HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Update...got more info...but need your opinions!

jessica · 03-07-2006, 12:01 PM

Hi Everyone~
Thanks for your input...I know there is no "right" answer, but the more information & opinions from such strong advocates, like yourselves, that I can gather, the better.
The circumstances of my current situation are this: I am only 10 weeks post-op R Hepatectomy, the PET done a week a go shows NED except this 8mm nodule in the L Breast, that didn't show up in the previous PET in November, just prior to the liver surgery. The FNA path shows same disease characteristics - Er-/Pr-, Her2+++. The Mammo/US show pervasive DCIS in addition to the nodule, unlike my primary dx in 2002.
I met with a breast onc/plastic/reconstructive surgeon - yep, all that knowledge and skill all wraped up in ONE PERSON- last Friday & we have come to a new decision...After assessing the whole picture, our decision is to do an excisional biopsy to remove the invasive nodule and put me on close vigilant watch via PET every 12 weeks-for metastatic recurrence & Breast MRI/Mammo/US-for any DCIS changes. Ultimately,assuming that I remain cleanclean, I will pursue a mastectomy to remove the remaining DCIS & will have reconstruction-but that's not until a point in time that we all feel comfortable. They are not suggesting add'l chemo at this time b/c the nodule is tiny & PET says NED everywhere else & TM's are 28...but I'm still waffling a little bit on that decision...we've talked about gemzar/hercep, but b/c i was non responsive to navelbine/hercep in the past that is not an option.
So it seems I've got the best of both worlds in an otherwise crappy situation. We are removing the small, but potentially threatening invasive breast nodule, and allowing me the time to continue to heal while we watch the pattern of my disease, which seems to sort of wax & wane. I still have great confidence that we've really gotten the metastatic disease under control via liver resection, and it's just a matter of time before we rid ALL of the disease in my body via mastectomy. However "non-life-threatening" DCIS might be, it is certainly one of greater concern w/a disease profile like mine, and I want it OUT as soon as reaonably possible.
I just turned 37 & have been dealing with this since I was 33. It is important to me as young, single, active woman, who plans to be around for another 70+years, get married & have the family I've always known I would have, to return to normalcy, in mind & body in the most realistic time frame possible. Since I'm going to have to deal with this disease, a small, small perk in all of this would be to have cosmetically perfect breasts...though I do find it ironic that for me, the path to cosmetically perfect breasts has been a particularly harrowing one, while for others it's just an elective, out-patient procedure & a $5000 charge on their credit card...
Keep the Faith,
Jessica

*add'l comments,opinions,insight wisdom ALWAY welcome!

03-07-2006, 12:01 PM	#8
jessica Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 87	Update...excisional biopsy scheduled Hi Everyone~ Thanks for your input...I know there is no "right" answer, but the more information & opinions from such strong advocates, like yourselves, that I can gather, the better. The circumstances of my current situation are this: I am only 10 weeks post-op R Hepatectomy, the PET done a week a go shows NED except this 8mm nodule in the L Breast, that didn't show up in the previous PET in November, just prior to the liver surgery. The FNA path shows same disease characteristics - Er-/Pr-, Her2+++. The Mammo/US show pervasive DCIS in addition to the nodule, unlike my primary dx in 2002. I met with a breast onc/plastic/reconstructive surgeon - yep, all that knowledge and skill all wraped up in ONE PERSON- last Friday & we have come to a new decision...After assessing the whole picture, our decision is to do an excisional biopsy to remove the invasive nodule and put me on close vigilant watch via PET every 12 weeks-for metastatic recurrence & Breast MRI/Mammo/US-for any DCIS changes. Ultimately,assuming that I remain cleanclean, I will pursue a mastectomy to remove the remaining DCIS & will have reconstruction-but that's not until a point in time that we all feel comfortable. They are not suggesting add'l chemo at this time b/c the nodule is tiny & PET says NED everywhere else & TM's are 28...but I'm still waffling a little bit on that decision...we've talked about gemzar/hercep, but b/c i was non responsive to navelbine/hercep in the past that is not an option. So it seems I've got the best of both worlds in an otherwise crappy situation. We are removing the small, but potentially threatening invasive breast nodule, and allowing me the time to continue to heal while we watch the pattern of my disease, which seems to sort of wax & wane. I still have great confidence that we've really gotten the metastatic disease under control via liver resection, and it's just a matter of time before we rid ALL of the disease in my body via mastectomy. However "non-life-threatening" DCIS might be, it is certainly one of greater concern w/a disease profile like mine, and I want it OUT as soon as reaonably possible. I just turned 37 & have been dealing with this since I was 33. It is important to me as young, single, active woman, who plans to be around for another 70+years, get married & have the family I've always known I would have, to return to normalcy, in mind & body in the most realistic time frame possible. Since I'm going to have to deal with this disease, a small, small perk in all of this would be to have cosmetically perfect breasts...though I do find it ironic that for me, the path to cosmetically perfect breasts has been a particularly harrowing one, while for others it's just an elective, out-patient procedure & a $5000 charge on their credit card... Keep the Faith, Jessica *add'l comments,opinions,insight wisdom ALWAY welcome!