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10-22-2007, 08:21 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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update and question
Hi EVERYONE!!!
I haven't posted in a while, just keeping very busy. But, I am praying for all of you and extra hard for those who have requested the help. My thoughts are with all you and your families and I'm so thankful we have this safe and warm place to communicate.
The only tests I have had recently since scans are blood chemistries and they look great, I'm happy to say.
My good friend Sarah has been staying with me again and I love it. She is in NYC having fun with other friends right now-LUCKY!!!
I have been on a few dates and that is mediocre, but it makes for good stories.
My question is this: I have fortunatley never had any lymphedema issues despite having 18 nodes removed 7 years ago and I was wondering if there is any chance of developing it after so long. It seems that the fact that all my nodes were negative that that works in my favor. However this morning I got caught in the crossfire between 2 of my sisters' dogs who decided to fight. My intellect told me to throw water on them, but my instinct won out and I tried to wrestle them apart and got bit on the right hand (axillary node removal side).
I think the wound will be okay and I've done a lot of cleansing and will put ointment on them. I am already on minocycline for Tykerb skin stuff. They recommend Augmentin, but I'm allergic to penicillan anyway. Doxycycline is the other recommendation, but it seems that often Mino and Doxy can be used interchangeably.
My fear is that lymphedema could happen. So far there is very minimal swelling just around the fleshy part of my hand where one wound is. It is sore, but it would be for anyone.
Sooo, do any of you know what the odds are of developing lymphedema after 7 years with no other incidences when a wound has occurred?
Thanks for any input and much love to every single one of you!!!!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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10-22-2007, 08:26 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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Hi Joy,
Sorry I can't help you with your question but I'm sure you'll get some answers fast. I know what you meant about instinct with the dogs, I've gotten between a couple myself.
Hopefully, everything will be fine, just keep a close eye on it.
Hugs
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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10-22-2007, 08:57 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Lymphedema can occur at any time. I would get a Zpak (zithromycin) - this is the 6 tablet pak where you take 2 at one time the first day and then one pill every day for the next 4 days. It has a long half life and lasts 10 days. Keep the wound clean and keep your arm elevated when you're just sitting around (lay on the couch and up arm up on the back and squeeze your hand 10 times every so often or squeeze a stress ball).
We have to be cognizant of our affected side for the rest of our lives.
__________________
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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10-22-2007, 09:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Hi Joy,
I am sorry you are in this spot. I just had this conversation with my surgeon and onc (we meet as a team) the beginning of Oct. Both said lymphedema can happen anytime and we need to careful of this forever.
Don't know what to tell you about the meds but sounds like Becky has some good advice.
Take care.
Donna
__________________
Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
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10-22-2007, 12:01 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Unfortunately you can develop lymphedema at any time -- even years down the road. Take Becky's advise and get a zpak
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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10-22-2007, 12:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Joy,
We are major dog lovers at my house. Had this same problem with two
of my darlings (they were naughty) and my husband and I did exactly
what you did..very wrong...we know better. Found out (we were both
bitten) that dog bites are very serious. You must see a hand doctor
and have it checked even while you are on anit meds. This could become a serious infection as it is just an old wives tale about dogs saliva being
a healing agent, not so, many think that since dogs lick themselves and heal their wounds, when a dog bites us it is serious. Swelling is not a good sign. Please have it checked....and let us know how you are.
Also another good agent in case you can't get to water is a blanket to throw over them. We didn't do either...but
know better for next time.
It's a good thing we love them.
Kind Regards,
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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10-22-2007, 02:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Joy
I have to agree with Becky...dog bites can be dangerous to anyone...get on an antibiotic, a strong one like Zithromax, or Clindomycin, or Augmentin..., and get your butt to the Dr for a tetanus shot....when I got poked in the arm with a dirty wire (*at a store no less), I was given Bactroban Cream, Augmentin ( a wide spectrum antiobiotic) and a tetanus shot...all to prevent infection and lymphedema.
PS
TAKE ALL THE ANTIBIOTIC>>>no skipping!!!!!!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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