Colleen, I sincerely hope that your PET scan shows that it's only scar tissue.

Hello All,

I was dx June 24, 2005 with invasive ductal carcinoma. Had a pet/ct scan July 7, 2005 which thankfully found no cancer anywhere in body other than right breast. I had a right breast mastectomy July 28, 2005. Pathology report said I was staged at a 2A, 4.5 cm tumor, margins clear, two sent. nodes removed (checked during surgery to determine whether more would be removed but told NO cancer) - however, when final report was done and breast and nodes were gone through MUCH more thoroughly, they did find evidence of one microcscopic cell in the first node. Second node was clean. I opted out of removal of more nodes. My oncologist and surgeon did NOT recommend going back in to remove more nodes (if that microscopic cell would have been found during the surgery they would have removed lots more nodes) and I agreed with them. I felt confident that with only 1 microscopic cell in the first node and the second node being clean that the other nodes would not be affected. HOWEVER, the radiation oncologist I met with later to discuss whether radiation would be something she recommended I do, DID recommend radiation. She said that having just one node only microscopically affected and second node being clean did not guarantee to her that other nodes were not affected. So.........I listened to her!!!! I was er/pr neg. but her2/neu positive - grade 3.

August 24, 2005 I started a dose dense regimin of chemo. I started with A/C bi weekly - then moved on to Taxol/Herceptin bi-weekly. (however herceptin was every 3 weeks) That all ended on Aug. 30, 2005. Herceptin continues every 3 weeks til Oct. 11, 2006. I began radiation right after Christmas 2005 and that ended beginning of Feb. 2006. I had a mammogram of left breast at that time and a calcification area they had been watching in the left breast concerned my docs so they wanted me to have that area biopsied. Thankfully it was all benign but I decided at that time I wanted that breast removed. So..............on March 7th I had my left breast removed also. Pathology said all was clean in that breast - thank God!

So........life goes on.

God Bless - marejo

Just beginning the journey....The Once upon a time starts like this:

My History
 

Age 38 at DX,
Felt lump 6-05, had mamm and was DX 6-13-06 with invasive ductal carcinoma. Had lumpectomy 6-21-06. Found 1- 1cm lump, and 4 smaller lumps, 6 of 13 nodes positive. Her2+++, stage 3a. Started chemo 7-05 4 cycles AC, followed by Taxol, 1x per wk for 12 wks, started Herceptin also, 1x per week. Had MUGA at beginning, heart strength was at 76%. 1/2/06 Had 2nd lumpectomy to check status of invasive cancer, only insitu cancer found with clear margins at original lump site. (Med Onc wanted me to get a mastectomy, surg. Onc. wanted me to do radiation and monitor breast) I opted for radiation. Did 7 wks of radiation on right breast. 5-06 began to have dizzy spells, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue. MUGA found my heart had weakened to 46% over the 6 months from the Herceptin. Stopped Herceptin immediately. Had ab and chest CT , found a dozen nodules on both lungs. Had PET scan, inconclusive...of course

Johnna

Wow Johanna - I'm so sorry. At one of our visits to our oncologists, our nurse (the one who takes all of our phone calls etc.) gave my husband a button to wear on his work jacket that says "cancer sucks!" How true is that.

Keep trying to find the joy while we walk this earth. There is lots to be found - even when it is hard to find.

God Bless

marejo

Marejo-

Thank You, I apreciate that. It does suck, but it also puts life into perspective, doesnt it? Its too bad it takes something like that to make you see it.
Johnna

Hi Rhonda,

Attached is my signature. All Chemo is finished and going in 10 days to get the tattoos for my rads. So far things are going really good.

Still in treatment-

Dx 05/05/06 grade3, ER/PR -, Her2 +++
Mastectomy 05/17/06 (double), immediate reconstruction
3 positive nodes, Stage 2b
4 AC, followed by 12 weekly Taxol, weekly Herceptin till 09/07
seven weeks of rads following chemo

KellyA

Needed info
 

I was sent a private e mail requesting info about port, Herceptin, etc. It erased when my computer froze. If you see this please respond and I'll try to give you some info. I did not even get the person's name or e mail address.

ginkott1@aol.com

info
 

i was 44 at diagnosis. found lump while taking a shower. have had a mammogram every year or every other year since i was 35. lumpectomy on 12/16/05. a/c started 1/19/06 for 4 tx's, taxol/hercpetin started 4/19/06 with 9 of 12 tx's (stopped due to neuropathy in feet), 33 rad tx last one 8/25 and now on her2 thru april 06.

her2 +++
er-/pr-
2.1cm
one sentinel node microscopically positive
ned as of 9/28 with mammo negative

Still in treatment
 

I'm curious, did you do radiation after or before reconstruction. I've heard some people say that they can't do radiation after reconstruction. This is my second episode of BC, first 10 yrs ago. Left breast, lumpectomy followed by radiation. Then something appeared on right, went to breast surgeon, biopsy looked good. Four days later he called and told me it was malignant, had wider margins and lymph nodes removed, only one malignant, margins clean. But then had bone scan, found spot on spine, followed by MRI, revealed tumor on spine, grade IV metastatic cancer. Am going thru Herceptin/Aridia every 3 weeks, so far it's helping, plus I had 18 radiation treatments to spine. Good luck to you and keep me informed.

hugs,

ginkott1@aol.com

Reconstruction before radiation
 

Hi there-

To answer your question- I did have reconstruction before radiation (with implants). Unfortuneately I did not really have much of a choice. I did not have enough tissue for two breasts (to do a flap). My plastic surgeon and my radiation doc both advised me to get them in. I was told that there was a 50% chance of contracture with radiation, but that they could go in and fix that side afterwards if they needed to. They told me that the skin would probably not expand after the radiation and that they might not be able to get them in at all. So I'm just going to pray alot that they hold up and if they don't I'll get them fixed. I will let you know how it goes.... :-)

Kelly

Diagnosed 10-18-05.
Lump was found on annual mamogram.
Left Mastectomy 10-27-05. No node involvement. Tumor was 2 cm. Margins were clear. Tumor was IDC grade 3 of 3. Estrogen and Progesterone positive, HER2/neu positive 3+.
Port placed 12-1-05.
Began chemo 12-6-05. 4 cycles of AC (every three weeks).
Feb 10th 2006 began Taxol and Herceptin weekly.
Last Taxol was May 25th 2006.
Will continue weekly Herceptin until Feb or March.
Began reconstructive surgery in June as well as prophylatic mastectomy of right side at that time. Had my last expander fill September 25th. Will hopefully have exchange surgery in May.
And yeahhhhh I am soon at my one year mark!
Bobbi

Reconstruction before radiation
 

Dear Kelly,

I certainly hope it goes well wth the radiation and reconstruction. I'm learning a lot. I did not have a total mastectomy but a partial and asked my surgeon if I should see a plastic surgeon before my surgery so he could see how I was before. He advised against it. In the beginning I was going to do reconstruction of some type, now I've decided not to. At my age and all that I've been thru, am going to leave things alone. I don't think I could go thru more stuff. If I was young, in 30's, 40's, or even 50's, I would definitely consider it. But at this point in time don't think so. I just want to get thru what I'm dealing with. I do herceptin/aridia every 3 weeks and don't have a clue how many treatments I have left plus I'm dealing with a malignant tumor on spine that is shrinking from radiation but slowly.

Good luck and keep me informed as to your progress.

hugs,
ginkott1@aol.com

I'm not sure of all details but here goes.

Diagnised October 2002. Large tumor - 9cm - rst of body clear.Pre surgery doxorubicin and doxetaxol.
Shrunk to allmost no disease. Op in Feb, Followed by radiaiton and hera trial( May).
August - small skin mets - this has been ongoing.Off hera trial - onto Herceptin weekly
Had :
Taxol-worked for 4 months.
Navelbine - 5 months.
Xeloda - 6 months cleared - reappeared.
Can't remember order anymore - somewhere in all that got another growth in other breast and had that removed - new cancer- her2 again
Also had - carboplatin, doxil , xeloda again, gemzar - continual chem .
Just complete rads for open skin mets on chest,
Now waiting for Tykerb( lapatinib) - anxiously.New skin mets on shoulder and enlarged lymph gland in neck.


Linda W

Diagnosis
 

Dear Lindaw,

Am so sorry you have had such a rough time with new things reappearing. I guess you've read my situation on the web site, nothing new at the moment. Still have malignant tumor on spine, had 18 radiation treatments, it is somewhat smaller. Stil doing Herceptin and Aridia every 3 weeks. Unless things change with my my onc plans to continue with that course of treatment. Surgeon mentioned radiation on the breast (went thru that 10 yrs ago on other side when I had BC diagnosed) and again in June/July 06 for the malignant tumor on spine. I told him I don't think I can go thru it again. Have mammogram scheduled this week, hope it looks good, we'll discuss further at that time. He wants to talk with oncologist after the mammogram results are in.

Good luck and keep me informed how things are progressing.

hugs,

ginkott1@aol.com

the rest of the story
 

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/29/29_1_9.gif Stage II, DX 4-05
EP +, HER2 +++,
1 node, 1.6mm
Simple Mast/Reconstruction Left breast 6/05
4x AC/4xTaxotere/Herceptin--finished chemo 11/05
Herceptin to cont. for yr.--stopped due to drop in Muga--hopefully to restart soon
47yrs. old (posted the above in the Spring)

I did restart Herceptin at a lower dose and finished 8/06
I went for my 3 month follow up and all is good. My tumor markers were within normal limits. Yeah!!!!!!

pel50

DX 3/5/2006, age 56
Male Breast Cancer
Mastectomy, left breast
Stage 1, 1.5 cm tumor
Node negative, 7 nodes removed
ER+, PR+, HER2+, FISH = 2.5
4 rounds of A/C, completed 8/2006
12 rounds of Taxol + Herceptin, completed 11/2006
9 months of Herceptin to follow

Diagnosed at 36...
Found a tender lump between my breast and armpit while rolling over in bed on 7/29/06 Had neglected my self exam for 5 months due to school and work demands...just simply didn't take the time! Everyone said not to worry because it was tender and cancer isn't usually tender...good thing I didn't listen. No family hx of BC,
AUG. 8, 2006
Core needle bx showing DCIS grade 2

AUG. 24 2006
1.5 cm IDC grade 3(9/9) HER/2+ (amplified, 2.5), ER <10 %, PR negative
w/ grade 3 (9/9) DCIS AND LOBULAR CA TO LUMPECTOMY MARGINS. Right breast clear

OCT. 4 2006
BILATERAL MASTECTOMY 16 of 16 NEG NODES scheduled for A/C Q3W x 4, then T W/ HERCEPTIN QW X 12, FOLLOWED BY HERCEPTIN FOR 40 W- Decided to have bilat mastectomy to reduce chance of recurrence in right breast since lobular ca was also found in left breast.

STARTED AC NOV. 4 2006- NEXCURA's a life saver...explained how to avoid much of the nausea from AC with scheduled zofran....nice if my doc wouldve clued me in on this. Severe inflammatory bowel, gastritis, and reflux after 2nd tx, would LOVE any advice how to avoid/reduce this next go 'round--can deal with everything else, but this is going to be my undoing I'm afraid--gained 6 lbs in the first week after from inflammation!

Nice to meet everyone!
Stephanie

Hello All ...... Mine is posted below .....The age I was diagnoised was 49 .....
I think having all this in one post is a good idea.....

Debbie S.