Stage IIIc

[pgill]

I was diagnosed May 4th with Stage IIIC HER2 positive, estro and proges negative. I am in a clinical trial with neoadjunctive chem that includes weekly Herceptin. Because Stage IIIC is a relatively new category, I'm having trouble finding others with this diagnosis. I'm having no difficulty with the chemo (2 rounds of 8) or Herceptin ( 4 treatments) but would really like to know that others with my profile are doing well.

Peggy

[michele u]

Peggy,
I was dx stage 3b, but could have been stage 3c. I had 34 pos nodes er/pr neg. I was in the Herceptin trial, got a/c x4 then taxol x12 then Herceptin weekly x year. No recurrence as of now! Now doing a vaccine trial in Seattle. Peggy, please email me with questions. mulmer@mainstaycomm.net How old are and did they do a axillary dissection and what is their plans with chemo?

[Rozebud]

Peggy - I was dx'd with IIIC 1 1/2 years ago. So far so good (gotta love herceptin). Anyone with 10+ nodes would be IIIC in the new system....so people like Michelle (above) and others on this site. I've found LOTS of long term survivors.

I do have a question - how do they know you're 3C if you haven't had surgery yet? I was on the herceptin trial - A/C * 4 (not dose dense), taxotere *4 + herceptin for a year. I am slightly PR+ so hormone therapy as well. Hoping to follow in Michelle's footsteps with the vaccine trial!
Let us know if you have any questions! Rose

[pgill]

Rose,

I am stage IIIc because of the positive internal mammary lymph node found on the PET scan. This is significant in that the cancer, while still in the breast, has spread, putting it at IIIc. I'll never know how many axillary lymph nodes because I began with chemo.

I am so glad to hear you are doing well. Your family is beautiful. I agree, thank God for Herceptin!

Did your tumor shrink a lot from the Herceptin? Mine seems to be disappearing as we speak! I sure hope this is as good an indicator as it feels.

Thank you for responding. It seems everyone has a wonderful story of survival to share with me, but they are all from people in stages 0-II. So it's nice to find you!

Peggy

[*_Catherine_*]

Peggy,

I was diagnosed stage 3c in June 2003. I did neo-adjuvant chemo as well. 4 ac and 4 taxotere. I was bumped into 3c because of mets to one of the supraclavicular nodes. I'm doing fine. Have been getting Herceptin every 3 weeks since August 2004 and will continue until January. I feel pretty good.
Take care.
Catherine

[Guest]

I was diagnosed over 4 years ago at stage 111b which is inflammatory breast cancer. I had 44 positive nodes. I have had no organ or bone involvement to date therefore, I am still a stage 111b. I do have skin mets but that does not change my staging. If it goes to bone or/and organs then I will be a stage 4. I am not familiar with stage 111c gut I am sure you could find some info on the internet. Hope this helps. hugs, Sandy

[pgill]

Catherine,

I will have surgery in December and radiaion for the next two months. Will I stay on Herceptin then? How do they decide whether to keep you on Herceptin?

Glad to hear you are doing well. I feel great so far and except that I'm bald and have a PICC in my arm you'd never know I have this nasty disease.

Peggy

[*_Julie_*]

I was diagnosed on sept 2004. I had a supraclavicular node and 4 auxilary nodes positive. I was staged as stage3b, I am not sure why. I did dose dense AC+Taxol and then started Herceptin for a year till March 2006.

Catherine, I would like to know more about your profile and treatment.Did your supraclavicular node completely disappear with AC+Taxol or did they do surgery and removed it? Also were you allowed to take Herceptin more than a year?

Thanks,
Julie

[Rozebud]

Peggy - I had surgery first, so I will never know if the chemo worked :( . But that's ok - I BELIEVE AND HOPE it worked!

Yes, you can stay on herceptin during rads. You can also have surgery while on herceptin. What a great drug it is!!

What is an internal mammary lymph node? I've heard of a lot of nodes or supraclavicular being 3C, but the internal mammaries are new to me!

It is great that you can see that tumor shrinking!!

[jojo]

Hi Peggy,

I was 3c at original diagnosis, then I recurred one year later. Despite the mets, i am feeling very well. I am on Herceptin indefinitely as well as hormonal therapy.

I agree with you about the fact of having difficulty in finding others with our similar diagnoses. A lot of them are early-stage.

Best of good health to you ~ JO.

[pgill]

JoJo,

when you say reoccured in a year, is that a year from original diagnosis or from end of treatment? What treatments did you have? Did you start with chemo or surgery?

I am sorry that you are having to deal with this forever. I know that is a good possibility for me too. But, that goodness for Herceptin! And let's hope that next miracle drug is just around the corner for both of us.

Peggy