New and re-posting here!!!!

[Robyn]

Hi All,

I have been reading some posts on here and was directed from another site to come here!

A little hx--
I was dx'd Sept 02---Stage 2a, no nodes, MRM, FEC chemo, Er/Pr neg...was not tested for her2 status at that time (Canada).

Recur found a month ago....to mast. scar. Surgically removed, clear margins, didn't invade into the chest....considered local recur. (well, scans still to determine spread). This time they tested her2, as we in Canada are using Herceptin as a standard tx for bc with/without mets. (you all probably know this...sorry) Anyway, I have done research on this gene and bc, so I am familiar with the use and the affects etc....

Still is waiting mode...scans I guess will determine chemo?? I will have rads to chest wall.....just not sure if the scans show no mets does one still do chemo or just herceptin?? Or even with mets, can one start out with herceptin to see if it works alone and keep other chemos as part of an "arsenal"?? I have my appt. with the chemo doc soon and want to educate myself as much as possible, and yet I am not sure if blasting myself with chemo is necessary to start?? I have a Family (young kids) and I really want QOL as well in treatment....It is funny how one reacts the second time around with this....don't get me wrong, I want to do anything to be in remmission if this has spread.....I guess I am confused??

Anyway...since I don't have definitive answers....it's hard to make total plans!

PS>>> Thank you for the replies on the newcomer board...just hoping for some more replies!!!!

Great website....
Robyn

Hi Robyn,

I was diagnosed with a 1.3cm, node negative, er/pr+, grade 3, stage one tumor. I was as aggressive as possible with my treatment. I did dose dense, AC and T chemo, 34 rads and now I am on Herceptin for a year as well as Aromasin (for er/pr+) for 5 to 10 years. I suppose at some point, they will treat our Her2+++ cancer with Herceptin alone, but if I were you...I would absolutly do chemo, rads and Herceptin. It sounds like your cancer is aggressive if it has already spread to the skin. Also, everything I have read about chemo say, "any tumor, 1 cm or over = chemo". This is just my, "two cents".

Hope this helps.

Karen

[Robyn]

I had a recur. to the mast. scar, but it isn't skin met, was a lump in the scar....clear margins...etc.

I guess I just need to know if with recurrences do they treat with single use Herceptin? I've done chemo before and want to be aggressive but with QOL....

Anyway...I thank anyone that has a thought or opinion??

Robyn
xxx

[Lolly]

Robyn,

Welcome to the site Most of us who frequent the board are a little reluctant to give "treatment advice" per say, but I'm happy to share my treatment regimen with you regarding mets to scar area similar to what you describe, except, I had at least three that we knew of. BUT, I also had a skim met over the collarbone which was removed and tested positive, and suspicious axilla lymph nodes which weren't tested (these popped up during the 2 week interval after biopsy, before I started treatment.
Obviously, we knew we were dealing with an agressive and fast-moving recurrence, so we attacked with weekly Navelbine/Herceptin. Within a few weeks, the scar mets had "melted" away, and within a few months I was clinically NED, although I had altogether 6 months of this combo and then scans to confirm NED. This agressive regimen translated into 2 and 1/2 years of NED, being maintained on Herceptin alone, which was very easy for me to tolerate. I felt the discomfort(really) of being on chemo again was well worth it.

I also know that there are some who have posted here who have had good response to Hercptin alone.

Keep in mind that it is indeed your decision regarding QOL, but listed to your oncologist's advice and ask lots of questions.

Also, chemo regimens for some types of mets can be much easier to tolerate than treatment for primary disease, which is basically a scorched earth type of approach.

Good luck with your decision, keep us posted.

<3 Lolly