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Old 01-06-2008, 12:28 AM   #5
Joanne S
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Detroit Metropolitan Area, Michigan
Posts: 592
Patty,

The 'primary site' is the location where the cancer first began to grow in your body. Based on your post, the doctor said he does not know if your cancer originated in your breast or somewhere else in your body.

I would highly suggest you get copies of all your pathology reports, including the one from your armpit surgery from last year and if any other tissue samples/biopsies you may have had. I also suggest you educate yourself on the Stage, Grade, estrogen, progesterone and HER2 status (positive/negative) of your cancer. In addition, I recommend you obtain copies of all your CT Scans, MRIs, etc. If my memory serves me correctly, the Chemo you had was Adriamycin and Cytoxan---as far as I know, those are the drugs administered when the primary cancer is in the breast.

Following are some very good educational sites that could keep you busy for a long, long, time:

NBCF Beyond the Shock Video:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/...yond-the-shock

Breast cancer staging:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/co...5.asp?rnav=cri

NBCF Breast Cancer Library:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/...cancer-library
And even more videos and articles:
<TABLE id=hlth_subCatContainer cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=3 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Are Some Breast Cancers Different than Others? Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>How to Spot the Different Types of Breast Cancer Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Be Active in Your Breast Cancer Treatment Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Next Steps After a Diagnosis Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Ask Your Doctor</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>About Breast Cancer </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Breast Self Examination </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>While the incidence of breast cancer cases is rising, the mortality rate from breast cancer is decreasing </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Breast Cancer: On Stage </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Stage 0 breast cancer is not always breast cancer </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Stage 0 breast cancer is cancer that has not spread out of the breast tissue </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Ask Your Doctor</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>About Breast Cancer Recurrence </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>The greatest risk of breast cancer recurrence is in the first few years </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>A Good Doctor-Patient Relationship in Breast Cancer Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>African Americans: Overcome Breast Cancer by Fighting it Early </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Bone Complications in Breast Cancer Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Video</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>Coping with Bone Issues in Cancer Transcript</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Did You Know</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>In two-thirds of breast cancers, estrogen can stimulate growth of cancer cells. </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right><NOBR>Article</NOBR></TD><TD vAlign=top align=right>-</TD><TD>More Than Mammograms: MRI for High-Risk Women



</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Our HER2 site has a wealth of information too:
http://her2support.org/index.php?opt...d=49&Itemid=89

My best to you Patty!
__________________
Aug06...Dx Age 50, IDC Left Breast, 6+/16 lymph nodes, Stg 3, ER+/PR+/HER2+
Sep06-Jan07...Mediport. Chemo: AC x 4, T x 4
Dec06-Nov07...Herceptin
Feb12,2007...Surg MRM Left & SM Right, reconstruct w/expanders
Mar07-Jun07...Saline Exp
Jun07...Start Tamoxifen
Jun07-Aug07...Rad x 25
Jun07-Oct07...Persistent fevers-unknown origin
Jun07-Nov07...PT for Severe PMPS & Capsular Contracture
Nov07...Surg Capsulectomy, Gel Implants, PMPS pain gone instantly.
Feb08...NED 1st CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb08...2 months post surgery Caps Cont again :(
Mar08...Stop Tamoxifen. Start Arimidex.
Apr08...Sudden high fever, Hosp ICU 10 days, staph infect, emerg surg, implants removed. Outpt IVantibiotics Daily x 6 weeks
Feb11...NED 5th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Feb12...NED 6th CANCERVERSARY!!!!!
Aug12...Spotting. Surg=D&C
Sep12...STAGE IV = RARE BC METS TO UTERUS ILC ER+/PR+/HER2-Negative) (Different BC than originally diagnosed = IDC ER+/PR+/HER2+).
Sep12...Stop Arimidex. Start Afinitor & Aromasin.
Jan13...MRI = no progression no reduction
Apr13...Progression. Stop Afinitor & Aromasin.
Apr13...Start Chemo: Taxol & Carboplatin.
Nov13...Scans & Pelvic 95+% Reduction. Nueropathy>Stop chemo start Fareston.
Jan14...PET scan = no progression stable.
May14...Pelvic > Bleeding & cramps. TMs up.
May14...PET scan = uterine progression :(
May14...Stop Fareston. Start Chemo: Xeloda.



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