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Hi Beverly,
I was diagnosed Dec 99 with Stage III, 5.2 cm., ER-, Her2/Neu, 9/21 nodes positive for cancer. I was 44 years old.
I had a mastectomy, 4 rounds of adriamycin/ cytoxin, 4 rounds of taxotere, 25 hits of radiation (would have been 30 with immediate reconstruction which I didn't do) and then, 52 weekly Herceptins. Prophylactic second mastectomy and prophylactic hysterectomy, later.
I had to push to find a dr who would give me Herceptin. My first Onc wanted to "wait" until I recurred to use the Herceptin. That wasn't good enough for me (12 and 9 year old children - male Oncs do NOT get this) - I had done the reading that stated Herceptin was effective for Her2/Neu.
I found an Onc at the Univ of PA who believed in giving women who presented like I did (high probablility of recurrence)Herceptin from the get-go. Had my first Onc had a different philosophy, I could have immediately entered a trial for Herceptin.
In two mos. it will be 5 full years for me, NED.
I wouldn't have found the Onc I did if it hadn't been for a live support group at a local hospital. I think these support groups are invaluable.
By the way, I had had a mammogram 14 mos. before my diagnosis which showed nothing - and 14 mos. later, I had a 5.2 cm tumor. So, I gathered up my films and took them to a malpractice lawyer who had them read by another doctor. The lawyers's doctor could not find any trace of the cancer either. So, that gave me some peace of mind and closure that medical neglect wasn't an issue.
In 10 months (yes, I'm always counting), my oldest will be 18 and I'll exhale from my 5 1/2 year worry (more like agony) that my kids would have to be placed with guardians if I died (my husband had heart failure last year).
Best of luck to you and your mom. She is lucky to have such a concerned daughter.
Hugs,
-Gabrielle
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