Bad News
 

Well, my worst fear came true. The large mass on my liver is cancer. The pathology is the same as my original tumor. er/pr - and her2+.

I begin chemo on Wed morning- herceptin weekly and taxotere every three weeks.

I will be having a pet scan and brain mri in the coming weeks. My onc wanted the pet right away, but I don't think I could take any more bad news right now.

I need to get a port, and the surgical office asked me what kind. I didn't realize there were different kinds. I had one that was in my clavicle area, but had it removed almost 4 years ago.

Any advice would be appreciated. Best type of port? Side effects of taxotere? I could care less if I lose my hair again, but my goal is to keep things as normal as possible for my kids.

thanks for everyone's support.

Laurie

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Laurie, I am so sorry to hear your bad news. I've just received similar news and start chemo Wednesday for my 4th BC (second her2), so my heart is really tender toward you and what you are feeling. I know you know that fear and faith cannot exist at the same time and I pray you will feel faith in knowing you are loved and so many of us understand completely and are praying for you. You will hear from many who have had the liver mass cancer and have overcome. They can give you hope, tell you how they have overcome this and help you in so many ways. That is what happens here. I am sending my love and prayers, and I know you will receive more from others here. God bless you and give you the strength to overcome this and be stronger than ever! Hugs, Tricia

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Laurie: Boo Hoo on the liver news. I hate that for you! I've been wrestling with liver mets from the get-go 12-07. I did very well on inital tx of Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin. I have not had Taxotere.

I would encourage you to request a low profile dual lumen Power Port. It will allow for your contrast on all of you scans to be accessed there insead of your veins. I had a regular port from 12-07 to 12/09 and all of the lab tests and the scans trashed my veins beyond use, so, I had to switch to a Power Port. You will be having numerous scans with the liver involved, so, I hope you can arrange some type of Power Port. I think there are a few different manufactures and they all call them something different. Bard is the manufacturer of my port and you can look at the ports on line.

Stay strong and let us know how things go along.

Darlene

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Laurie,
I had taxotere on my first visit to cancer and it was doable. I had to have neupogin (sp) shots for white blood count, but it was very doable. I did not have the neuropathy that I have experienced with taxol.
Be sad, cry and pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and know that my husband and I just celebrated our 25th anniversary on Sat. Never thought I would be here to see it, but, here is my message--- I am here!!!!
Give yourself time to take all this in and be kind to yourself.
Best regards,
Emelie

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Laurie,

My heart is so heavy to hear your news. I hate this disease!!!!! Please feel all the prayers and love coming your way from all of us.

I am sorry I don't have any port advice.

Please keep us updated on how you are and I am keeping you close in my prayers.

Maureen

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Poo.

I have not had taxotere, but I do have some advice. All the taxotere people in my infusion center put bags of frozen peas on their fingers and toes during the taxotere infusion, as the nurses believed it helped to minimize damage to the nail beds. Turns out, I saw a study at San Antonio BC symposium that validated that. They didn't use peas in the study, it was some kind of boring cold pack...

At the infusion center they even had a little freezer where they let people store their peas. Or Corn or whatever. The best thing I saw was one gal had her fiance come with her and when it was time to take off the frozen peas, he massaged her hands and feet.

I know it sounds goofy, and I'm certainly not making light of the situation - it is just the only actual experience I have with taxotere.

The other, more important thing I want to say to you Laurie is that you must not lose heart. I do know firsthand how shocking it is to get such a diagnosis. I felt cheated, and although I promised to try to make it 3 years I didn't really believe it would happen. That was nearly 6 years ago.

Get the other tests done, you need to know what all that you're dealing with and don't assume it will be more bad news - its quite possible there are NO other problem areas. Do your research, as I know you are, and learn what your options are - what to do now, and what might be an option later.

My thoughts and prayers are with you...
chris

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Dear Laurie,

I am sorry that you have had a recurrence. Saying prayers that the tx will kill every last cancer cell in your body and that you will be NED soon. Saying a prayer for your family, too.

Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi

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Laurie,

I am very sorry that you have had a recurrence. I am praying the Herceptin and Taxotere will work for you and bring you to NED. I have the Bard Power Port, and I am really pleased with it. I have had no problems and don't even notice that it is there. I am on Taxotere, Carboplatin, and Herceptin, and the only side effects I have from the Taxotere is hair loss and nausea (I am not sure if the the nausea is from the Taxotere, Carboplatin or both), and my doctor has given me a combination of medicines to combat the nausea which have worked well.

I really hope the medicine works for you.

Love,

Carolyn

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Hi Laurie
I am so sorry to hear this news.
Just wanted to add that the advice about keeping hands and feet cool with ice is sound. Also try to suck crushed ice for about 15 mins before the infusion and during it's administration. This really helped reduced the sore mouth issues for me.
Ellie

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So sorry to hear your news and sorry I have no experience with ports. I have lost my hair three times and so far the kids have coped remarkably well. Of course I don't relish losing it yet gain but it is a distinct possibility. May you and the kids find the resilience you need,
Trish

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Hi Laurie,

I am sorry to read of your recurrence. If I remember correctly, you just reached your 5 year milestone??? Is that correct?

I, too, just reached 5 years (had 1st mastectomy tomorrow 7/28/05) - so hearing this is hard to hear for me. I can only IMAGINE how hard it is for you.

It is something I often think on (less often as time goes on) and wonder how I would respond. I guess you don't know till it happens.

I do know that, or should say, I've learned that....."control" is something none of us have and going with the flow is what we must do. Try and I say that lightly - but please TRY to rest in the Arms of the One who knows your tomorrow. He will see you through this. Do what you have to do to be well......you will get through this.....and life will be joyful once again.

Love and prayers...

Mary Jo

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dear laurie
I had a relapse to liver after a herceptin holiday..but am back in remission after tx with abraxane and herceptin. hang in there girl ! Thinking of you......
Jackie (down under)

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Dear Laurie,

So sorry to hear of this liver recurrence for you - especially after 5 years...

I did 3 rounds of Taxotere - my nails were okay, I did not use cold paks. Extreme fatigue, nausea (controlled by meds) were my main s/es. I already had lost my hair to the 3 rounds of FEC.

Hoping that you get going ASAP and the Taxotere (one of the nastiest, but most effective, chemo, according to my onc.) zaps that cancer very quickly.

all the best
caya

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Oh Laurie I'm so sorry and was watching out for your update but obviously hoping for good news for you. I also just passed the five year mark so can understand how this news must be awful for you.

From what I've read, the power port from Bard seems to be the best as you can use it for nuclear scans too (assuming someone there can access it!!!)

I had taxol rather than taxotere but both are similar I think, my hair grew back on it but I lost my nails and eye brows and over all it was very tolerable. I had no nausea and needed no meds or neulasta even, hope this drug shows a good response for you and the side effects are minimal. I think the main one to look out for is neuropathy, but they can give you something for that if it happens.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you well, good luck and keep us posted:) x

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Oh Laurie~
I'm so sorry to hear the news.
I know how anxious you must be to just get started with treatment and ready knock this disease back again.
I had great success with Taxol/Herceptin, knocking back the "innumerable, immeasureable" mets in my liver and getting me to NED.
I wish the same for you.
Hang in there, get through these next set of tests, the port placement and know that you are doing everything you can do to beat back this disease.
Keep the Faith~

Jessica

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Lauri,

Don't you love Chrisy's picture and her message? She's been there, done that... and I know you will, too.

Sending good vibes your way.

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My thoughts are with you and your team to guide
you to the best treatment there is. Please let us
know how you are doing and know we are behind
you and here for you. Take care
patb

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Laurie,

I am so sorry you are facing treatment again after all this time has passed. It just stinks! Please know that there are so many amazing stories of surviving with cancer, in spite of cancer, that you can draw from right here in our group as you well know. I am praying for wonderful response to the treatment.

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Dear Laurie,
I was so sorry to hear about the biopsy results. Your post just transported me back 2+ years. All I could think about was my daughter and being there for her.

Here I am almost 3 years later, with more and more treatments available with each passing month.

Fear of the unknown is the worst part...So a little taxotere info.

It was VERY manageable. You will probably take decadron (a steroid) on Wednesday, chemo on Thursday and a follow up round of decadron on Friday.

My sisters came to to sit by me fully anticipating that I would be in bed. We ended up going to lunch and shopping on Friday. At 3 p.m. on Saturday (could set your watch), the decadron started to wear off and I became kind of weepy. Sunday was emotionally challenging, so I kept busy and made sure that I wasn't alone. On Monday morning, I would wake up my old self and ready to go to work.

You will be able to attend all of your children's events and be an engaged active mom.

But...take your friends and family up on the offers to make dinner and help clean the house.

Side effects for me were; lost hair (boo hoo), sensitivity to spicy food, sensitive finger nails, slight fatigue (mainly due to the emotional aspects).

I am thinking so much of you and would love to make the process easier for you. If you have any questions about how to deal with taxotere, just post them.

You can do it!!!!!