 |
|
05-08-2008, 10:53 AM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bradenton,FL
Posts: 977
|
Check up anxiety...need hugs!
Hello Her2 family!
My six month check up is on Monday. This is the first time I have had the six month wait since dx ( won't have scans again until Dec.)
I feel silly but I want to know if I should ask for a head/neck MRI as I have been having neck and shoulder pain for two months now? A year and a half ago I had one for the same sort of pain and it showed herniations, but the pain went away, totally...hmm.
In any event I'd feel better knowing you are all thinking good thoughts for me on Monday!
Thanks,
Marcia
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:13 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
|
Marcia Hug's and prayers's going out for your check up on Monday.
I know what you mean about appt's and being stressed. I myself stress when it's time for mine. I still see my Onc every 3 months.
I feel if it would make you feel better go ahead and ask for the MRI.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:14 AM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OH
Posts: 385
|
Marcia
Not only good thoughts for Monday, but from now until Monday. Good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:15 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
|
Hi Marcia, I, for one will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for Monday. I know how anxious we all get at these checkup times. I promise to think of you if you'll do the same for me, my three month checkup is Monday at one o'clock. Let's just pretend that we are going together, that will make it easier.
If I were you, I would mention any problems to the doctor, I know I'm planning to. I hope your doc isn't like mine, he thinks I'm paranoid (shouldn't I be?) I've been thinking a lot lately about being better to be safe than sorry, now if I can get my onc to listen to me.
I know in my heart that we are both fine, but who can blame us for worrying?
Be sure to post and let us know how it goes.
I'll be thinking of you.
Hugs
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:18 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
|
Hi Soc (my birthday twin Irma)
I don't have any profound advice. I will be thinking
of you on Monday if you will think of me on Tuesday.
I always talk to my onc about all of my aches and
pains and then we decide together what the plan of
attack will be. The build-up to these appointments
is difficult. I write out a list of questions and then
I try to forget about it until the day arrives.
My big problem right now is that I have to lose 40 lbs
before Tuesday.....think I can do it????? My skinny
onc. is going to weigh me and then I will get the lecture
(again) 
Good luck on Monday. I'm sure everything will go
smoothly.
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:19 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OH
Posts: 385
|
Susan
Of course I will have good thoughts for you also from now until Monday. I think it's normal for doctors to think that patients are paranoid -- they would be too in the same circumstances. You want to pretend that you and Marcia are going to your appointments together? Actually you are. Although at a distance none of us will ever leave your side. Take care and have a great week-end.
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:22 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 62
|
My hugs and pixie dust.
If you want a test, ask for it. Maybe they will figure out something to do for the herniations! There are lots of medical papers that state if a test relieves anxiety, and the patient wants it, than do it! Hopefully your doc will figure out an easy explanation. How about medically ordered daily massage with your favorite scented oil! Deep breath, take someone to hold your hand. The worst stinking part is the waiting.
Carla
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:35 AM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
|
Hey Pink, if you figure out how to lose that weight by Tuesday, please share with us. I need to drop about 30lbs myself.
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:41 AM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CHARLOTTE NC USA
Home town (ECUADOR) South America
Posts: 542
|
May GOD will be with you at time of scans and my prayers are with you too ..
__________________
Lily Diag April/06 5 months after give birth my son Max stage IV mets on liver (5 tumors) 38 year old, her2+++ and ER+PR+ from32 nodes 4 positives mastectomy right breast chemo before surgery herceptin/carboplatin/taxotere ,clear and surgery have radiation 20, `& then herceptin and tamoxifen NED until Aug/07 body only then 'n June 04-06-07 .1 lesion of 1.6 cm on cerebellum ...novalis ,open sugery 5m.m brain met again novalis, 4mm.In the liver. Waiting 2 months now 3 tumors enroll on T-MCC trial start first infusion Nov 5/07 at Dec 17 scan show one tumor despair the 2nd and 3th diminish Doc said great results until March/08 ct scan show progression 03-05-08 start tykerb & xeloda
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 12:51 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Bradenton,FL
Posts: 977
|
Whoa , what a response (you guys are the BEST!) THX ladies!
Appt buddy Susan and day after appt buddy PINK, I will be holding you in my thoughts (good distraction,LOL)
Off to work I go...
Hugs,Marcia
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 01:12 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
|
My Girls
Marcia AND PinkGirl....special thoughts and prayers everyday from myself. Extra ones though for Monday and Tuesday for you two very lovely friends>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:06 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
|
Pink-Lilly-Marcia
I just had my checkup Monday. I know how you feel Marcia. Pink & Lilly - I lost 50 pounds of the weight I gained in cancer treatment. Monday at my checkup, the nurse practicioner felt something on my side below my breast area. She didn't tell me. Oncologist comes in and says "Let me look at this area that Connie is concerned about." The terror nearly zoomed me through the ceiling of the examining room. Oncologist continues: You've lost a lot of weight, so you don't have the same feel when we examine you. THere I think she felt a rib." Yep. It was a rib plus a little scar tissue. Go ahead and lose the weight, but be warned.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:18 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
|
Marcia & Pink Girl
Good luck to you both ladies, I'll be keeping everything crossed for you both!
marcia I also am having my six monthly check up this month for the first time so I understand how worrying it is. Bty, I take arimidex and also get a lot of pain in my neck and shoulder area so maybe thats whats causing your's??
Pink Girl...if you lose that 40lbs by Tuesday please tell me how you did it I also need to have quit smoking by the time I see my onc or she'll kill me!
__________________
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!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:25 PM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
|
Tricia,
Let's see ... I have part of today, all of Friday, Saturday,
Sunday, Monday, and then part of Tuesday ... it could
happen! And then I'll have to worry about those things
that MJo was talking about - something called ribs.
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:32 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
Good luck next week Marcia, Pink and Tricia with your checkups.
And Marcia - it probably is nothing, but def. mention to your onc. - he/she will know what test will be the best. I agree with Tricia - most likely the Arimidex.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:36 PM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
|
Anxiety
Hi,
It is a good idea to mention aches and pains to the doc.
Maybe you would like to make notes about things that concern you in a notebook and then bring the notebook to your appointment, so that you can discuss them with the doc. That way you might be able to put those concerns on the back burner and enjoy other things until you see the doc. Hang in there and lots of luck on Monday.
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 02:40 PM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
|
Marcia,
Good luck with your check-up. Prior to my last routine follow-up I was having significant pain in my right shoulder and all the way down my arm. It was actually waking me up at night. I told my onc about it at my appointment and she scheduled me for a bone scan - it came up clean. About that same time I stopped carrying my 50lb purse (well, close to that heavy) on that shoulder and now I am pain free. I'm now waiting for the left shoulder to hurt but won't panic this time.
PinkGirl: Please be sure and start a new thread on how to lose 40 pounds in five days - I'd love to see how to do that!
Ribs? Aren't those usually covered with BBQ sauce? Hmm...
Best of luck to everyone with upcoming appointments!
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
Last edited by Gerri; 05-08-2008 at 06:21 PM..
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 03:18 PM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
|
Marcia, Pink, and Susan....gonna be a power day at the onc!!!! Voice your concerns and then come back and tell us you are all just perfect....absolutely perfect!
Ok, Pink, lets get this "I lost a pound.... yea, but I lost 4" thing going! I'd be in heaven to lose 10 lbs. right now. Is the weight lose race on????????
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 04:16 PM
|
#19
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES!
w/home in Boca Raton, Florida
Orig from L.I., N.Y.
Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
|
Hey Y'all...
__________________
Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 04:41 PM
|
#20
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
|
Best of luck girls with your checkups. I just started going every three months. Had my visit Tuesday and was telling her about pelvic pain I have been having and now I am going for a CT scan Friday and a cystoscopy in June (have had blood in my urine for 6 weeks not a UTI or a kidney stone.) Keep your fingers crossed for me as I will for you!!!
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:42 PM.
|
Click to play sound: Laughing Woman
Linear Mode
