Recurrance to other breast while on Herceptin

[Quiltlady]

I have had to havenmagnified views on the unaffected breast twice! Thankfully they do them right away before I leave the breast center. Each time they have disappeared on magnification! I was able to look at both films and could see that they had actually disappeared! I'm confident there is nothing there. The equipment is so sensitive now (thankfully) and this is something that happens sometimes as a result. I know the paniced feelings you must have right now but it can be OK...really!

[lu ann]

Dear Rhonda,

I was dx. 09/26/91 with stage 1 BC. While in my 5th mos. of tx. I had a T.I.A. (Transit eschemic attack) which is like a stroke without the long lasting effects. It took the team of doctors 2 months to determine if I had mets. I was devistated and freaked out. I had three children, age 7,4, and 1. It turned out to be scarring from the T.I.A.

A year later I started having abnormal mamograms. I went through several more abnormal mamograms and ultra-sounds until I finally got a second opinion from a lady doc who felt I should have a biopsy. It turned out to be a benign fybroadenoma.

Everytime I had an appt. with one of my cancer doc's, I would freak just waiting for the ball to drop. I finally quit going to see any of them and ignored subtle symptoms until I had full blown mets to my spine. The fear paralyzed me to the point I could not function.

I have not been N.E.D. since my reocurrance Feb. 04, but I don't live in that constant fear of it returning, I guess because it hasn't left yet. I sometimes feel that I'm better equipped at stage 4 then I was at stage 1 to deal with all of this.

Just try to take things one step at a time and try not to dwell on the "what ifs". It will make you crazy.

Blessings, Lu Ann.

[Lyn]

Hi there, I had a radical mastectomy in July 1998 for agressive fast moving BC, and like Lolly have been chasing enlaraged lymphs and skin mets ever since, I think my shortest NED was 2 weeks and my longest 3 months, but of course I have probably never been NED. In January this year I developed a rash on my remaining breast and a punch biopsy revealed skin mets with an underlying mass. My onc wouldn't even consider a mastectomy, he simply said when do you stop cutting. Pathology showed it was similar to the original but not the same, a new primary. I believe the reason for the change was from the herceptin, the HER 2 test was HER2+ the original was HER3+. I had radical radiation with Xeloda and carboplatin but a biopsy after treatment showed it was still there but this time HER1+, I have go to the stage now where I just say, I am not surprised but I have bigger issues to deal with at the moment, the severe radiation I had to the right side has now left me with hardly any range in my right arm and 3 weeks ago I re fractured my left shoulder, nothing to do with bones just clumsy. I keep saying I hope the next saga is good for a change, but of course it won't happen, for some sick reason I have been put on this earth to be tortued during my golden years, I was 44 when first diagnosed. I hope yours is nothing to worry about and you can get on with your life, like some of the others this is our vocation in life to pave the way for the newbies and hope they don't have to suffer as much as we have.

Love & Hugs Lyn