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12-29-2010, 09:50 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam,
I was hoping for better news. You have sure been through an awful lot--far more then your share...that's for certain. I can only imagine how you are feeling...and not just phyiscally, but emotionally too.  My heart really goes out to you. I'm glad to hear you aren't having too much pain with your hip...that's one good thing. As you mentioned, I'm sure the oxycodin helps.
I see they (doctors) must of found out the blood is coming from your upper GI track since you said the blood is dark and tarry. That's always upper GI--and really bright red is lower GI. (So they will know where to start looking.) Which I see you have already told yourself it's going to be something really bad. I know I would be saying the exact same thing if I was you--my mind would instantly say it's got to be more cancer...that's normal for all of us...but in this case it's just not true. Sure it's possible..but there are just so many other things that cause upper GI bleeding which you would be very prone too with all the chemo's & medications you have been on.
You might have a duodenal ulcer. All that means is there is a raw area in the lining in the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum), where it connects to the stomach. (It can be easily treated.) Again, with all the drugs your poor body has been exposed to it wouldn't surprise me if you had an ulcer. It also could be gastritis which is caused from inflammation from the stomach lining. Your doctor will probably want to run some tests like a upper endoscopy. That's not too bad, they just sedate you a little and run a scope down your throat to check out your upper digestive tract. I know you must be scared out of your mind but try not to worry yourself sick...I know that's easy for me to say. All the chemo regimens you have been on are so hard on your upper GI track and could easily cause this problem. So hopefully they will run some tests this wk and see where it's coming from? That is no doubt adding to your low hemoglobin. I hope some of what I told you here will help you not worry as much.
As to the PET scan you had today your right...it will react to your surgery site. Mine has every time. It will probably say "reactive" since it's a fresh site...so don't worry about that. It might show uptake too but it will be due to the surgery. I sure hope you get some answers soon because I know this has to be so hard on you. It's time you get some good news to start the new year off with. I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
Last edited by Chelee; 12-29-2010 at 10:01 PM..
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12-30-2010, 12:47 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam,
I hope when you read this post you are doing so from home. I am sorry you have had such an exhausting wait but I am praying that the news on the 6th will be what we all want to hear.
Best wishes being sent.
Hugs,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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12-30-2010, 01:28 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam,
I just feel so bad for you...seems it's one thing after another for you. I am so sorry they couldn't get your port to work. But I have found the only ones that really know how to access a port right is our chemo nurses! When I was in the hospital a couple times they always had trouble with my port...yet my chemo nurse never does! It's a shame you had to be poked far too many times but I'll bet once you get back to a REAL chemo nurse she will get it working just fine. Might have to prime the pump a bit...make you lay back, cough and all the fun stuff...but these RN's in the hospital mean well but they just don't have the same experience or training our chemo nurses have. I know they used the heparin and all...but they use different size needles and everything which can play a part in your port not working correctly.
As to your transfusion I'm not sure how fast they are suppose to work...but I sure didn't notice any difference right away. Hope it works quicker for you. I hope they let you go home on time tomorrow...but they might keep you one more day? I sure understand that nervous feeling you have about going home...I felt that way too--but you will be fine as long as you have family there to help you. For now tell those ppl at Re-hab to behave or I just might have to come down there and they don't want that.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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12-30-2010, 05:41 AM
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#24
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Guest
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Very best wishes from across the ocean too - I hope next year brings some healthy peace for you - the symptoms are much more likely to be side effects of all the treatment you've had but is hard to stay logical about that when it hurts and you're scared isn't it
Kathy
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12-30-2010, 07:48 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 297
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam. Just checking in to say hello and hope that you are feeling better and they have some answers for you. I will be praying for you and I send best wishes. Mary L
__________________
Mary L from PA Diag: Oct 2003 w/6mm mass, IDC grade III ductal carcinoma in-situ, IBC stage IIIB. tx A/C followed by Taxotere(only able to have 2 tx, allergic), mastectomy, 3 0ut of 7 positive nodes. 35 rads. Recurrence 9 months later, skin mets to mastectomy site. Tx Carboplatin/Herceptin. Stayed on Herceptin almost 5 years, had 3 more recurrences when I had to stop Herceptin due to my ejection fraction getting too low. Herceptin stopped and ned 3 years in Oct. 2010.
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12-30-2010, 02:48 PM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 731
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
I'm at home now.Thursday. Got home a couple of hours ago. So far so good. Have spent time just unpacking, opening mail, etc. Now a pain pill and a little nap.
__________________
Pam
6/01 IBC er+ her2+stage IIIb; mastecomy
7/01 AC, taxol; radiation
2/02 tamoxifen
9/02 stage IV bone mets femara
1/03 taxotere/herceptin/aredia
6/03 herceptin, aredia & faslodex
1/04 navelbine, herceptin, aredia
2/05 herceptin/aredia
7/05 xeloda/herceptin/aredia
3/07 xeloda/tykerb/aredia
5/08 taxol/avastin/aredia
2/09 gemzar/herceptin/zometa
7/09 Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin, zometa
10/09 navelbine/herceptin & zometa
2/10 herceptin & tykerb & zometa
4/10 add xeloda &aromasin
10/10 dx with dermatomyiositis triggered by cancer
11/10 restart herceptin, tykerb, zometa
12/10 surgery-place rod in R femur to stabilize bone
1/11 radiation to R femur - 20 tx
2/11 2nd surgery - rod in Left femur
2/11 tx eribulen -- suspended dx brain mets
3/11 brain mets wbr 20 tx
4/11 halaven; discontine 8/11 not working
8/11 radiation to left femur 20 tx'
8-9/11 rad to lower spine
9/11 abraxane/herceptin/zometa
9/12 xeloda/herceptin/zometa
12/12 ablation of liver
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12-30-2010, 03:33 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 297
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam, I am so glad you were able to go home. Home is always a better place to be when you need to heal and find peace of mind. I will be praying for you. I send a big hug and hope for a good nights sleep. Mary L
__________________
Mary L from PA Diag: Oct 2003 w/6mm mass, IDC grade III ductal carcinoma in-situ, IBC stage IIIB. tx A/C followed by Taxotere(only able to have 2 tx, allergic), mastectomy, 3 0ut of 7 positive nodes. 35 rads. Recurrence 9 months later, skin mets to mastectomy site. Tx Carboplatin/Herceptin. Stayed on Herceptin almost 5 years, had 3 more recurrences when I had to stop Herceptin due to my ejection fraction getting too low. Herceptin stopped and ned 3 years in Oct. 2010.
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12-30-2010, 05:11 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,809
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam,
"There's no place like home!" Glad you will be celebrating the New Year in your own home. Be sure to drink plenty of fluid - juice, soup - light on tea and other caffeinated drink. Stay warm and keep us posted.
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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01-04-2011, 06:49 AM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: surgery complications - or what?
Pam,
Glad to hear from you. Hope you are feeling better.
Amelia
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