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Re: support for foregoing radiation?
Hi Nora,
As you can see from my signature my diagnosis is similar. I was treated at a large teaching hospital in Chicago. My primary onc and my radiation onc said radiation was not an option for me. My onc has been at the forefront of Her2 treatment and was involved in the early clinical trials of Herceptin. She said you need to give yourself the best chance at a cure in the beginning. I had tissue expanders placed during the time of my mastectomy. I had the saline drained to a low level prior to radiation. 3 weeks ago I had the expanders out and my silicone implants placed. My plastic surgeon recommended I wait at least 4 months after radiation for my skin to heal which I did. I have fair skin, freckles with an Irish/German complexion. My cancer side drained much more than my non cancer side, and also has more post surgical swelling but I did not need the tram flap since my skin was in good shape. My plastic surgeon did do some fat transfer from my stomach to round out the edges around the implants. My stomach was very bruised and swollen for 2 weeks. My plastic surgeon explained since I had a mastectomy there was no breast tissue remaining, so the fat transfer is necessary to round things out. He also placed Alloderm at the top of my breast and the bottom. I am happy with the results and the pain was minimal.
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DX November 2010
Brain MRI, CT of lung, liver, bone, all clear
Double Mastectomy w/expanders December 1, 2010
ER- PR- Her2+++, grade 3, 12 positive nodes out of 15
Stage IIIc
Started TCH/Chemo December 31, 2010
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin every 3 weeks for a year
33 rounds of TomoTube radiation, to chest wall, neck, skin and lymph area
September, 2011, MRI to lower spine, hips, DX bulging disk, L4 & L5, pain not from cancer
Expanders removed, implants in Dec 1, 2011
Finished Herceptin, December 21, 2011
August 2012, CT of chest and abdomen, all ok
Enrolled in MC1136 Phase I Peptide Vaccine Trial at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
March 2013, First Vaccine
April 2013, 2nd Vaccine
May 2013, 3rd Vaccine
June 2013, 4th Vaccine
July 2013, 5th Vaccine
August 2013, 6th Vaccine Done!
September 2013, Mayo visit, Echo results 68, vaccine did not effect my heart! Blood work normal.
January 31, 2013, Mayo visit, Echo normal
February 23, 2014, Numb lips on right side, Brain MRI, normal!
June, 2015, Finished the trial at Mayo Clinic. Feels good!
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