Hello and questions

suzan w · 12-24-2007, 07:06 AM

Hi Shadow! As you can see by my statistics, I had a small tumor and chose to treat it with everything available. My surgeon and oncologist (at Swedish in Seattle) both agreed. I did not have alot of time to make decisions, Swedish was my "second opinion", first doctors (doc who did the biopsy) recommended a much less agressive regimen. After a high oncotype score ( predicts percentage of distant recurrence) I opted for chemo. My Her2 status dictated herceptin for a year. I can't say what would have happened if I had gone with the less agressive treatment (lumpectomy, followed by radiation...no chemo, no herceptin, and arimidex for 5 years-ER+). I have absolutely no regrets about the route I took and am still taking! Let me know if you want to talk for real as we are "neighbors"!!

tousled1 · 12-24-2007, 08:31 AM

ShadowPilot,

With you being ER/PR- I would definitely say do the 12 weeks of Taxol and the year of Herceptin. You're fortunate in that just a few years ago Herceptin was not available to early stage breast cancer. Taxol is doable and Herceptin will be very easy. In the end it is ultimately your decision. All the best to you.

penelope · 12-24-2007, 09:40 AM

Deciding to have treatment is always a very tough decision. I want to let you know what I decided and why because I was diagnosed at 35 and was in the "grey area". I also had two small children at home and wanted to see them grow up.

I was diagnosed with 4.2 cm of DCIS and a 7mm tumor, with no vascular invasion and negative nodes. I went on to have bilateral mastectomies, 4 cycles of AC and a year of herceptin. At the time 2 years ago, they did not think I needed taxol, although now I wish I had thrown that at the god awful thing to!

It was a tough decision. I had to fight for the mastectomies, and at the time the herceptin as it was not yet approved for early stage under 1 cm. But I decided to do it because of the large area of dcis, believe it or not. Although rare there are women who have progressed to stage 4 from dcis only, as well as from very small tumors that are her2+. You see in just 1 mm of cancer there are millions of cells and I was relying on some one (pathologists) to look over 42 mm of dcis and make sure it had not escaped. That is like looking for a needle in a haystack literally. I was thankful that they had found the tiny invasive portion, but was not able to completely trust that they had found everything. How could I, with billions or cells to look at?

In addition if it ever came back, I wanted to be able to look at my family and know that I hit it with everything I could. That I had led the good fight and there for it truely was meant to be.

The decision process was scarey and an extremely lonely one, but you know what? I learned a whole lot. I learned...

I am a lot stronger than I ever thought I could be.
It was not as hard to loose my hair as I thought.
I learned that when push came to shove, I was a very valuable and important to my family and friends.
That my marriage was going to last a life time, regardless of how long that life might be.
That I really could have a models body (with a little plastic surgery!).
And as truley unbelievable as this sounds....cancer, as ugly as it is, made my life better. I am a happier person.

Therapy is easier than you think.

Hope this helps you in some small way. You are at the hardest part of the journey. Once you make a deicion it will get a little easier. Good luck to you.

Vanessa · 12-24-2007, 03:55 PM

I have to agree, hit this agressive cancer with all you got. Good luck to you and I will keep you in my prayers.

Shadowpilot · 12-24-2007, 04:03 PM

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies and input. I well keep you updated on my decision and process.

Andrea Barnett Budin · 12-24-2007, 07:22 PM

SHADOW, I AM SO SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS CANCER ORDEAL, BUT YOU HAVE COME TO A GREAT PLACE HERE. I must agree with Penelope and all the Woman Warriors that have posted in response to your quest for input. I have been hanging around chemo rooms and onc offices for 12 yrs. I am stage 4, but I have seen a lot and met many a woman in your position.

This highly aggressive cancer came back in my case in 3 yrs. I did not have the benefit of Herceptin in 1995, not yet available. However, it has saved my life since my metastasis in '98 and it's fortuitous arrival for all met HER2 bc patients at the same time. Synchronicity can be a beautiful thing. You can see from my story below why I am grateful with each new day.

You with benefit of chemo and Herceptin from the getgo will do well, Shadow. Do it for yourself, and for those you love who love and need you. It is a very personal decision, not taken lightly. But w/no regrets you will have new eyes with which to enjoy being alive more than you ever imagined possible. As someone noted, we are all much stronger than we think we are. We are much braver than we imagined. Take control of your life, Shadow and move forward, well informed and fully armed! Keep us posted, please. We will be thinking of you...
Andi

cafe1084 · 12-24-2007, 07:35 PM

I have to agree with everyone else who's replied. You only get one first chance to get this thing under control. Your second chance is a chance you don't want to have to get. Im also er/pr-, her2 +, 1.5 cm IDC, LCIS, and I was diagnosed at 36. I have no breasts and I have a few side effects from the taxol and herceptin, but nothing I can't live with to be here for my kids and my family. It's a tough decision for some. For me, it was a no-brainer to have the chemo. Good luck with your decision and please enjoy your Christmas!

Steph C