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tammymarie1971 · 09-29-2005, 09:55 AM

If I had to do things over I would shrink the tumor first, Mine was 5cm as well but I was pregnant at the time, so I did not want chemo until after the baby was born. I really think that the more they shrink it the better, I would hope they would do chemo before and after taking the lump out as well as radiation. Herceptin has an awesome track record for stage 1. I was still able to run my household of 3 kids plus a newborn during AC chemo it is doable, but listen to the nurses and write their instructions down it's important to follow them, the nurses often know way more than the doctors in this area!! Also let your wife know that she doesn't have anything to prove to anyone...if she feels like crap than stay in bed!!!! If she is tired than rest!!! Also don't let her eat any of her favorite foods on chemo days, I've ruined some of my favorites that way can stand the thought of most foods I ate on chemo days!!!Maybe I'm just weird.
Tammy

09-29-2005, 09:55 AM	#6
tammymarie1971 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 198	If I had to do things over I would shrink the tumor first, Mine was 5cm as well but I was pregnant at the time, so I did not want chemo until after the baby was born. I really think that the more they shrink it the better, I would hope they would do chemo before and after taking the lump out as well as radiation. Herceptin has an awesome track record for stage 1. I was still able to run my household of 3 kids plus a newborn during AC chemo it is doable, but listen to the nurses and write their instructions down it's important to follow them, the nurses often know way more than the doctors in this area!! Also let your wife know that she doesn't have anything to prove to anyone...if she feels like crap than stay in bed!!!! If she is tired than rest!!! Also don't let her eat any of her favorite foods on chemo days, I've ruined some of my favorites that way can stand the thought of most foods I ate on chemo days!!!Maybe I'm just weird. Tammy __________________ Dx'd Dec'01 while 6mos preg. with #4. child (30yrsold)Mastectomy/AC chemo/radiation/ Recur:Mar'04 liver mets: 3 taxol/herceptin /liver resection/3 taxol/herceptin. Cured? Recur: May'05 spine & Hip. New onc treatment in Mexico Feb'06-Mar-06 back to Mexico June/July '06 Currently on herceptin/Zometa/Femara-recently added navelbine Switched to arimidex Nov'06 ovaries removed June '07 ca15-3 in May'06 was 102 ca15-3 summer of '07 holding steady at 23! ca15-3 slowly rising Dec & Jan 36, 38, 41 and Feb was 36 Feb '08 Liver, lung & Brain scan NED... bones are stable with even a couple spots gone. as compared with '06 scans May '08 ca 15-3 is 55. Treatment is zometa, vinorelbine, herceptin and aromasin. No signifcant changes. Feb'09 Started Xeloda with herceptin..no more hormonals Feb'09-June'09 tumor markers coming down again from 155 to 84 May'09 blood clots in lungs vena cava filter put in..Heparin shots daily for now.