***What was your date of dx, stage, treatment and current status...???***

[mimima]

DX march'06, 1.4 IDC, grade 3, Nottingham 8, 2 sent. lymph negative,

ER/PR neg, HER2 3+. Second wide excision attained clear margins.

Starting Herceptin (every three weeks for one year).

Radiation begins next week.

Med. Onc gave me the choice of chemo, chemo+Herceptin or Herceptin alone.
I chose the latter. WILL HERCEPTIN ALONE DO THE TRICK???? How can they test to know whether it is working?

[Jean]

Was dx. 4/15/05 (age 54)
3MM tumor
node neg. er postive, pr negative
her2 +++ postive by FISH
grade 1
Lumpectomy followed with 32 treatments of radiation
Recently had Oncotype DX test performed came back off the charts. 4/19/06
Went for PET scans , CT scans and bone scans on 4/26/06
After scans results come back I will begin chemo/and herceptin.
I am one year out from dx. and I have finally found an answer.
All the dr. went by the tumor size and the node negative status and
did NOT think the Her2 postive required chemo or herceptin.
THEY ARE WRONG....went to L.A. and saw Dr. Slamon.....

Jean

[Jean]

I am on Arimidex since 5/05....

Jean

[karenann]

Jean,

What made you push for the Oncotype DX? I am simply amazed that such a small tumor came back off the charts. I am glad you pushed and that you are able to start chemo and herceptin.

Best of luck to you.

Karen

[janet/FL]

Mimima
Whether or not to have chemo is your call. At least your doctor offered options. With about the same diagnosis as you but with slightly small tumor, 9mm and grade 2 rather than three, the standard of care when I was diagnosed was AC chemo, November 2004. They wouldn't give me Herceptin as I was node negative. I refused that chemo. Finally 9 months after diagnois (I did 35 rounds of radiation) I was offered Herceptin with or without Taxotere. I chose to go with the chemo/herceptin combo as the studies had shown the chemo helps the Herceptin work. However, I don't think there are any studies for taking it as I have, several months after diagnosis--I am still on it, with 3 more months to go to complete the year.
I have no advice to you other than I chose the chemo with a less aggressive, smaller tumor. And I don't think they really can tell if the Herceptin is working. I would have the Bayer Serum test done before Herceptin and there maybe another test someone else can suggest.
There are a lot of people here that can answer most any questions you have.
Radiation treatment shouldn't be too hard on you, particularly since you are having it before any chemo.
Wishing you the best--
Janet

[mimima]

Thanks, Janet. I'll let you know about my followup Second Opinion (Monday).

This is my first participation in a "Forum" and I may not know about threads and how to answer, but I'll learn. I also am quickly looking up "ned", "MUGA", etc.

I have always loved learning but, frankly, I'd rather be studying Italian.

I picked the Herceptin alone (I thought "we got it") and I was lymph neg.
It was the HER2 +++ that alarmed me. Mimima

[Randi]

DX on April 29th, 2005
IDC
ER/PR/Her2neu+++
StageIIB
May 19th 2005 2nd operation to clean margins and SNB
No nodes involved
4 a/c q 3 finished August 10th
12 weekly Taxol and Herceptin Finished November 16th
Every 3 weeks herceptin to end on August 16th of 2006.

Age at dx, 41

Now: Happy healthy and very grateful for all the BC boards and support!

RAndi

[sadie]

10-03-05 Diagnosed after clustered microcalcifications found on routine mammogram at age 51 post menopausal.
No lump to feel; although surgeon said he could feel firmness in the area.
10-12-05 Biopsy 6mm / HER2+++ (IHC test) / spotty margin.
10-19-05 Lumpectomy 4mm more for total of 1cm / margin clear / sentinol node negative/ Her2++(IHC test) / ER+ PR weakly+ / Grade 3 / Stage 1 IDC
November 2005 began Adriamyacin & Cytoxin Every 3 wks x4
2/10/06 began Taxol w/Herceptin every wk x12
Will continue with Herceptin every 3 wks until Feb 2007
7/7/06 Had last of 30 rads
7/11/06 Beginning to take Arimidex for 5 yrs.
4/25/06 Mammogram of affected breast; couple of benign calcifications;negative for cancer.
Sept 06 Onc will order full mammogram & MRI of rt breast due to high density.
Prognosis:Onc would be "shocked if there was a recurrence. Should live a long & happy life." I'm keeping my fingers crossed & praying every day.

[lindaw]

Diagnosed October 2002

Large tumour(6-8cm) right breast.3-5 nodes. Pre op chemo - doxorubicin/doxetaxol(6 rounds)
Feb 2003 Mastectomy followed by 6 weeks rad.
May 2003 Hera trial - 4 months into it skin mets- tiny.Off trial and receive Herceptin anyway and taxol.
4 months taxol - skin recurrence.On to navelbine - can't remember how long - skin recurrence.
Xeloda - went well for a long time and then stopped it just before op for other side Feb 2004 2cm tumour ( new primary)and 5 nodes.
Can't remember - shortly after skin mets and carboplatin - 4 months - no response.
2005 Tried Xeloda again - but no response this time.
Late 2005 - Doxil - 4 rounds - just stable.
All of these chemos with herceptin - now having a break after several difficuklties with port ops. Will have radiation ( 3 weeks) soon just to try something different and have a break.

Lindaw

[mamacze]

I haven't posted for awhile, and here is Rhonda with another good way for us to get to know each other;

2001 Stage 0 Radation and tamoxifen Age 44 (and mama of 4)


2004 Stage 4 Her 2 +++ er/pr -, metastasis to all 4 lobes of lungs, Navelbine, Herceptin and Seattle clinical vaccine trial. Prognosis of 21 months

2006 CAT scan this week continues to show no evidence of disease..now on Herceptin alone every 3 weeks, and feeling fine!

Love, Kim From CT

[Patty H]

Was Dx July 2000 Stage 111B 3 out 10 nodes positive

had 4 rounds of chemo, then a lumbectomy without clear margins, so then had a

Mastectomy with reconstruction, and 2 more rounds of chemo
then 27 radiations
14 months off then a reocurrance of a lymp node
6months of navelbine and herceptin and another 20 something radiation treatments
4 months off and cancer then moved to lungs and bones. 20 something more rads to spine.
Had more navelbine, then taxotere and carbo, then xeloda, then back to navebine, then gemzar, then xeloda again.
Last- 33 novalis radiation treatments to lung.
Finished radiation Dec 2005 and am stable at the moment. Patty H

[JackieC]

Diagnosed 2/22/05, Double Mastectomy 4/5/05, Age 42

Stage I-Less than 1cm (second site found 2mm same side)
No node involvement
ER/PR-
HER+++
4 rounds of AC dose dense
4 rounds of Taxotere w/Herceptin
Currently on Herceptin every 3 wks until mid Sept 06

Went aggressive on treatment despite docs recommendations since sister diagnosed at age 31, passed at age 41 from BC.

[Mary H2]

Diagnosed 7/01

42 yrs.
Found lump while breastfeeding
ER-/PR-, Her2+ (Fish)
2 cm. & additional invasive areas
1 pos. node
Left MRM
No radiation
NSABP clinical trial: randomized to herceptin arm. A/C x 4, taxol & herceptin x 4, herceptin x 48
Currently NED.
Forever grateful for the opportunity to get herceptin.

Name is Sheryl.

Dx 11/19/05 (age 50+), Modifed radical 12/05/05
Stage 4, mets to T12 and liver
Node positive (all nodes removed)
ER/PR-
HER2positive (FISH 7.5)
Finished 3 rounds of ATZC (Adria,Taxotere,Zometa,Cytoxan) on 2/23/06
Will begin Herceptin/Taxotere/Zometa on 5/03/06 (will be done July 06) 3 weeks on, 1 or 2 weeks off
Met on liver has shrunk 50% (<1" in size now) - Met on T12 spine is stable. Recent bone scan show no new mets...yippee!

Still on the planet! Blessings from Minnesota!

[Sherry in WV]

Sherry
Stage IV Lumpectomy Sept 25, 2002
Dx. Sept 11, 2002 confirmede Friday 13th 2002
Her + ER neg.
Many chemos
Unable to finish any schedule of chemo due to low cts and neuropathy caused by chemo.
Herceptin first weekly, now q weeks since first chemo Oct 4, 2002Last month had cerebral bleed, renal failure and chf. Doc called family in,.
Comma 4 days. Pulled out of it, by Grace of God and many prayers.
Plt ct 40000, no longer able to produce plts.
have decided no more chemo.

[AlaskaAngel]

That's all folks....

[helenh]

Dx Jan 2005 (age 48)

Lumpectomy 14th Jan Left Breast
(Tumor 3+cm IDC Grade 3, +DCIS 1/15 nodes)
Mastectomy 28th Jan Left Breast
ER/PR- HER2+++
A/C x 4 Taxol x 4
Entered phase one trial for potential vaccine for the HER2 protein.

Finally commencing Herceptin next Tuesday (nearly 9 months post chemo) paid for partly by workmates, health society and family. I'm soooo HAPPY.....

Best wishes to all

Helen

[kareneg]

Dx September 1998 Stage 1 BC ER+ 35 years old.
Had masectomy October 2,1998

Then December 1998 I started treatment 4 rounds of Adrimicyn and Cytoxin finished in Feb 1999 after that was on Tamoxofin till August 2001. When I was dx with stage IV BC Mets to my liver many tumors and leisions was told to many to count. That's when my world fell apart. Started weekly Taxol treatments and was put on arimidex. Oncologist sent for my tumor and had it retested were I was diagnosed as being strongly her2pos. He add herceptian to the taxol and I responded to it great. June 2002 I was taken off the taxol and just kept on herceptin every 3 weeks. Till my stubborn mets in the liver decide to wake up in January 2005. Then I was put on Navebine and herceptin till may 2005 didn't work to good for me so the doctor started me on carbo/taxol/herceptin till I built up antibodies to the carbo and was taken off that and just stayed on the taxol/herceptin.3 weeks on 1 off. As of May 3,2006. My recent Ct scan shows progression again So I think its time for a new set of cocktails as I call them. We are going to go with Gemzar till the Lapatinib is FDA Approved then he will put me on the Xeloda/Lapatinib. Oh and I was getting monthly Zoledex shots too. Stopping that now too he is leaning on giving me the Faslodex now. I am truely amazed by everyone in this support group the strength and courage gives me so much hope for the future. There is one thing my oncologist told me when I asked him about my her2 status he looked at the surgical path report and it said her2pos 4+++. Is there such a thing? I am hopeing it was a typo lol. Well thats my story and I sticking to it lol. On with another battle to knock these peskly liver mets out. And I have been very lucky thus far that my liver function through this whole ordeal has remained normal . I pray for everyone here you all are truley my hero's..........

Love and Hope Always

[cherylynnie]

DX September 6 2005 (39) Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Right Mastectomy tram flap reconstruction September 26 2005
Stage II Grade III Nodes 0/5, ER+/PR- Her2+ 3.0 amplified
4 cycles AC
4 cycles Taxotere
Started Herceptin March 28 2006
Started Tamoxifen April 12 2006

[Monica]

Diagnosed November 2003, Age 45, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Left breast lumpectomy - Stage II, Grade III, Nodes 2/6 , Her2 +, ER+/PR+
Not clear margins, went back into surgery and had clear margins
Right breast mastectomy - in situ cancer found
Had pet scan; found tumor in my lung; looked like it was mets; operated - benign tumor; moral - don't jump to conclusions based on Pet scan.
4 cycles AC starting April 1, 2004
12 weeks taxol with herceptin
40 weeks more of taxol only
Radiation to left breast
Tried tamoxifen, too many problems. Currently only taking celebrex.

Best,
Monica