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View Poll Results: How was your HER2 BC first found?
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By you or your partner
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43 |
67.19% |
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By doctor or nurse during exam
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4 |
6.25% |
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Routine, annual mammogram
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15 |
23.44% |
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Ultrasound (NOT following mammogram)
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1 |
1.56% |
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MRI (NOT following mammogram)
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1 |
1.56% |
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09-18-2011, 04:53 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 98
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Here's a "funny" story...I was raising a service dog puppy and was taking him out in the middle of the night. As I was making my way back to the bedroom in the dark, I ran into the door jam. Got a bruise and a bump that was still there a week later. Went to the family doctor, sent for mammogram, moved to the next room for an ultrasound...at the surgeon's office within 3 days, thanks to calls from the family doc as the mammogram place had me scheduled to "come back" in about 3 weeks. 20/20 hindsight, it had hurt for a long time prior to sleep on my stomach because of "hardness" in my breast. I'm thinking we don't see the forest for the trees. Thank God for the puppy and for my family doctor who got me to the surgeon within days, who has a waiting list months long. God was working!
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09-19-2011, 05:36 AM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Wow!
God is good! All the time! And he certainly seems to be watching over you. I've always thought service dogs were like little guardian angels...and this just confirms it for me.
Hope you are doing well now!
Denise
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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09-19-2011, 06:39 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: ottawa canada
Posts: 367
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
hey denise! been offline a few days! I love that both you and I have been quoting Pray's "God is good all the time". I use that too. Indeed thanks be to God for the puppy! I say thanks for puppies! Thanks for dogs all the time too. lol
__________________
fall 2008: mammo of rt breast worrisome so am asked to redo mammo and have ultrasound of rt breast.I delay it til january 2009 and the results are "no cancer in rt breast. phew."
found plum sized lump in right breast the day before my dad died: April 17th 2011. saw it in mirror, while i was wearing a top, examining my figure after losing 10 lbs on dr. bernstein diet.
diagnosed may 10 2011
mast/lymphectomy: june 7 2011, 5/20 cancerous nodes. stage 3a before radiation oncologist during our first mtg on july 15th says he found cancer on the lymph node of my breast bone. Now stage 3b.
her2+++, EN-, PN-. Rt brst tumors:3 at onset, 4.5 cm was the big one
chemos: 3fec's followed by 3 taxotere, total of 18 wks chemo. sept: halfway thru chemo the mastectomy scar decides to open and ooze pus. (not healed before chemo) eventually with canasten powder sent by friend in ny (illegal in canada) it heals.
radiations:although scheduled to begin 25 january 2012, I am so terrified by it (rads cause other cancers) I don't start til february, miss a bunch, reschedule them all and finally finish 35 rads mid april. reason for 7 extra atop the 28 scheduled is that when i first met my rads oncologist he said he saw a tumor on the lymph node of my breastbone. extra 7 are special kind of beam used for that lymphnode. rads onc tells me nobody ever took so long to do rads so he cannot speak for effectiveness. trials had been done only on consecutive days so......we'll see.....
10 mos of herceptin started 6 wks into chemo. canadian onc says 10 mos is just as effective as the full yr recommended by dr. slamon......so we'll see..completed july 2012.
Sept 18 2012: reconstruction and 3 drains. fails. i wear antibiotic pouch on my job for two months and have 60 consecutive days visiting a nursing centre where they apply burn victims' silver paper and clean the oozing infection daily. silicone leaks out daily. plastic surgeon in caribbean. emergency dept wont remove "his" work. He finally appears and orders me in into an emergency removal of implant. I make him promise no drains and I get my way. No infection as a result. Chest looks like a map of Brazil. Had a perfectly good left breast on Sept 17th but surgeon wanted to "save another woman an operation" ? so he had crashed two operations together on my left breast, foregoing the intermediary operation where you install an expander. the first surgeon a year earlier had flat out refused to waste five hours on his feet taking both boobs. flat out refusal. between the canadian health system saving money and both these asses, I got screwed. who knows when i can next get enough time off work (i work for myself and have no substitute when my husband is on contract) to get boobs again. arrrgh.
I have a blog where I document this trip and vent.
www.nora'scancerblog.blogspot.com . I stopped the blog before radiation. I think the steroids made me more angry and depressed and i just hated reading it anymore
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09-20-2011, 08:20 AM
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#24
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Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: britain
Posts: 7
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Hi,
Prays " god is good all the time" is certainly true in my case, I went with a lump to my Dr in2004 aged 36 to be told no it's not cancer.
Only to find out 4 years later in 2008 that it was. Then stage 3.
I have had no spread so far which has amazed the Dr's and radiologist who were expecting this.
I have now been ned for 2 1/2 years.
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09-30-2011, 05:24 AM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Come on...don't be shy...answer the poll question!
More data gives us a better picture of what's really going on.
Help us all out!
It's anonymous...and it only takes a few seconds.
Denise
Sorry, all of you who got this, and already completed the poll..sort of preaching to the choir...sorry.
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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09-30-2011, 08:44 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 418
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Denise - took my bra off at bedtime on March 1, 2010. Stretched my arms and sort of scratched under my right breast and there it was. I knew immediately that it was malignant but was in my primary care doc's office at 9 am the next morning. She's a breast cancer suvivor, too, and was straight with me - she agreed that it was probably cancer. So I was off for an early mammogram (mine wasn't due til June), ultrasound, core biopsy, etc. Those tests not only confirmed breast cancer but discovered a second tumor that I couldn't feel. Got the "official" word on 3/9/10 and from there to the surgeon and the rest is in my signature. The two tumors were different - one triple negative and one er-/pr-/HER2+++. Weird. Could never have imagined last year (from March til December) that I would ever feel good again but I DO!!!! A challenging year but also filled with blessings.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
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09-30-2011, 02:18 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Joni,
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm so glad you found your BC, and are doing so well. I love reading your posts here. You seem like such a kind, compassionate person. Your grandchildren are so lucky to have you for their nana!
Be well!!
Denise
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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10-05-2011, 10:54 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 27
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Re: How was your HER2 BC first found?
Had my mamo and ultrasound done in August, a week or so later I get a letter in the mail congratulating me of no signs of cancer present and not to forget to make an appointment for next year! Awesome I thought as two years ago (August 2009) I had breast cancer on my right side. That cancer was a walk in the park. Had a lumpectomy followed by radiation and what was to be a 5 yr treatment of Tamox (It was stage 2, er/pr+, her2-, no nodes)
Because my surgeon is a brilliant and wonderful man, when he received the reports from my mamo and syno he requested my films from the past 3 years. Low and behold he saw that calcifications were increasingly geared to one spot but not so that it would have been alarming to anyone else reading my films. He called me and explained that it was most likely nothing but nonetheless would like to do a biopsy.
So, biopsy is done and I get the "it's cancer call" This time not such a walk in the park (Stage 1, Grade 3, ER/PR+, HER2+++, no nodes or vascular involvement) Two years on Tamox did nothing at all for me :-(
What an amazing man, brilliant and caring man my surgeon is.....where would I be a year from now if he wasn't such a concerned Dr. ?
Hugs...Lisa
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