| Newcomers Club / Welcome Wagon With the stellar results of the adjuvant clinical trials of Herceptin, we have had many newly diagnosed patients visiting the HER2 Support Group. This Forum is just for them to post. "Old Timers" should only answer existing posts, but not create new |
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06-15-2012, 02:26 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Bethlehem PA
Posts: 188
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Chemo Schedule
Yesterday I got my chemo schedule. TCH starts Tuesday July 10 (a little later then anticipated but I'm going away....), then every 21 days for 6 total infusions. Last dose Oct. 23. And of course, that shot...what's it called again? Begins with an "N", the day after.
On my non TCH Tuesdays I will go in just for the H.
Sounds like good times...right? Then every 3 weeks for the rest of the year, once TC is done. With MUGA scans every 3 months.
Today the "tumor board" at my hospital has a meeting and during that meeting they are discussing my "case" and the little .35mm micromets they found in my SLN, to see what the majority of the board feels about radiation. I will call my med onc about that next week (per his request) and meet with rad. onc. on July 6.
So July 10...chemo...July 18...head shaved.
If none of you have heard of this before...please check out www.friendsarebyyourside.com. Lists of salons all over the US that offer free human hair wigs to women with breast cancer. A stylist named Martino Cartier started this organization a year ago and since he is only 2 hrs. away from me, I went to him.
One of the rays of sunshine that I have found since embarking on this journey to survivorhood is the friends I have made along the way. Like NEDenise, who lives not too far from me and has agreed to be a chemo buddy. I can't wait to hug her.
And of course, all of you. Who so patiently answer my questions and offer me support and love. I am glad to have found this site, and all of you. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers as we travel this road.
Leah...once step closer to getting back to "real life" and amazingly feeling good 2 weeks post op!
__________________
 39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse.
April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++
May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative
May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70%
May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed
June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh..
June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early"
July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H
Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65%
Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear!
Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013.
Nov 19, 2012: Port out!
Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation
Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65%
Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013.
Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen.
Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months.
Mar 6, 2013: EF 60%
May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good!
www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com
www.thechemobag.com
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06-15-2012, 05:06 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,261
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Re: Chemo Schedule
Just read in your blog that you play Scrabble...I love Scrabble!
Heck, I even play it here, in the SCRABBLE thread!
Sounds like a plan, my friend!
Denise
__________________
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 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF upBack 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
1/14/13 Finish the job-blow out disk in back - awaiting surgery
“ 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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06-15-2012, 05:33 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Bethlehem PA
Posts: 188
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Re: Chemo Schedule
There is a Scrabble thread? How on earth have I missed that?
Btw, I just now saw NEDenise as NED Denise and not North East Denise!
__________________
39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse.
April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++
May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative
May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70%
May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed
June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh..
June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early"
July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H
Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65%
Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear!
Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013.
Nov 19, 2012: Port out!
Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation
Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65%
Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013.
Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen.
Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months.
Mar 6, 2013: EF 60%
May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good!
www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com
www.thechemobag.com
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06-15-2012, 06:51 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,261
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Re: Chemo Schedule
Hmmm...can't blame chemo-brain yet...must be the pain meds! (I thought NEDenise was so clever...but you are not the first person to not see the NED wish at the beginning)
There's all kinda fun stuff in the "Keeping Your Mind Off of Breast Cancer" section of the forum. Stop over for some Scrabble, and a few giggles.
Denise
__________________
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 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF upBack 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
1/14/13 Finish the job-blow out disk in back - awaiting surgery
“ 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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06-16-2012, 06:26 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 11
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Re: Chemo Schedule
hi Leah-
sounds like you have a plan and are preparing really well-
I just wanted to comment on one thing you wrote, just in case it might help-
You mention that you will shave your head on the 18th-
I did the same thing, well, I cut my hair VERY short after my 2nd TCH treatment- and then I didn't lose all of my hair- it thinned out a LOT- but I would guess I lost about 50-60 % of it. I read and hear that this is becoming more common, people who don't lose their hair.
I have often wondered if I had just had a real short haircut if I would have been ok- My suggestion would be to get a very short haircut, and then wait and see- you might lose all your hair as expected, but, then again, you might not-
I would still get a wig and be prepared.
Hope you continue to do well, and that you get thru the treatments with a minimal amount of discomfort.
My only other advice would be to stock up on Ativan- I found it to be a life saver, and never suffered any nausea at all as long as I took the Ativan.
good luck and best wishes to you-
Turtle.
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06-16-2012, 10:51 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Bethlehem PA
Posts: 188
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Re: Chemo Schedule
Hi Turtle,
Thank you for that info. My hair is a mass of frizzy curls and I keep in long because when it's short I resemble a poodle. Or little orphan Annie...it's also quite thin so I think 50-60% more thinning...well...I might as well be bald. If I could insert a pic of my long and luscious wig in here... you would understand. I figure if I have to go thru this hell I might as well have the hair I have always wanted!
As for the Ativan...I already got it a month ago. It was kind of like "Leah, you have HER2+ IDC, here is some Ativan"
__________________
39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse.
April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++
May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative
May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70%
May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed
June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh..
June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early"
July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H
Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65%
Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear!
Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013.
Nov 19, 2012: Port out!
Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation
Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65%
Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013.
Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen.
Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months.
Mar 6, 2013: EF 60%
May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good!
www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com
www.thechemobag.com
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06-16-2012, 10:54 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Bethlehem PA
Posts: 188
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Re: Chemo Schedule
ahhh...got my wig pic in the signature! I will pass tho on the bright purple eye shadow!
__________________
39 year old wife, mother of one and nurse.
April 20, 2012: Dx Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
April 25, 2012: ER+(5%), PR-, HER2+++
May 10, 2012: BRCA 1,2 Negative
May 23, 2012: MUGA Scan EF 70%
May 31, 2012: B/L Mastectomy. 2/2 nodes removed and CLEAR!! Power Port placed. 2 Drains. 2 Expanders placed
June 5, 2012: Drains OUT! Ahhhh..
June 12, 2012: Final Pathology Report, .8x.3cm tumor. Micromets to 1 node .35mm under cytokeratin staining. Stage 2A. Onc says "you are lucky to have found this early"
July 10, 2012: Started 6 rounds of TCH with weekly H
Sept 5, 2012: MUGA 65%
Sept 20, 2012: CAT scan of brain clear!
Oct 23, 2012: LAST TC! AMEN! Continue Herceptin every three weeks until July 2013.
Nov 19, 2012: Port out!
Dec 5, 2012: Started radiation
Dec. 10, 2012: MUGA 65%
Dec. 13, 2012: Turned 40. BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
Jan 23, 2013: Last radiation. Told I am NED. Continue Herceptin every three weeks till July 2013.
Jan 29, 2013: Begin 5 years of Tamoxifen.
Feb 28, 2013: CT Scan with Contrast of lungs. 5mm and 4mm nodules of unknown origin. Rescan in 3 months.
Mar 6, 2013: EF 60%
May 8, 2013: Exanders out, implants implanted...abd. lipo and fat moved up. Girls are looking good!
www.onmywaytosurvivorhood.blogspot.com
www.thechemobag.com
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06-17-2012, 11:44 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,764
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Re: Chemo Schedule
Your good attitude will serve you well. And I expect you and NEDenise will be a force to be reckoned with!
Keep the faith.
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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