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03-20-2009, 01:56 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
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Scared
Hi everyone. Thank you again for letting me vent. I don't think you all know how much this means to me. I was diagnosed with strep throat and pneumonia this week. Now I know why I have been feeling bad. My primary doctor is very happy that I have responded to the anti-biotics. When he talked to two radiologists he said they said there was something funny on my lung and that it wasn't a-typical pneumonia. I called my oncologist and she did not seem to be concerned. I have had some history of non-calcified spots on my lungs that have been there since I was diagnosed. I just don't know what to do. Any thoughts?
Lisa
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03-20-2009, 03:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Wait until you are fully, fully, fully well and then get the lung re-evaluated. Talk to your doctor on how long you should wait because this probably does have something to do with your current infection.
Rest and recuperate!
__________________
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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03-20-2009, 04:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands
Posts: 835
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Oh Lisa, I'd be scared too if I were in your shoes. But let's stop and think clearly for a moment. There really are two options: convince yourself that it's probably one of those same old spots. If your onc isn't concerned, there's no reason to hit the panic button. Or talk to your primary doctor about your fears and find out if there are any tests that could possibly show what exactly is going on in there.
I think - although I'm not a doc - that the pneumonia will make it hard to interpret anything right now. So I guess it's better to wait until your pneumonia has cleared up.
A couple of years ago one of my friends was in a big panic. Her husband had had a chest X-ray and their doc was convinced he had lung cancer. They'd just had a baby. After more testing it turned out to be scar tissue from pneumonia he'd had when he was 18. And last year my best friends' new boyfriend was thought to have lungcancer, but it turned out to be scarring from some other rare disease that was just clearing up.
I'm telling you this, because although X-rays are a big help in diagnostics, they also show a lot of "false positives". I think the wait and see approach makes a lot more sense. You have pneumonia and it's responding well to antibiotics. So very likely that's all there is.
Love
Jacqueline
__________________
Diagnosed age 44, January 2004, 0.7 cm IDC & DCIS. Stage 1, grade 3, ER/PR pos. HER2 pos. clear margins, no nodes. SNB. 35 rads. On Zoladex and Armidex since Dec. 2004. Stopped Zoladex/Arimidex sept 2009 Still taking mistletoe shots (CAM therapy) Doing fine.
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03-20-2009, 05:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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One of the many many unfair things about cancer is that we can no longer just get sick like "normal" people. Our first thoughts always go to our worst fear. And with our history, everyone around us (radiologists included) is also hyper-vigilant.
I agree with Becky. Focus on getting well for now, then follow up if needed.
Take care
Chris
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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03-20-2009, 09:29 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
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Lisa,
I agree with Chrisy, we are oncophobic all the time. I also think you should not panic and wait till you feel better. After I got radiation, I developed something like pneumonia and started taking antibiotics and cortison. After some studies done, my doctor told me I had developed lung fibrosis due to radiation. I did panic then, but after some weeks, I started feeling well and started doing my walking again and also swiming. My pneumologist told me I should excersice my lungs and do my daily excersice as walking and keeping active. I feel well and pretty fine now,I would say. I now have a normal life, I would say. Hopefully, there will not be anything serious. Rest a lot and drink many liquids and declare that everything will be fine. God bless you. I send you a big hug.
Paty
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
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03-21-2009, 09:07 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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I must agree with the others. Get well first and then see what if anything needs to be done.
__________________
dx aug 03 invasive dcis 1 cm
er/pr/her2+
bcs 8/4/03
bcs 8/21/03 0/16 nodes
tx 4x ca 36 rad tam
postmenopausal 06 aromasin
sept 07 biopsy node in neck
muga/pet/cat/bone mets to lungs nodes and liver stage iv
tx hki-272
tx not working switched to taxol herceptin
Taxol not working switched to navelbine
navelbine is causing bad neuropathy
starting gemzar
gemzar quit on me now on Ixempra due to increasing number and size of liver mets
another progression starting tykerb/xeloda
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03-23-2009, 09:16 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Lisa, the only thoughts I have is...Hmmmm, what flavor (not scent~haha) candle will I burn as I say prayers for my Dear Lisa tonight?? I am following your journey and you are always just a thought away. Please acept this hug and healing prayers as we await the news that you are over this. Heal well Sweetness and remember that I love you!>>Believe51
PS: I just got a Black Cherry Yankee Candle and it has your name on it......Black Cherry it is!!
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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03-23-2009, 09:46 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bayarea,CA
Posts: 679
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Lisa,
I can understand the fear. I am praying for you and wishing you speedy recovery. I hope they find nothing of concern in the lungs and you are filled with joy.
love,
shobha
__________________
DX: 06-30-2007 - left breast -stage IIIB, Her2/Neu 3+++, ER weakly positive, PR-
Taxol+herceptin weekly for 3 months
FEC+herceptin every 3 weeks for 3 months
BRCA 1 and 2 - Negative
Jan 2008 - Bilateral mastectomy, prophylactic Rt. side.
Radiation for 5 weeks
Completed my yr of herceptin on 07-14-2008
Brain MRI - 3/2/09 Clean
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03-23-2009, 04:04 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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sending healing thoughts and prayers your way!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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03-26-2009, 10:37 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Lisa, wondering how you are feeling and reminding you that you are in continued prayers here in my house.>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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03-26-2009, 10:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
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Thank You
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. I feel 300% better. The anti-biotics kicked in right away and by the weekend I wasn't even coughing anymore. I am due for my six-month scans in April so instead of a chest x-ray I am going to have the CT scan. I am just praying that these come back clean.
You are all so wonderful!
Lisa
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03-26-2009, 11:02 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Let us know when that time comes so I can tribute the day to you. I'll start those prayers now even though I never stopped! Thanks for updating, been thinking about you girl!>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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