 |
02-18-2007, 01:22 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Bartonville, IL
Posts: 70
|
silly question
This is a silly question and a pretty minor one, but I have had a cold for 2 weeks. Have been on an antibotic (work for a OB/Gyn so he prescribed me it for me), but my cold doesn't seem any better. Do I see my onocologist or my family doc?
__________________
Karla
8/05 NORMAL MAMMO
11/05 DX AFTER FINDING LUMP AGE 47
STAGE 1 HIGH RISK
1.1 CM/NODE NEG
ER-/PR- HER 2 +++ GRADE 3
12/05 PARTIAL MASTECTOMY
1/06 CHEMO AC DD X 6
5/06 RADS X 30
10/06 STARTED HERCEPTIN AFTER 3RD OPINION
3/07 GENETIC TESTING-GENE VARIANT FOR BRCA 1 AND 2
3/07 STOPPED HERCPTIN DUE TO LOW EF
BSO 8/08 (P53 SIGNATURE--PRECANCEROUS CELLS)
11/08---IN A STUDY/MRI EVERY 6 MONTHS/MAMMO EVERY YEAR
|
|
|
|
02-18-2007, 01:33 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 72
|
My understanding is that while you are going through treatment, the oncologist is the person to see. Since you are on herception... I'd see the onc.
Skeetur
__________________
12/01/2006 Initial Dx via stereotactic biopsy - DCIS, grade 3
12/27/2006 Lumpectomy w/ SNB: 2 foci of IDC (largest .3 cm, Grade 2, Notthingham score 6) amid large area of DCIS: No clear margins on the DCIS; re-excision recommended
ER+(55%)/PR+(60+)/HER2+ (2.8+ via IHC?)
01/23/2007 Re-excision Lumpectomy: No clear margins on the DCIS; mastectomy recommended
03/02/2007 Bilateral mastectomy w/ expander implant insertion
03/19/2007 Emergency surgery to fix broken blood vessel in left breast
03/30/2007 Met w/ oncologist; oncologist checking on HER2 status with pathologist and doing some consulting on my case - no treatments for now!
05/02/2007 Next appointment w/ oncologist
|
|
|
|
|
02-18-2007, 03:23 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Posts: 144
|
My onc says anything that is related to or could be affected by my cancer treatment - see him and the onc nurses. Anything clearly unrelated - he gave the example of a sprained ankle - see my GP.
B
__________________
Belinda
- Diagnosed 3 Jan 2007, Stage IIb, Mastectomy and axillary clearance 10 Jan 07, 6 of 19 nodes affected, multi-focal cancer, HER2 positive. Second mastectomy (prophylactic). Chemo - AC 3 months, Taxol 3 months - then radiation 5 weeks.
- Aug 2011 - Diagnosed with Stage IV mets to lung, sternum and 12 or so thoracic nodes - Rads to Sternum, then weekly abraxane and herceptin for 12 weeks.
- May 2012- good scans - all nodes still about normal size, hole in sternum repairing, lung tumour 'obliterated'.
Ongoing herceptin every 3 weeks. Bloods still all good! Life good!
- March 2013 - recurrence - tumours in lungs and mediastinum (coughing up blood) - immediate radiation treatment to right lung and mediastinum, still on Herceptin, and 3 months of Vinoralbine - stable for a little while!
- Coughing and breathlessness started again September 2013, treated as radiation-induced fibrosis (which can be seen on scans - albeit stable). ie puffers, steroids
- January 2014 - cough becomes bloody again, scans show big mediastinal tumour wrapped around and choking the life out of my right main bronchus, radiation deemed off limits as my lungs are hypersensitive to radiation (measured by existing damage from 2013) .....................- ie I am in the 5% of people likely to suffer severe radiation damage to the lungs that they warn you about before starting treatment! (so special! :) )
- Started chemo Feb 2014 - continuing Herceptin (continuous since Aug 2011), with Carboplatin and Gemcitabine. Discontinued Gemcitabine because of se's. Starting cycle 5 Herc/Carbo 5 May 2014.
- Meantime.....coughing and breathlessness increased to SCARY levels with racing heartbeat that won't slow down, breath that won't come back, even just walking to the bathroom or up 3 or 4 steps.
- ICU from May 5 2014, collapsed right lung due to tumour, small pulmonary embolism (left), tumours growing in mediastinum left and right, dvt lower right leg
- Plan seems to be bronchoscope next week to see if tumour can be lasered and stent inserted in right bronchus to reopen air access to lower parts of right lung. If that is successful might be able to have brachytherapy to worst tumour, otherwise no more options for external radiotherapy.
|
|
|
|
|
02-18-2007, 03:34 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Savannah, Georgia
Posts: 301
|
which doc?
You know, my onc. has handled everything since I've been under his care- to include colds, yeast infections, etc. He even prescribed a med to stop my "out of control period" when my cycle started back up after chemo. I think that he is just more comfortable handling things, and frankly, so am I. Anyways, the minute my reg. doc heard the words "breast cancer" I got the feeling that he was uncomfortable.
Love, Kelly
__________________
dx'd 05/06, 37 years old
er/pr-, Her2+, grade 3
double mastectomy, immediate reconstruction- implants
Stage 2b, 2 tumors- 2.2 cm and 0.6 cm, 3/5 + nodes
all scans clear
genetic testing- negative
06/06 began dd A/C x 4, 12 weekly Taxols w/ Herceptin
30 rads
Herceptin weekly x 1 year
Herceptin completed 08/07
Port removed 12/26/07 MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!
05/17/08 Two year anniversary NED
"We gain strength, courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... you must do the thing that you think you cannot do."
-Eleanor Roosevelt
|
|
|
|
|
02-18-2007, 03:37 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: New Jersey / Miami, Fl
Posts: 50
|
not a silly question at all...
I think your onc would want to know about any health problem you are experiencing while in treatment. It will help you recieve consistent care without risking contraindicating treatments.
I personally would not trust any doctor as much as my onc to know what drugs should or should not be given to a person on AC, T, or Herceptin, etc ... New drugs are being offered all the time (herceptin, tykerb, etc), the onc is the one who is most likely to think about and know about any contraindications (even though all drs are supposed to know).
I wasn't sure who to call for health issues that seemed unrelated, however I learned quickly that issues (minor to major)(i.e. rashes, nose bleeds, thumping in my ear, hotflashes, etc) that seem to me to be unrelated may very well be related or at least of interest to your oncologist. Your onc can treat or refer you for treatment for anything you face while under his/her care.
Good luck. Feel better. No one needs a two week cold, especially not while in treatment.
Take Care
Shannon
__________________
Dx @ 29 years old in 8/05
Stage 1
2 IDC tumors (.7 cm and .5 cm)
4 cm DCIS
0 nodes
ER-/PR-
Her2+ (5.33 FISH)
AC (4 cycles)
Bi-lat mastectomy w/ lat flap recon + cohesive gel implants
1 year (every 3 weeks) Herceptin
|
|
|
|
|
02-18-2007, 05:25 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
|
My onc makes it quite clear to go to my GP for just about every thing. I don't care what it is...she says go see my primary. If I mentioned a cough or cold like symptoms I know she would sent me to my primary even though it could be related to herceptin or other meds she has me on. I know I certainly get more time and attention from my primary. At least he will exam me and talk to me.
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.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:55 AM.
|
Linear Mode
