DX October 18 2006
Left breast cancer lymph nodes mets to liver and bones.
Carboplatin 1 dose
weekly taxol and herceptin
once a month zometa
February 21 pet scan done on February 5 2007 showed everything clear except bones.

LindaC

Dx Jan 2006 Age 36

Multi-focal IDC (4 tumors largest being 3.0cm) left breast
DCIS right breast
ER+(46%)PR+(75%)
Her2+ Immunochemistry-Borderline, FISH 2.1
Grade 2
Blood/lymphatic invasion
Sentinal Node Neg. Left breast
Bilateral Mastectomy 2/28/06
4 AC/ 4 Taxotere/weekly herceptin (last tax on Aug 28,2006)
Herceptin every 3 weeks until June 07
Lupron Injections every 3 months and on Arimidex
All scans clear
BRCA2+

Date of diagnosis
 

Dear Melassi,

I was originally diagnosed in Dec, 1995, had lumpectamy followed by radiation. Second diagnosis on April 2006, still getting Herceptin every 3 weeks, Aridia every 6 weeks. I'm finding I am very fatigued after treatments, takes 2-3 days to get up to speed again. Keep me informed of your progress and how things are going with you. This site is so wonderful to keep up our morale, learn of others in similar situations, etc.

ginkott1@aol.com

Date of diagnosis
 

Dear Catherine,

I too was diagnosed in April 2006, first bout of BC in 1995. Had been free for 10 yrs. This time it's more aggressive, had biopsy which surgeon thought looked fine. Three days later he called it was malignant, had wider margins done, also bone scan which revealed something on spine. Had MRI, was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic cancer. Had 18 radiation treatments to spine and lungs. Then began Herceptin with Aredia. Still getting every 3 weeks, last CT was no change but nothing new, due for another next month. This has not been a good week, have not felt so hot. Keeping in contact with onc, trying various meds. Keep me informed of how you are doing. We all need to support each other.

ginkott1@aol.com

april 18-07
 

diagnostic on April 18/06

and the rest is on my signature

Diagnosed June 06 with BC stage 1/2 two lumpectomies (until clean margin). Aug 2006 stage 4 (liver mets), I beleive the rest is in my signature

Cheers
Kx

My lump was found on routine mammogram, no palpable mass. Core needle biopsy done, diagnosed 11-17-06 with IDC. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection on 12-20-06. 3 cm tumor, Grade 3, 8 positive nodes. Stage IIIA. ER/PR-, HER2 +++ (avg 20 copies per cell). I have a chest port. I had 4 cycles of Adriamycin/ Cytoxan. I had 12 doses of Taxol, and will get a year's worth of Herceptin. 35 radiation treatments. H was held for 4 weeks, and onc says she will add it on at the end. So, I'll finish H in May 2008. I didn't work much in 2007, quit work entirely in June. I am ambivalent about returning.
So far, no recurrence or spread. My onc doesn't order scans unless symptoms appear. Lab work has been good. Neg CT chest and brain MRI in July.

Still NED 18 months later (I hope!).

Please read my signature.

Mcgle

Bump
 

Thought I would like to update. Thank you.

Rhonda

Dear Rhonda,

I was diagnosed in April 2006, first diagnosis in Dec 1995. I was cancer free for over 10 yrs, then it came back more aggressive. Still getting herceptin with aredia (for bones) as I had a tumor on spine which changed diagnosis to Grade IV. Am holding on so far, but seem to catch a lot of viruses that are going around. Evidently my immune system is not as good as I had hoped, will talk with onc about it.

Hope you continue to do well, keep me informed.

ginkott1@aol.com

I had a normal mammogram July 2006, found lump in my breast myself Oct. 2006. Had lumpectomy Friday 13th, 2006, Oct. 20th, 2006 Left breast mastectomy, 2.5 cm tumor, negative nodes, ER/PR positive, Her2 Positive comfirmed by FISH. Stage IIA. Started 4 rounds A/C Nov. 2006 followed by 4 rounds Taxol/Herceptin. Continued with herceptin until Jan 8, 2008. Was started on Arimidex March 2007. June 2007 prophlactic mastectomy Right breast (no reconstruction) Stopped Arimidex Aug 2007 due to severe joint pain and was started on Aromasin stopped this Dec. 2007 due to severe joint pain and bruising. Brain MRI Oct 2007 showed pineal cyst no cancer/ PET SCAN Dec. 2007 negative. Now have lump in Right side of neck, onc thinks this is a lymph node, but all test including tumor markers normal. When all this started I was age 52 now 53 and still going strong or trying too!!!

My breast cancer infor
 

Rhonda, Following is my breast cancer information.

See my signature. This is an interesting initiative Rondah! I see that I am not the only one who had a mammo 1 year or less before the finding of a large tumor by herself. Who knows what the reliability of a mammography is? do tumors "explode" in one year? You read everywhere that tumor grow slow and they are there about 10 years before we can see them.
This drove me crazy of anger and despair. My mother had BC, my aunt and cousin died from it so I thought I was serious and would catch a cancer at the beginning. And they always told me during the 10 years I had mammos that my breast were easy to read.
Michka

Thought i responded to this but did not..
 

Diagnosed in 2003 with bc in right breast. Had chemo first followed by surgery then rads. Re-diagnosed two years later with local recurrence. Stage 3. Now on Herceptin and Capcitebine. NED.

You will also see this in my signature
 

One thing I didn't put on my sig. was that I am er-/pr-.

Hello All ...
I was first dx in Oct. 2004 ; I had a routine mam. in April 04 and was called back in for a follow-up with a magnification of test and was then
told to come back in 5 months ... I do belive if they had done an ultra-
sound my tumor would have been found .. but hindsight is 20/20 ...
Was dx Stage 4 with 3.2 cm tumor and spot on liver ....
HER2 +++ ER - PR -
Currently doing hercp every 3 weeks and my onc has agreed to let me do
chemo ( taxol & carboplatin ) every 6 weeks ...

I was just going to post my signature but it says my message is too short if I don't type something.

Debbie Laxague

Diagnosed oct 2004 her+++ 3cm tumour 18 positive nodes. Chemo,radiotherapy. herceptin 2 years. 3 years NED. Romo9

Bump...
 

Just curious...

I was diagnosed 10/11/2005; Lumpectomy 11/22/2005; Path report results: Stage IIB; 1 node with micro cells; Grade 3; ER/PR neg; HER2+++. Treatment: 4 X AC every 3 weeks; 3 X Taxol/Herceptin wkly. Had bad reaction with side effects to Taxol onc stopped took 2 wk break restarted 7X Taxotere/Herceptin wkly. 6/15/06 blood oxygen dropped to 75% rushed to ER all chemo/herceptin stopped put on oxygen for 3 months restarted Herceptin 8/2006 every 3 wks & 33 daily rads to left breast; 9/22/06 Rads completed; 12/4/06 MUGA scan shows dangerous drop in blood flow from 85-50% Herceptin stopped 4 months early and will not be restarted onc feels I have had enough to kill all cancerous cells. No other treatments have Mamo on left breast every 6 months annually on right. So far I have stayed in remission since. I do continue to have long term side effects: Neuropathy all limbs; perm lung dmg caused by chemo; Glaucoma to eyes; Extreme Fatique; Chemo Brain-No short term memory; Multitasking out of the question; have trouble thinking correct words to use etc. But at least I am still in remission just had to retire permanently.

Hugs
Cindy

Live simply. Love generously.
Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Then leave the rest to God

Great to read all those positive stories. You rock, ladies!

Lien

My signature has nearly everything.
Has normal Mammo 4 mos before dx. Only Ultrasound found tumor. Have done 1 year of Tamoxifen will start an AI soon.

Am getting ready to have my third uterine biopsy.

In my 9th year
 

I joined this group years ago but life takes over and when the format changed I kind of dropped off the radar. I periodically check in and saw this thread. Without too much detail, I was dx in Jan 2000. Left mas, 5/10 pos nodes. E/P -/her2+++. Back then herceptin was not an option. After chemo/rads I was dx with bone mets in April 2002. Lots of chemo/rad and herceptin put me into a chemical remission. After 8 mos of chemo I was put on herceptin with Zometa eventually (after 5 yrs) discontinuing the Zometa.
Since Sept 2003 I have been on herceptin without any other agent and so far I have remained stable. I hate to use the term NED but I have had no progression of disease.
When I was first dx my youngest child was 8. I was told I would probably not see my children graduate from high school. Well. I have seen 3 walk across the stage and my youngest is entering his senior year. My oldest just graduated from college and one daughter has gotten married. Both of my daughters are in college and at this point there is no reason to believe I will not be there to see them graduate as well.
I have been so blessed.
El

El, Your story inspries me. Now that I have noticed some dimpling under my arm, and even if it is scary news, I know things will carry on and I will have many years. Like you, I have two daughters who have completed college, one is in high school. I plan to see much more of what life has to bring and watch the girls prosper in their careers. I am grateful for this site-seven months ago it frightened me.
Herceptin is saving my life. I see the Dr. tomorrow.

Dana

My info is in my signature - great idea especially for those of us new to this board to be able to see who is out there and what their expreriences are!

Got PET CT Scan results on my daughters 4th Brithday. Now looking forward to celebrating Christians 2nd Birthday on 6th September...

I get more determined with every day...

Whynow?,

Adorable children!

Dana

I was diagnosed 3/07 after "odd" mammo and PEM (PET mammogram)and US guided biopsy. Her+++ ER- PR-
3/07 Bilat mastectomies with recon
4/07 left lymph node dissection-1 pos node
A/C 4 DD
Taxol/ Herceptin
10/07 recon with silicone implants
1/08 nipple recon
Finished herceptin 6/08.
Port out last week
Was able to work and exercise (slowly and not like I used to but did nevertheless)
Last PET/CT 3/08 was clear
Love to wear the little t-shirts and not have saggy boobs

Henny

Checking In Still NED!
 

I'm just checking in as suggested. It's been a year plus a couple months since I finished my Herceptin treatment. I am still NED!

Was on Herceptin for 2 years after completing bi-lateral mastectomies, reconstruction and ACT chemotherapy.

Had bi-lateral lumpectomies and radiation to one side only seven years prior to that.

Doing well and again, NED. So, since first diagnosis, now 11 years, since 2nd....4 years!


Bless you ALL!

Ginagce

Just giving an update on "me"...........I am now a 3 year NED survivor.

Is so thankful...

Mary Jo

Thank you for the updates. We all need to hear these stats. I'm still a work in progress but still ticking after 15 years, Aug. 1993.
Hugs
Diana

diagnosed 5/02
Stage 3A
6 cm 5/12 nodes
ER/PR +
Her2+
left mastectomy 5/02

6 rounds AC
Arimidex
28 radiation treatments

Sternal Mets 2/04
Carbo/Taxol
Herceptin weekly X52
Aeridia every 2 weeks (still)
Cyberknife Radiation X3
Femara

Started Herceptin every 2 weeks March 2005 (still)

Mets to T1 verterbrae 5/08
16 radiation treatments
Added Flovesant (hormone inhibitor) IM Qmonth

Having scar revision and breast reduction for symmetry on remaining breast Sept 08

Taking it one day at a time...
Cyndy

Diagnosis and treatment
 

Dear Rhonda,

I tried to reply to your inquiry but couldn't get it to work. I have had bc twice, once in 95, had radiation only, then diag again in 2006, agressive Stage IV metastatic as it had spread to bones. I'm responding to treatment so far, had 18 rads on spine which was very hard on me as it affected digestion, esyphogus, etc. Then the onc started Herceptin every 3 weeks which will be on forever. If I stop treatment he said the cancer will definitely come back. By way had partial mastectomy in 06. I also get Aredia every other treatment. It is to strengthen bones which were weakened from the radiation. I know at some point the cancer will come back but am getting discouraged. After two yrs and people ask when will I be finished. The answer is Never! Hope you are doing well, keep me informed of your progress and how you are getting along. I still work part time as that is all onc will let me work, keep benefits thank goodness as disability has run out so am using vac time that I had built up for treatment and dr appts.

ginkott1@aol.com

approx 2 1/2 yrs out

Before I was dx I had a mammo the month before but it was clear (mammo was performed at same place every yr, for three yrs.) I found the lump myself, had pain in area of lump. I too had a supraclavicular node light up on scan and had the extra rad boost to clavicuar area on left side. Still have issues with arm, radiated area and arimidex BUT these are minor compared to others. I always hold in my heart others struggling w/ disease.

I had my mod. rad. mast. 8/30/2005 on my r breast. IBC, stage IIIB. I had 4 A/C, 4 Taxol and herceptin for one year. 5 weeks of rads also, a bolus used every other tx. I am three years out and feeling good.

I am so grateful that herceptin has helped so many of us manage this disease and for some possibly be the cure.

Hugs for everybody!

Lexi

?
 

I know this is the wrong place to ask this, but I know you are all very smart . I had a masc. 3 years ago, the 2 months ago the second one. They say no blood draws or BP if you had nodes removed. I do have a port, but where do they take the BP. Thanks, Jeanette

They can put the cuff on your leg to take BP. That's where they put it on me in the hospital. I only had a right side mastectomy, so I have BP taken on my left arm.