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Chelee · 07-14-2006, 11:06 PM

DeborahNC, Us Her2 gals all have such an aggressive cancer and higher chance of recurrance which I why I suppose I should have the Rads. You had the 33 rads and still have a nasty recurrance which I am so sorry to hear about.
As you mentioned about the fatigue from rads...that seems to be one of the biggest side affects from Rads. Just the thought of going every single day is depressing on top of all my OTHER doctor appts. I am exhausted just thinking about it.

saleboat, Thats what I really never thought of before until I few people like yourself started telling me. That rads is really for the LOCAL recurrances. I never thought about it. Your doctor told you the same thing mine did as far as it would help reduce my chance of recurrance by alot. He said if mine was a 40% recurrance, he could take that down to 10%.
My Rad oncologist did say there were three things they go by to decide if you need rads...one is tumor size...if its over 5cm, the 2nd one I CAN'T' remember. LOL And the third is lymph nodes involvment. In fact my Rad doc said four or more. I happen to have five.

Maybe after my 2nd visit this week on tues I can find out some more from my Rad doc to make a decision. I am so afraid of anymore lung damage...I've had enough lung damage since this started.
But I am glad to hear your 7 months out from Rads and doing great.

I do want to increase my chances of remaining disease free as you said. I just wish there were more guarantees...but with this or life in general...there aren't any. I hate all these decisions. Thanks so much for your reply.

Chelee

07-14-2006, 11:06 PM	#9
Chelee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Southern, CA Posts: 2,511	DeborahNC, Us Her2 gals all have such an aggressive cancer and higher chance of recurrance which I why I suppose I should have the Rads. You had the 33 rads and still have a nasty recurrance which I am so sorry to hear about. As you mentioned about the fatigue from rads...that seems to be one of the biggest side affects from Rads. Just the thought of going every single day is depressing on top of all my OTHER doctor appts. I am exhausted just thinking about it. saleboat, Thats what I really never thought of before until I few people like yourself started telling me. That rads is really for the LOCAL recurrances. I never thought about it. Your doctor told you the same thing mine did as far as it would help reduce my chance of recurrance by alot. He said if mine was a 40% recurrance, he could take that down to 10%. My Rad oncologist did say there were three things they go by to decide if you need rads...one is tumor size...if its over 5cm, the 2nd one I CAN'T' remember. LOL And the third is lymph nodes involvment. In fact my Rad doc said four or more. I happen to have five. Maybe after my 2nd visit this week on tues I can find out some more from my Rad doc to make a decision. I am so afraid of anymore lung damage...I've had enough lung damage since this started. But I am glad to hear your 7 months out from Rads and doing great. I do want to increase my chances of remaining disease free as you said. I just wish there were more guarantees...but with this or life in general...there aren't any. I hate all these decisions. Thanks so much for your reply. Chelee __________________ DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes. Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs. Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06 Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07 3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07 9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV. 9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa 9-29-09 Power Port Placement 10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head. 11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed 12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa. 3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed. 4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone. 5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy. Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time. 7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.