03/2003- breast biospy. diagnosis breast cancer. Sent to onc & labs done, port in, scans done-ready to start chemo on3/28. Found out I was Her2+++, Stage 4. Mass in breast 8cm x 10cm, lymph nodes positive in chest & under left arm. 6 masses noted in liver.
3/28-7/16/2003- On Epirubicin & Taxatere
8/03-4/04- Herceptin only
4/04-8/04- Gemzar & Herceptin
8/04-1/06- scans every 3 mos, but clear! Herceptin only
2/06-found (L) side lymph enlargement & hot on pet, along with ? nodes in back of neck
2/28-first dose of Gemzar & herceptin
3/3-had to skip dose because found out needed new port because old one had a bend.
3/7-went in hospital for a quickie new port, and found blood clots-ended up in ICU for a day on ATP and an angioplasty, along with new port
3/10-resumed gemzar & herceptin. Was suppose to do 3 weeks on & 1 week off, but took me twice as long due to low blood counts. Did a week on & a week off.
6/06-Taken off gemzar, sluggish bonemarrow, and was sick of it anyway
7/20-PET,CT, & MRI-found lymph node enlargements on CT, which were hot on PET. Also 2 Nodes in back of my neck hot on PET...but I do have a brain!
7/26-started Navalbine, and will resume herceptin on the 8th of Aug
Have a MUGGA on the 28th

....But after all of this, I'm still here...

here is my story, short version!

Currently NED, per scans 5/05-6/05.

Hi, my name is Mindy. Thanks for sharing, everyone.

Felt pea-sized mass in right breast 10/05
Diagnosed 12/26/05 (age 37).
Lumpectomy 1/4/06 - 1.1cm IDC, 3/19 nodes + (sentinel node was negative)
Stage IIb
Er/Pr + Her2 +
Started chemo on 1/26/06: Taxotere, Carboplatin, Herceptin every 3 weeks x6
Herceptin to continue until 1/07
Radiation (33rd on 8/2)
Choosing Lupron & Aromasin after radiation. If all goes well I will eventually get my ovaries removed.

Great Idea!
May 06 - found mass by mammogram "so small the biopsy would remove it"
May 06 - ultrasound core biopsy shows invasive ductal carcinoma and DCIS - small 11.2mm
June 21, 2006 - lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy - then removal of 10 more nodes - breast tumor 2.4cm, 1 node positive 2.1cm
June 2006 dx - ER 99% PR 10% Her2 3+ S phase 3, high stage IIb, grade 2
July 28, 2006 start Adriamycin/Cytotoxan dose dense every 2 weeks for 8, then Taxol every 2 weeks for 8 - 1/2 way throught start Herceptin 1 a week for a year - during that receive Rads and hormone inhibitor therapy
diagnosed at age 54

I am new to the website and all I can say is that each and every one of you is an inspiration to me. I enjoy reading everyone's treatments, etc...here is mine:

DX~10/05 ER+/PR- HER2+ (age 30)

Bi-lateral mastectomey~11/14/05
left side~6.3 cm 7/16 node + (stage 3A)
right side~DCIS 0/8 node + (stage 0)

Clear PET~11/28/05

AC every 3 weeks for 12 weeks~12/16/05
Taxol/Herceptin every week for 12 weeks~3/10/06
Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year~5/28/06

Rads~23/27 completed

Dec. 05~found out that I carry the BRCA2 mutation

Lori
Shelby Twp, MI

My information is in my signature.

StoneMSU:
HI Lori. This is Carol>Your treatment buddy (for a few times, anyway).
Hope you're doing ok with rads. Did fine as long as I used the aquaphor.
All dryness & redness gone within 2-3 weeks after last rad. Doing ok with the Herceptin-only treatments.
Just want to say: glad you joined the website. These ladies are great and full of info! Sorry ladies for posting something outside of topic, but I HAD to say hi to Lori (and her Mom)!
Carol / Macomb Twp

Diagnosed - November, 2003 @ age 58
Diagnosed with IBC [Inflammatory Breast Cancer], stage 3b
Treatment was TAC for 4 months, followed by double mastectomy [MRM on affected breast and prophallactic simple on the other side]. Had 35 days of radiation to finish upthe summer of "04.
Currently on the last 4 months of one year's Herceptin cycle.
Have had excellent results with each and every stage of treatment, and am planning to beat the odds, currently NED and holding!!!

Hi Sadie
Haven't visited website recently but your post caught my attention as your diagnosis is similar to my own. Stage 1, lymph neg, 1.4 c., IDC, ER/PR neg, HER 3+++.

I completed 27 rads mid-June with no fatigue and very little skin reaction (used aloe vera gel). I did not choose chemo, but started one year Herceptin (every 3 weeks).
Have had six treatments.

I still know zero about the effectiveness of Herceptin without chemo. Have you found out anything? I've only been told about Herceptin with chemo. I would like to think that it is going to work on its own. Any questions I should ask my onc?

Incidentally, the Herceptin gives me no ill effects. How about you? Take care. Mimima

Dx
 

I was diagnosed Invasive DCIS end of Mar 05. Lump found while showering. Had been on estrogen replacement therapy for 2 years prior.

Left Mastectomy Apr 05 with sentinal node biopsy which was positive. Expander inserted. 3 cm tumor - Dx Stage IIb. Her2+ and ER+.

9 lymph nodes removed May 05.

Rejection of expander caused another surgery in Jun 05. Incision would not heal and was infected. Expander removed.

Jul 05 Partial Thyroidectomy - no malignancy of nodules.

Began A/C chemo Jul 05 12 weeks.

Began Taxol and Herceptin Oct 05 for 8 weeks.

Jan 06 Right breast removal - no node involvement.

Jan 06 - Continuing Herceptin until Oct 06. Started Arimidex.

Hi Mimima
Glad to hear you're doing good on Herceptin. I'm like you. Curious to see how others with "close-to-my" diagnosis are doing.
I have only heard that Herceptin does best when given in combo with certain chemos.
I have had blurry vision with Herceptin. Still have neuropathy (left over from taxol?).
There is a msg board for that topic: Herceptin reactions. You should visit that board and see what problems others have had.
I have had 5 Herceptin-only treatments. My Muga went down to 58 last time. Hopefully it will stay steady.
I'll watch for future posts by you on this site.
Take care. Good luck!
Sadie :)

just bumping this up..

Dx: March 2006

Stage I
Grade 3
her2+++
er/pr-
node negative
4 rounds chemo-Ac completed July 20, 2006
started herceptin 3 weeks ago

Hi Sadie
It's been a while. I've still been wondering if the route I took i.e. using Herceptin with no chemo was a wise one given the Her2 +++.
I saw my med-onc yesterday and asked whether she had any patients taking Herceptin solo. She does not. (I chose this therapy with a different med-onc).
My present doctor feels there is a good rationale for taking this course of treatment.

I asked a lot of questions about testing PTEN13 and other factors that weight whether Herceptin is being effective. Seems these tests can only be used for existing tumors.
So far, I am tumor free, happy, leading my usual active life.

Mimima

Please refer to my signature for my info. Currently awaiting a PET scan to see if there is still cancer present in the liver as CT scans can no longer differentiate the cancer from scar tissue.

Dear Janet


You are having state of the art pathology and are beginning the next age of the future with getting Top IIA tested in order to pick chemo regimes. Three cheers for you. Keep us posted on how the report turns out and hence, your treatment plan.

Have a nice weekend

Becky

Dx 9/03 Stage III grade 3 ER/PR+, Her2neu+++, 3 cm tumor. Lumpectomy w/axillary disection 7 out of 11 nodes+. Did dose dense AC/Taxol, followed by radiation. Started on arimadex, but I couldn't stand how I felt on it, so I was switched to tamoxifen in 5/04. Mets to spine at L1 which caused a fracture. Treated w/radiation and started on zometa and Herceptin weekly for 3 months and have been every 3 wks herceptin and 6 wks zometa. I am thinking of coming off the Herceptin by the end of the year and just watch closely by doing frequent scans. Any thoughts on that? By the way, those who have been doing the vaccine trial in Washington, has anyone noticed increase appetite/weight gain? I have gained several pounds since starting this trial.