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06-29-2013, 01:04 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 129
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Re: My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...)
Benjamin, first of all, you've come to the right place and I'm sorry for your wife's dx. You can read my stats below. Your plan sounds very similar, except i never had Neulasta. HER2 is a sneaky, nasty beast. I would want to throw everything at it I could. Good luck.
__________________
Age 54, married farm wife/school nurse/mom of 5 adult children...March 2012- found 2.5cm hard, non-painful mass on bse. It was not there, and then it was. Yikes.
Biopsy- DCIS, IDC, er-/pr-/her2+++, grade3. 1 node suspicious on us. Biopsy +.
Plan was for Neoadjuvant TCH x6, Herceptin q3w x a year.
May1- first chemo.
May 5- I could no longer feel the mass. Really. Neither could my oncologist.
July 2- 4th TCH- Oncologist cancels last 2 tx due to "complete response"
August6- lumpectomy with axillary node dissection. No disease present in breast. 1 out of 14 nodes + (4mm)
MUGA #2- 72%
Finished 30 rads Oct '12. Mild lymphedema noticed when I had 2 rads left.
Continue Herceptin q3w until next May
April '13- first mammo since surgery- calcium deposits that are " not concerning." Well, they are concerning to ME! Turned loose from surgeon for 6 months! One more Vit H, will make plans then for port removal.
Oct '13- no change in calcium deposits. "See ya in 6 months!" Keeping port for now.
March '14- oncologist says return in 6 mo.
April '14- mammo unchanged. Surgeon will see me in 6 months but no mammo for a year unless something changes. Its getting easier, but oh, boydo i hate that scanxiety! Keeping port until 2 year anniversary of last Herceptin.
Sept'14- bloodwork good, return to onco in 8 months.
Oct'14- surgeon will see me in April '15. Moving on.
May '15- mammo unchanged, keeping same schedule. Tumor markers soon and if all is well port comes out.
July '15-tumor markers normal. See onco in a year. Appt. for port end of month. First grandchild born July 1st- for today, life is good.
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06-29-2013, 01:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...)
TCH is now the standard of care for Her2+ patients. It is the right thing to do for any Her2+ person (my opinion) as Her2 is aggressive and sneaky AND your wife is young and has a full life ahead of her.
I didn't have a port but I really wish I did so I cannot comment on that but someone here will.
As for surgery, I think you should try to get out all the cancer. Before chemo is done, I think you should consult with a radiation oncologist and see what their opinion is of chest wall radiation. I would get two opinions. Do this before chemo is over because radiation (if deemed necessary) starts 3-4 weeks after chemo is over. AND if deemed necessary, you have to be mapped out so they know where to radiate.
As far as removing the nipple on the other side, I am just not sure how to answer that question as it is a personal decision.
We are here for you for your wife's and your journey. As you can see from my signature, I am almost 9 years out and did not have the better standard of care that you are being offered (and I am still here). The beginning is a whirlwind of mind blowing information on a disease the two of you never thought you would need to know about. Ask alot of questions to your medical team and us. If you are not sure about something, ask or get a second opinion for peace of mind.
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Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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06-29-2013, 02:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 184
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Re: My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...)
I can comment on the port for you. I have a port on my chest wall near my bra strap. It does stick but it is under the skin and covered with clothing. It has been a lifesaver for me since I only have one arm to infuse or have blood draws. It is easy for the onc nurses to access and doesn't hurt anymore than an arm stick. I have heard some people have a sensitivity in their port but they may just normally be averse to needles. I'm not sure. I've never heard of a neck port though. That seems odd to me so unless it's something new I'd check that part out.
What an awesome support system your wife has.
Cathy
__________________
3/06 DX stage III er-pr-her2+++ breast, 1+node
age 49 and 364 days
3XAC 4X taxol and herceptin continue herceptin one year
bilat mastectomy w/TRAM
32 rads
9/08 recurrance 4 sternal nodes
mediastinoscopy, able to remove 3
taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin, x6
continue herceptin indefinately
5/10 recurrance in same node/area
mediastinoscopy, removed nodes
added tykerb
27 rads
10/18/10 PET shows inflammation no active disease
8/2011 recurrence one right mediastinal node, xeloda and proton radiation to node.
D/C xeloda due to toxicity
12/5 PET scan clear
2/2012 colon blockage, breast cancer
(never thought it could go there! thought I was constipated)
start abraxane, herceptin, continue tykerb
10/2012 Kidney ablation (renal CA!)
3/2013 CT and biopsy R kidney (BC met to R kidney)
4/4/2013 Begin Kadcyla
7/30/13 Craniotomy cerebellar mets, 1.7cm 3cm
Sept 4-6 post op cyberknife
Sept 23 ablation right kidney (blow up pesky breast ca met)
Oct headaches MRI Oct 10 (only surgical changes ! Yay!)
Short of breath. CT, pulmonary function, echo
New crap in right lung heart good. Pooh!
12/13 DC kadcyla. Begin halaven
2/14 MRI brain NED Yay!
4/3/14 CT mostly stable but breast mets r kidney growing
4/16/14 ablation right kidney again
Continue halaven, tykerb
dc halaven gemzar?
2nd opinion May 14
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06-29-2013, 02:38 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 103
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Re: My Wife Rachel Was Just Diagnosed With HER-2+ Breast Cancer (Please Help ...)
Rachel is so lucky to have you on her side, and seeking info and opinions. You can see by my stats that I was stage one as well. It was often hard to explain to others why I was given chemo at Stage 1. HER2 is such an aggressive beast, and we are so lucky that now Herceptin is approved for Stage 1...... that was not always the case. I would explain to others that Herceptin is my wonder drug, but it works best when combined with chemo, and thus TCH. I had a port located in the left side of my chest , and it was placed there 3 days before TCH began. I was worried that it would show, but it was not that noticeable. You'll get lots of support here. Read, ask questions, and gather info.
__________________
Helen
dx 10-31-11
Stage 1 Grade 3 (7mm tumor)
Lumpectomy 11-18-11
Er- Pr- Her2+++
0/5 nodes - no positive lymph nodes
Port installed 1-6-12
6 Rounds TCH
Rad. 33 tx
Last herceptin 12-10-12
Port removed 1-3-13
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