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07-31-2007, 03:37 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Kate, I hope it's nothing. It's so hard not knowing, please keep us posted.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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07-31-2007, 04:55 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Thank you again for all your support and encouragement. I have no symptoms and the brain scan was done because I hadn't had a brain MRI since last August. And with the lung mets, she wanted to check the brain. I thought it would just show that I had no brain left after all the toxic chemicals that have been pumped into my system. I'm keeping busy and trying not to think about the "what if" but am thinking "it's nothing."
I've been plagued with sinus problems all my life and even had surgery on them in 1999 so I'm hoping that something is showing up in the sinus. Gotta remain positive here. Don't know what I'd do without the wonderful support and encouragement from you wonderful women on the site. I will keep you posted.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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07-31-2007, 05:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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CT vs. MRI
Dear Kate -
"Stop the world, I want to get off!" Or turn back the clock to yesterday.
I know you are knawing your nails to the nubs right about now! Been where you are and done that. With the exception that for purposes of looking for brain mets, I NEVER had a CT - only MRIs. And I am a bit shocked that you had a CT instead, especially now that you have confirmed lung mets. A big boo boo on someone's part.
If you had been going into a clinical trial for the lung mets, it would have called for an MRI for sure. Also, there is no radiation with the MRI as there is with CT scans.
Sure hope they get you in right away - like NEXT available, or have you come in as a "work in."
I had my umpteenth brain MRI today. Have lost count, but have at least 4 a year now. Before the mets and treatment, those butterflies left me hardly able to do anything till I got the all clear. I also have a spot is something called "ischemic disease." Probably from one of the many bumps on my head, and a couple of concussions.
Hang tough and we will get you through this one, too.
P.S. The brain MRI looks at the brain - not the sinuses. Your skeletal structure shows, but the detail is of the "soft tissue" brain area. I have had CT of just my sinuses earlier this year. A whole different positioning.
__________________
"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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07-31-2007, 05:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Kate, it could very well be nothing - and I hope this is the case. Your doctor is being super diligent, which is good. CT scans are not very specific for brain stuff - hence the MRI.
I hope that what they see is the Goodyear blimp - meaning that it is NOTHING!
Let us know what you find out.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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07-31-2007, 05:35 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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I hope your head is empty too! What a rididulous drag to have to go through the stress! Please keep us updated-you are in the best place for support on empty headedness or brain mets, but I am PRAYING for the former!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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