DCIS HELP NEEDED -- I'm just thinking...
Hi my wondrous knowing group of Soul Sisters!
I have a dear friend who was dx DCIS. She has had 2 surgeries. She saw an oncologist following the surgeries. This alone alarmed me. I planted a seed and backed away. She felt she was in the best of hands (through Albert Einstein in NY). But, I keep thinking...
I have asked Sandy about sentinel nodes and HER2, of course. She says her onc says they only test those when the ca is invasive.
She is having radiation and going on Tamoxifen (which wasn't foreseen w/the first surgery, which they thought would be the end of the story).
I would appreciate any one who could assauge me or inform me re this bc. I need to tap into your wisdom. I feel unusually uncomfortable and just plain distressed. I love my friend dearly. My Inner Voice is shouting at me!
Is this the common course of action? NO testing for nodes or HER2?? It doesn't feel right to me. In fact, it feels irresponsible.
I, like all of you, have heard and read too many tales that indicate this should be *on the table* from the getgo. The better to treat and foresee! WHAT DO *YOU* THINK???? Talk to me, please... ANDI
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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