My excisional biopsy of a chest nodule last fall resulted in spread across my chest, in the skin. I don't know if the surgery released cells into the blood or if the healing from the surgery(it was a more extensive procedure than anticipated in order to get clear margins)stimulated the cancer to spread due to growth factor that's produced to facilitate healing. This is a controversial subject, some surgeons think it's a combination perhaps. I do know my surgeon declined to consider pulling my old port when I had my new one placed; he said the location of the old port was too close to the active area on my chest and he was afraid of even more spread. I didn't ask if he thought it would be due to malignant cells in the blood stream or the growth factor. Will try to remember to ask his opinion next time I see him.
<3 Lolly
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Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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