New to this family

[visualizehealth]

Hello!

My name is Annie and I was just diagnosed with her2 after my mastectomy on 2-27. The tumor was 9mm and nodes were negative. Unfortunately, my margins weren't clear of the DCIS. My plastic surgeon (who has put in an expander) said that he could go back in and take out the rest of the DCIS. On Monday I go to see an oncologist in Atlanta, and am praying that he will give me a good prognosis, as my first surgeon from the "HOPE" center (which I now call the Hopeless center) was nothing but gloom and doom to me.
I am 40 years old, have been married for 9 years, and have two beautiful children, ages 2 and 8. Like many other women at this site, I am an RN and have worked on a med/surg floor at a very small hospital in western NC.
I had a port put in a week ago, and being a slim person, it sticks out like a satalite dish. I could probably pick up about 100 channels!
Anyway, I read everyones threads often and sometimes it scares me, but most of the time it gives me encouragement. It's so good to hear from others with this same diagnosis.
Love and prayers,
Annie

[Grace]

Welcome Annie,

From what you write, your prognosis sounds more than hopeful, 9mm and node negative are very good. We're all HER2 positive here (I think!) so that's something we all have to deal with. Honestly, when I read about all the reseach and drugs and vaccines that deal with HER2 positive cancers, I'm beginning to think it's our other sisters, those who are HER2 negative, that are getting the short end of the stick. I just wish someone would find a single cure for all cancers, so we're all bound together in one big glorious celebration.

[ExpectAMiracle]

Hi Annie!

Welcome! I just joined this site in March too. You will find a wealth of information here but also a group of loving women who will provide the kind of support you just can't find anywhere else. It sounds like you have good stats with the small tumor and negative nodes. The DCIS can be removed through additional surgery, right?

I hope that the new oncologist in Atlanta will be great and give you positive news. I am having a port put in on Monday. Not sure if it will be a satellite dish or not (ha!). I will be starting chemo on 4/9.

Keep posting and let us know how things go on Monday. I'm in SW VA, so we probably aren't far from each other.

Your family sounds wonderful. Blessings to you and to them!

All the best!

[caya]

Hi Annie,

Welcome to this terrific site. You will get all the latest information about our HEr2Neu+ BC, and alot of good, hopeful advise, and alot of support from the marvellous women and men on these boards.
The first onc. you saw is obviously not up to date on all the recent news about Herceptin and Tykerb- and you have a small tumour and are node negative? That is good news right there.
-My onc., tops in his field is Canada and his associate are what I would say cautiously positive - they both say that with the dramatically successful recent studies on Her 2+ BC, especially early stage, which it sounds like you are , my prognosis is much better than it was even 1 year ago.
When you search throught the internet, most of the stats you will find are OLD - basically any study before 2005, from what I have found, does not necessarily include Herceptin as part of the treatment for early stagers, and the double whammy of chemo/Herceptin ups the survival and DFS stats.
Will the onc. you are seeing be at at research/teaching hospital? Is he/she a BC onc. specialist, rather than just a general onc.? This is important. I also think the general consensus on this board is that these types of hospitals are more "with it", and have more access to the latest info.
Are you ER+/PR+? If so, this gives you more treatment options like tamoxifen or an AI, although at age 40 you are probably still premenopausal. Ask the onc. about getting your ovaries out, or any other suggestions.

You will feel much better once you see the other onc., I'm sure.
All the best
Caya

[saleboat]

Doom and gloom? Have none of it! Cancer is no picnic, but a lot of us are doing well despite the diagnosis. I had 15 positive nodes at age 34, and my doctors were nothing but hopeful and positive.
Take care of yourself. It is a very stressful time, I know, but once you get your plan of action together, you'll feel better.

Jen

[vickie h]

Annie, Her2 +++ has a better prognosis now than Her2- because of all the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (Tykerb, HKI, and too many to list) and Monoclonal antibodies (ie. Herceptin and others) and Epideral Growth Factor Receptors on the market or in current clinical studies. I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and the prognosis back then was grim for Her2 +. My Onc assures me that Her2+ has a better prognosis now because of all these new drugs targeting the Her2 receptors. My last 2 PET scans have come back clear except for a skin met (I have IBC). Keep you eye on the prize, as there are so many options out there. Many here on this site have been diagnosed many years ago and are here and doing well. You will do great. We are all here to support you and offer you prayers, friendship and love. Love, Vickie

[janet11]

Hey, if you can pick up satellite, you can entertain yourself during infusions (*smile*). My sticks out a little too, but that just makes it easier for the chemo nurses to FIND it. I'm certainly not lean by ANY interpretation of the word, but sometimes that seems to just happen depending on where the surgeon sticks it.

You don't need the doom and gloom... glad you're finding someone else to go to.

Janet

[visualizehealth]

You gals are awesome! Thank you so much for your support. I will be visiting here often. I feel better already!
Love and prayers,
Annie

[Jean]

Dear Annie,

Welcome and I am glad you have found us!
Keep us posted on your progess. This is a
very special group and you will find a wealth
of information, friendship and most of all
support.

Hugs,
Jean

[Jean]

If you have any questions just reach out.

KInd Regards,
Jean

[Debra]

Hi Annie -

I got a good chuckle out of your description of the "port". I feel exactly the same way so that is a good way to describe it.
You will continue to find support here. We are all in this together. You may see things on here that scare you but you will read many things on this site that inspire you as well.
Hugs to you.

[Melinda]

I am happy to see you posting on this board. As you can see we all appreciate a sense of humor, and I think you have already experienced the comraderie here. I have learned to love and admire all these gals (and guys), and I am sure that you will as well. We are an extended family that I could only wish to have around my dinner table, but instead I am happy just to know that they are here just a keyboard away!
Rach out whether its to just vent, question, or update us on anything you wish.
Melinda

[tousled1]

Welcome to the board Annie but I'm sorry you had to find your way here. Like everyone else said being HER2+ is a good thing since that seems to be where all the research is being done. I live in the Atlanta area and was curious as to what doctor you will be seeing.

[StillHere]

Hi Annie
When I was first diagnosed, I found this site. Unfortunately I was scarred off by all the threads concerning mets. I soooo wish I would have continued to check this site the last 2 yrs. It provides a world of valuable "real life" information. I am now addicted, because I don't want to miss anymore great insites these wonderful gals and guys provide. Fortunately I was a surgical tech a few jobs ago and I was able to discuss w/ my surgeon what type of port he was going to implant. We decided on a single slimport. I thought he was nuts when I looked where he placed it. It was just below my left shoulder, exactly where my bra strap covered. I thought for sure this would be irritated by bra straps, swim suits, etc. But in fact, it was perfect. Even tank tops and swim suits hid the site and it never gave me any trouble. The only trouble was one year later when I had it removed at the time of my bilateral free flap operation. It must have caused a blood clot, blocking blood flow to my left skin flap. Had go back in for emergecy surgery to reroute the blood flow to another vessel to save the flap 2nd day post op.
It truely amazes me how much progress there has been for Her2+ Brst, Ovarian, & Pancreatic CA in just the last few years. They are still agressive CA's, but there are so many more tools to fight these crazy beasts.
My heart truely goes out to all the men and women who write in and have such young families while dealing with this energy sucking disease. I know for a fact that if my kids where not grown and out one their own, I would be stressed to the N'th degree. The great thing for you is that they are there to be hugged and kissed every day. Do your best to stay positive most of the time and only let the sinking feeling take hold for fleeting moments. None of my treatments were anything near as dreadful as I had anticipated them to be. I hope the same holds true for you. Peace, Karen

[Bev]

Annie, I'm still getting 100 channels even though I had the port removed a month ago. The lumpiness has not settled down. My rad onc was even worried they left something behind and checked into it.They said mine was one piece so they couldn't have forgot anything. I imagine time heals all.

You should do fine. Hang in there. BB