedure did not go well. You are NOT at the end of the road. There are so many treatments still available that I'm sure your oncologist will come up with something to get you NED. I will keep you in my prayers.
__________________
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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05-12-2007, 08:39 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Lu Ann, I'm very sorry you had to go through this, and then to have it be unsuccessful is just a bummer...I don't know about mets on the outside of the lungs, but I do know others have beat extensive lung mets back with the right combo, so please don't lose hope. Your docs are going to take a cue from you as to whether you want to keep going, so if YOU aren't ready to give up they will help you keep fighting.
Have you had Tykerb yet? I'm on Tykerb/Abraxane(easier version of Taxol) for my lymph and skin mets and finding it very easy to tolerate and am seeing a positive response after just one week.
If that's not an option for you, there are most likely other options your onc and you can discuss. You are in the drivers seat, so hang on and keep driving!
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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05-12-2007, 09:22 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Lu Ann - I am sorry to hear that your talc procedure didn't work. I had this done in December. When they pulled the first tube after my procedure, my lung collapsed, so they put a pigtail catheter in and drained me somemore. After that my lungs cleared up. You are not at the end of the road, just still trying to find the right drugs to fight your cancer. I am currently on Tykerb/Xeloda but have just started so I don't know if this will be the one for me, but I sure hope so. My prayers are with you that you and your onc will come up with something very successful. Don't give up the fight.
__________________
Andi
-- ------------------------
Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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05-12-2007, 08:23 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: California
Posts: 668
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Praying for you
Dear Lu Ann: Do not even think about it!! You are a warrior!! and as such do not give up, NEVER....I'm sure the doctors have another alternative to take care of your problem. All of us, your sisters are praying for you...Hang in there.
__________________
1994 - rt brst, .lump, underarm node dissection,chemo+rad 1.2 cms, Grade 3.
28 nodes neg
Er,Pr, Positive HER2 status unknown
2003- Recur to rt lung.July 16 ( B-Day!)
Her2+++ Er,Pr, Negative
2003 - Aug04--Navelbine + Herceptin
2004- 2007--NED - Herceptin, only
2007 Feb-April Xeloda added to hereceptin
2007-May Back on Navelbine+Herceptin
2008-Feb-Mar 15 Ses Rad to Rt. Lung
2008- Oc 17 Add Tykerb to Herceptin
2009- June-- Discont Tykerb
2009 July 7--Current Taxol + Herceptin
2009 Dec--Discontinued treatment due to progression. Looking into cyberknife.
2010-Aug Accepted to TDM1, no SE, except liver count went up.
2010-2011 September got kicked out of the trial, due to a small spot found on lung.
2011- 2012 September thru early 2013 on Herceptin
2013- March Bone density shows small spot on 5th rib.
2013 - April 4th appt with onc. will post after discussing course of treatment.
2013-March-April Cyber knife to brain and radiation to rib. Chest --base line before chemo-CT-Scan stable for lung issue. CA2729 Normal.
2013 April Herceptin- TDMI
2013 Sept Herceptin + Perjeta . CA2729 within normal range. Brain and Pet scans October 31st. will post results.
2013 October Brain MRI- mixed response. Will see Onc/rad on Halloween.
2013 October/November Brain-MRI nothing new. Repeat MRI next year in May.
2013 December Continue Herceptin and Perjeta. Stable at the moment.
2014 February Brain MRI -clear!
2014 January Added Taxotere to Perjeta+Herceptin.
2014 March Stopped chemo-chest ct-scan next.
2014- March Scans shows tumor's larger, CA2729 higher. Discontinue Herceptin.
2014 April Perjeta+ Halaven
2014 April CA2729 went down 60 points after one cycle. Cough does not want to go away.
2014 June Continue on Perjeta + Halaven-- no more cough. Stable
2014 June Back on Herceptin + abraxane
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05-13-2007, 08:05 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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LuAnn
I don't have a lot of knowledge in this area, but these other ladies have said some great things. I'd definitely search out the best specialists in pulmonary metastasis and get this taken care of. I believe strongly that you can get this taken care of. This is not the end of the road, just a big pothole.
But with some determination you can just drive on through it.
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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05-13-2007, 08:55 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posts: 365
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Thanks for all of your replies....
....I'm feeling much better today. I went to church. out for lunch, and a drive to the country side.
The home procedure I'm having done is brand new. The home drainage kit is from Denver Biomedical and the kit is called Pleur x. You can go on line if you are interested in watching the video. I don't know the web-site or link.
I appreciate the votes of confidence. I thought I was near the end of the road 3 years ago, but I am still here.
The drainage is done 2 times a week or as needed. It's quite a detailed procedure. Everything is packed in a sterile bag for single use. It is uncomfortable but should ease up over time.
A visiting nurse will do the procedure until my husband is at ease doing it himself.
R.B., what is the best omega three I can purchase?
Stephanie, I was on cytoxin, 5fu, and methotrexate for 6 months when I was dx. 16 years ago with stage 1. Since the reoccurrance I have been on taxol, carboplatin, herceptin, zometa, navlebine, gemsar, xeloda, and doxil. I had rad. tx. to spine, and mediastynime at Cancer Treatment Centers in Zion. Ill. I also had rad. tx. to my hip, femur, and knee last November at University Hospital in Cleve. Ohio.
I have a neuropathy condition which they think is seperate from the lung issue that I am also to have tests for. We will meet with the med. onc. Friday to discuss her game plan. I'm not sure how active the cancer is growing in the pleural cavity, but my tests showed improvement with the doxil.
Loli, Tykerb and xeloda or herceptin was what we discussed prior to surgery. Once we find out if I need rad. tx. to the neck area for an enlarged lymph node, I can finish 2 more rounds of doxil then the tykerb combo.
I appreciate all of your posts and I am not giving up.
Happy Mothers Day
Dear Friends.
Love, Lu Ann
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05-14-2007, 06:59 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Dearest Lu Ann,
I am thinking of you and will be saying a special healing prayer
for you. You sound strong once again - glad your back on the
road to fighting back. Never Give UP!
Sending you lots of strong hugs,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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05-14-2007, 08:17 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 6
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Lilies of the Field
I found the following posted on a web site by a lady named Penny Rice. Thought this was something we all should consider in our journey:
Jesus said in Matthew 6:28, “Consider the Lilies of the field, how they grow.” The lilies of Palestine persist, grow & thrive even though they are trodden down by those who pass through the fields. God Himself is their Gardener who causes them to persevere and become exquisitely beautiful with their heads held high. It is to Him that we who are trodden down by cancer can look for the strength to persevere & flourish as beautiful lilies for all to see.
My prayers are with you to gain the strength to be a real warrior.
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