Newbie to this HER2+

[loricar3]

To All,

I was diagnosed on July 15, 2009 with HER2 positive Breast Cancer. Here are some stats:

Age: 45, mother of 2 boys, age 13 and 9, married
Size 2.5 cm left breast
Grade 3
Stage IIA
8/18 Lumpectomy with sentinal node biopsy
8/18 Clear Margins, clear nodes!!
HER2 positive, ER +, PR +

Scans for next week:
Brain CT
Bone Scan
Echocardiagram

Port placement next Thursday

Begin treatments TCH:

9/16/09 Herceptin
9/17/09 Taxotere, Carboplatin

Treatment: 6 rounds of TC every 3 weeks, Herceptin once a week until chemo is done. Thereafter Herceptin every 3 weeks until 52 weeks have passed in total.


So my fears right now?? The scans. Any information anyone can give with any of this is so appreciated.

I hope that I can be the busy mom that I am through it all!

[Bill]

Hi Lori! Welcome to the site. You may already know by now that there is an abundance of knowledge and experience and love here. Please feel free to ask anything, and there is almost certain to be someone to answer who has been there and done that.

[Bill]

Scans always make us nervous and fearful. It's that natural human "fear of the un-known", but if you try to shift your thinking toward the "knowledge is power" frame of mind, it can help. You're in a battle now, not of your own choosing, but it is what it is. From your post, we can tell that you are a strong, focused woman. When you awaken each morning, take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, "I am in a battle now, and I have become the Warrior. This day is mine. This time is mine. I will fight today and do the best I can today. At the end of this day, I will rest, knowing that tomorrow will take care of itself"

['lizbeth]

Loricar,

Welcome to our group. You have found a great bunch of folks to help support you. Wishing you good news with the scans. Keep us posted.

'lizbeth

[loricar3]

P.S. I'm BRC1 and BRC2 NEGATIVE!! So I had great news up until the scans, and the chemo. I was sailing along happily in Stage 2A, almost Stage I. And now....SCANS, CHEMO, and WIGS oh my!! I hope to be sailing along again soon. This web site will help. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Jackie07]

Welcome, Lori,

There is a User CP on the gold bar where you can edit your 'Signature'. Most members put their treatment history there. You might want to copy and paste the information on your first post to the signature area.

Another great function is the 'Search' button. You can put in keywords and search for old postings related to the topic.

Home page also has a bunch valuable information.

Are you claustrophobic? Many new machines now are equipped with a small reflection mirror through which you can see what's going on in the room. It's a big improvement from the old days.

Welcome again!

[lexigirl]

HI Lori,

I am so sorry that you have been diagnoses. Sounds like you have caught the beast early (great news) and you have a tx plan in place. The scans are routine and are good for your onc to have as a baseline. Scans can make us feel very anxious. My onc gave me a rx for ativan. I would take 1mg an hour or so before a scan appt. and it helped take the edge off of my anxiousness.

Great news on your brca results! There will be ups and downs on the journey and this is a wonderful place to come with questions or fears or whatever!

Hang in there and know that you aren't alone in this.

Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi

[Laurel]

Loricar3,

Welcome. Scans are a bit taxing if you are the least bit claustrophobic, which if you are like me you will not discover you are until you are in the tube! I strongly suggest for the scans and MRI's, especially the brain MRI, that you close your eyes as you are slid into the apparatus and KEEP them CLOSED until they bring you out. Then it is not really so bad. You will be given head phones that play music to drown out the magnetic "thumping" and a button to push if you need to speak with the technician. That button gives you a feeling of control/escape.

As for Chemo, well it isn't a walk in the park, but look at all of us who have been through it. You will get to the other side of this disease, too. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and walk out this journey. Do not hesitate to ask us questions as you go along. We are a support group and we will have your back.

I suggest getting a quality wig. My insurance covered mine. For the most part I went bald at home and wore caps, but when I went out in public I donned the wig! No one was the wiser!

I know it was a shock to find yourself in an early stage of cancer only to be told you will be doing chemo, and in my case a mastectomy. This cancer train moves fast, but believe it or not the treatment goes by fast, too! It is one heck of a year, that's for sure, but it does end.

All the best and please stay in touch as you go along.

[Gerri]

Hi Lori,

Welcome to our family. I wanted to respond to you because we have almost the same stats. My chemo was different, but the size of my tumor and the choice for lumpectomy vs. masectomy are the same - lumpectomy with radiation has almost the identical risk of recurrence as a masectomy and it is very low.

I am now almost 4 years out from my diagnosis and feel great - so far, so good....even so, I am very vigilant with my follow up care. I have had all of the tests you are anticipating. Laurel has great advice about being 'in the tube' - don't even look at it before your scan (or after) and close your eyes before going in. I am very claustrophobic and this has worked for me.

I got my port a little late in the game. Expect to be sore after the procedure. I had a lot more discomfort with my port surgery than my lumpectomy. Keep in mind that everyone is different and your experiences may be completely different from everyone elses. Listen to your body and you will do okay - rest when you need rest, let others take care of you for a change. If you try to push things you may not bounce back as quickly as you would if you take it easy when need be.

Hold on tight,this is the journey of a lifetime. You will make it through okay, you are stronger than you think.

Take good care,

[caya]

Hi Lori,

Sorry you had to join our club, but you will find much comfort, advice and knowledge here.

The scans - ditto on keeping your eyes closed, I also took 1 mg. of ativan about 1/2 hour before my brain scan.

You are triple +, like me, a small subsect of the Her2+ population. The prognosis rates are excellent for us, you are early stage, no nodes, and between Herceptin and the hormonal blockers, you will do well. Do not be a hero, you will need rest. Ask your family and friends for help, they will be more than happy to help out with your kids, drop off a casserole etc.

I am nearly 3 years out - chemo is doable, Herceptin on its own a walk in the park in comparison. My hair grew back straighter (most grows back curly), and less gray!!
I am down to 2x/year onc. visits, feeling pretty good.

Keep us posted.

all the best
caya

[hutchibk]

Hi Lori - our well experienced thoughts are with you... I am guessing that if your nodes are clear, then you have a better than pretty good shot at scans being clear.

[Ruth]

Welcome to the board although I hate the way you get to meet these great people!
I'm also from GA...poor Dawgs didn't quite make it last night.
Good luck with the scans...if you can close your eyes during most of them I think that helps. Xanax or ativan if you hate small places.
Please always feel free to ask any questions and we all would be happy to answer.
Hugs ~ Ruth

[juanita]

sorry you have to be here but you found a really great place. these people here are wonderful. i only wish i'd known about them when first diagnosed 5 yrs ago.

[loricar3]

To everyone,

Also, many asked here if I am claustraphobic. Well, I'm not. But I'll still close my eyes and try to channel other non scan/breast cancer thoughts. Thanks for all the good advice and information!

[loricar3]

Hi everyone,

My port was placed today. I'm uncomfortable but I'll get there. Had all my scans done yesterday and also the echocardiagram. The doctor who put my port in was also the doctor that read the CAT scan result. So, before the port I asked him to read it "Now", and he did! (I was so BOLD) No cancer on the CAT which scanned a bunch of me--brain, liver, lungs, pancreas, you name it. So now I'm just waiting for the bone scan and echocardiagram results.

I'm so blessed for that clean CAT scan!

Also, I picked out a gorgeous human hair wig on Tuesday and I'll be stunning!! I'll get that wig on Tuesday, September 29th.

I also signed up for look good, feel good and something called Chemoflauge here in Atlanta. Has anyone been to it?

God Bless everyone!

[Becky]

You'll do great! You've already got the "BOLD" part down pat. We are here for you.

[Sheila]

Lori
Welcome to our group.....never be afraid to ask anything....we have all traveled the road at a different time.
Glad the scans were clean...and the new hair is ready to go....its no cake walk, but we have all gone through it and come out stronger with a new outlook....you will do fine....if you have problems, ask away, someone is always an email away, to ease this journey for you....truthfully, the fear of what we dont know or what to expect is the worse!
Sending a big hug...we are here for you!

[Diane H]

Hi Lori, glad to hear you are through the initial stage and that you got some good news with your scans. You sound like one strong lady and know you will handle chemo fine. Remember to be good to yourself, it's your time to accept help whenever it is offered to you, and to ask if it ain't.
Sending you hugs,
Diane

[whatz]

I assume you refer to the "Look Good Feel Good" from the ACS (american cancer society). If so, I've been to it and it was a lot of fun. We got a big bag of nice make-up and a lot of make-up tips and tricks with demo. I was not a big make-up person prior to my diagnosis but even I have learned how to pencil in somewhat matching eybrows :-) and get some color on my eyes to make up for sparse eye-lashes. Our workshop also had some free wigs to try on and I came out with a strawberry-blond one (I'm naturally a dark brunette and figured: heck, why not have fun with it :-) )
Loosing your hair has some benefits to it too. Really cuts down on the time for getting ready, step in the shower, step out of the shower, put on scarf and hat and voila, "the hair is fixed" :-)

[loricar3]

Hi everyone,

Yes, I mean the ACS Look Good Feel Good Session and I'm looking forward to it. The Chemoflage is provided by someone else here in Atlanta at the Perimeter Mall at Nordstrom. I really like makeup so this will work well for me. Eyebrows, I'm hoping to learn how to create them if I need to. Lashes too. Hair, well, wigs work or hats with hair or scarfs and so many choices. No more bad hair days. My hairdresser gave me a free wash and cut today on my real hair as I can't wash it with the new port right now. That was so kind of her.

[ammebarb]

Hi Lori. I am the sister of a wonderful gal who was diagnosed in March, and I have frequented the group since. There is a loving, supportive group of men and women here who are always ready to lend an ear,offer a word of encouragement or a cyber hug. You have found the right place. I am so glad your scans were good and will be thinking of you as you approach the chemo that is coming. I'm not a HER sister, but I am a breast cancer survivor of almost 26 years. I did a whole year of CMF chemo way back then----as others have said, not a walk in the park, but doable. You will find that you are strong and resilient. Keep talking to us!
Barb A.

[schoolteacher]

Lori,

Welcome to our group. I am glad your scans were good. I am also from Georiga.

Amelia

[loricar3]

Wow!

Both the CAT Scan and the Bone Scan came back with NO CANCER!! And my heart is strong and ready for Herceptin!! Echocardiagram a success too!

Today I am VERY BLESSED. So, I'm a true Stage 2A, almost a Stage 1 and I'm happy to go ahead with my treatments as you are all giving me the strength to do so.

The port is annoying today, so time for a nap!

[loricar3]

Hooray!! I am VERY BLESSED today!! The CAT, Bone Scan and Echo Cardiogram all came back normal! NO CANCER, so I'm a true Stage 2A, almost a Stage 1!!!

I'm kicking cancer's butt! Everyone, kick it!!

[loricar3]

Hooray!! I am VERY BLESSED today!! The CAT, Bone Scan and Echo Cardiogram all came back normal! NO CANCER, so I'm a true Stage 2A, almost a Stage 1!!!

I'm kicking cancer's butt! Let's everyone do that!!

[mamacze]

Hi Lori!
I have to say a belated "welcome" and how happy I am to hear your scans came back with such good results! When you are done with your chemo you will look back and say that a stage 2A isn't such a bad place to be in the broader scheme of things.
But I have to say I was stuck on your words "mother of 2 boys". We all seem to pause there in our thoughts.... More than someone with cancer; the mama's among us are sick with worry for the small angels in our care that are so dependent on us. What will happen to them if something happens to me; right? So I wish you Godspeed in your chemo journey and pray for you and your boys sake you achieve a quick and forever NED (No Evidence of Disease).
Hugs,
Kim from CT

[loricar3]

Kim, Thanks for posting,and thank you to everyone was who has welcomed me so warmly. Yes, we're all moms, wives, daughters and sisters. Each of us fighting the beast. HER2 positive seems to be an aggresive type of cancer that desperately wants to win the fight. But we won't let it! I'm SO HAPPY that you are NED!! I want to claim that one day! Herceptin seems to be the magic sword for you and others and I want it to be for me too.

[Joan M]

Lori,

Sorry to hear about your breast cancer diagnosis, but it seems like your getting good treatment, including the initial scans.

Chemo can be tough but you'll get through fine. If you feel nausea, ask the onc to prescribe Emend, which helped me a lot. I took it in 2003, but there may be other, similar medications available now.

Joan

[Unregistered]

Joan,

The doctor prescribed Compazine 10MG for naseau. Also prescribed was Dexamethasone 4MG. I was told to start the steroid the day before the chemo, 2 tablets, then 2 tablets 12 hours later.

Yes, I'm concerned about the whole thing. I ran out yesterday and got some Sally Hansen Hard As Nails and Tea Tree Oil and I've been applying both to my nails. Today I'm going to try to run to the dentist to see if I can get a cleaning before Wednesday (when I start treatment).

I'm planning on hydrating a lot. Today and all week.

Is there anything else that anyone suggests to happen before, during or after treatment? Herceptin will be on Wednesday, 9/16 and Taxotere and Carboplatin on Thursday, 9/17.

Thank you,
Lori

[loricar3]

Wish me luck everyone! First Herceptin tomorrow. First Taxotere and Carboplatin on Thursday. I met a lady nearby with just about the same stats and me, and she's using the same treatment and doctors. So, I blessed by that tonight.

[ammebarb]

Thinking of you as you approach your treatment, Lori. Wishing you all the best.

Barb A.

[DianneS]

I had the taxotere/carboplatin/herceptin as well. Finished the TC in March, 2009, still continuing with herceptin. Two more left! I could only do 5.5 TC treatments as I was allergic to the taxotere even with premeds. I tried to do some walking every day during the TC, even if it was only a few minutes. Some days I felt like I weighed 500 pounds and was out of breath just walking around....I am back to hiking in the woods and looking forward to the end of herceptin. Do ask for help, don't tire yourself out. My hubby has learned to cook & clean pretty well :) this is a time to pamper yourself. Take care,
Dianne

[loricar3]

OK. I had herceptin on Wednesday (a non event) and the TC on Thursday. So Saturday, yesterday, was the most challenging one for me. Flu-like symptoms. Body aches. I had the shot --neulasta on Friday. But this morning, the funny taste is here and a yogurt feels good going down. So, I only took Zofran and some motrin and here's hoping that today is a better day.

2 weeks in a row will be herceptin and chemo won't be again until October 7th. I'm in no hurry for it.

[loricar3]

Final Chemo today! Number 6 out of 6!!! Time to celebrate!!

Radiation will begin at the end of January and Herceptin will continue every 3 weeks.

I'm so thrilled about no chemo in 2010!!

[ammebarb]

Hi Lori. I'm so glad your chemo is done! My sis just finished hers recently and will begin the radiation about the same time as you do. Her Herceptin is on a three week schedule, however. I'm wishing you an easy time with your remaining treatment, and also a very healthy 2010!

Barb A.

[schoolteacher]

Lori,

Glad you have finished your chemo.

Amelia

[v-ness]

hi lori. congratulations on the last chemo. my last chemo is on 1-21. i confess i am a little apprehensive about chemo ending. naturally i am do not want it to continue, i am not crazy, but it feels a little scary to have it end and be without that protection.

i am a stage 1. i was never offered any scan of any sort and i wonder why. i even had to fight to get a mammogram of my right breast (cancer was in my left). they told me "you just had a mammo in march" which was ridiculous since it was clear then and i had cancer in august. who wouldn't want to be sure it wasn't in both breasts, right? they told me the chance of it being anywhere else, much less visible on a scan, was minimal. however, i sure would not mind some reassurance. i would not mind such reassurance every year from now on!

i guess i am feeling very anxious lately because of the holidays with cancer and without my husband, and now the anniversary of his death is coming up. cancer took him and i sometimes have a hard time these days. valerie