barbdee

Hi Barb. You mentioned in your post to one of my questions that you were not using hormone blockers. May I ask why? Everyone's situation is different depending on what all they've gone through, what their doctor recommends and what their belief system might be. I did not have rad and will not have to go through chemo. I see my oncologist next week for the first time and want to be prepared as possible to talk with him intelligently about my options. Thanks, Sharlie.

Thank you Barb, for sending me a message. Your message comes in a timely manner as I'm laying in bed not feeling good after my third chemo infusion. It's so hard to stay upbeat knowing that I have three more chemo infusions to go, herceptin for a year, surgery, radiation and reconstructive surgery. I just want to feel normal again and have my precancer life back.
Can you believe you are almost 2 years out? I hope your mind and body has fully recovered. Your encouragement is so much appreciated.

Hi Barbdee,
I noticed you recently responded to a post regarding follow up care after completing breast cancer treatments. I have stage 3 Her 2 positive breast cancer. I started chemo treatments in January of 2014, and had a double mastectomy in May of 2014.
I then continued with the full chemo regimen until August 2014.
I am presently receiving only Herceptin every three weeks until March of 2015. I will then be done with all my treatments for the cancer. I completed 33 rounds of radiation also. I had 24 lymph nodes removed, and 5 tested positive for cancer.
I asked my Oncologist what the chances were of the cancer returning, and she said they had no way of telling. She stopped all blood draws in August because she said I would no longer need them. I last seen her on 12/11/14 and I do not see her again until 6/11/15. She said they do no testing to watch for the return of cancer unless we have symptoms. I am so stressed worrying about the cancer coming back that my primary care physician recently had to put me on blood pressure pills due to high blood pressure. I never had a blood pressure problem until all of these issues relating to my breast cancer started. I was just wondering because your post said, you have a 50 % chance of the cancer returning. I find it hard to trust what my doctor says at times because in July of 2014 I had an scan done on my heart because the herceptin can cause issues with the heart muscle. It was noted on the scan in July that I had a blood clot in the right atrium of my heart. My Oncologist did not inform me of this until October 2014. I have been on Coumedan every since then and there is no change yet in the blood clot except that it is embedded in the wall of the right atrium. I would appreciate it if you could offer me some advice. Thanks, Nancy

Thanks for the hug!

Sorry Barbdee.
Didn't realize I was bothering people.
I'll stop....AGAIN...I'm sorry....NO offense meant.
Good Luck to you.
Barry

Hey, I just read your response to someone's question and in it you mentioned you could eat grapefruit all day. Just thought you should know it was in the cure magazine this spring that grapefruit interacts with numerous drugs one of them being Herceptin. So I asked my oncologist about it because it came out after I had finished my hard chemo and my husband and I were enjoying the fact that I could eat fresh fruits and veggies again and he said it was ok to eat in small amounts. I hope you don't think I was being nosy I just wanted you to be aware.

When I went in for routine mammogram in October, I had never known anyone with breast cancer... really!! I am 66 years old, and naturally knew about it, but didnt REALLY know anything about it. I had/have no symptoms... except a small lump that I couldnt feel. It was a "shadow" on the xray... thanks to a observant lady manning the mammogram machine that day!! The lumpectomy surgery was easy... the sensitivity under my arm still persists weeks later; I put vaseline all over under my arm, it seems to help.. can't imagine if I would have had all lymph nodes removed.. .did you??? Am a little nervous about starting chemo ... but I am retired, and except for having to cancel my Florida trip in February, have nothing I have to show up for... LOL.

Don't know if I will feel like hosting xmas with my two sons and 7 grandkids... will have to wait and see.

Would like to have a penpal...thanks.. Sheila

Hi, thank you so much for your message! Last week was the first time I was able to pull out a copy of my initial biopsy report and was shocked to find that it listed both lobular and ductal on it. I have a very strong recollection of my dr telling me that it was lobular and not saying anything about ductal so I am confused. I will see my radiation oncologist again in a few weeks and will ask her to give me a copy of the pathology report from my mastectomy.

Hi,
I would like to keep in touch with you. I too had a HER+ breast cancer, and am almost done with my year of Herceptin. Hope you're doing well.

Hello...glad you found us...this site is filled with people who have a wealth of experience, knowledge and support to offer you...please let us know what we can do to help you. Welcome

Welcome to the site. I think that you will find this a friendly place to come when you need to sound off or vent from anger. We are all here to listen and help, if we can, because at some point and time in each of our lives we have been in your situation. Please don't be afraid to ask questions either. No question on this site is silly or dumb. We all have questions we would like other opinions on or answers to. There are so many nice people here that it has helped me get through my fears I had when I was DX'd with DCIS. Good luck in the future.

I'm sorry you have to go through this experience again. I'm 68 and just finished my radiation in Sept. I consider myself lucky that I only had a lumpectomy, and have to believe that my Cancer is gone for good. You hang in there bar dee and we will be here to encourage you. God Bless

Welcome to the site. I think that you will find this a friendly place to come when you need to sound off or vent from anger. We are all here to listen and help, if we can, because at some point and time in each of our lives we have been in your situation. Please don't be afraid to ask questions either. No question on this site is silly or dumb. We all have questions we would like other opinions on or answers to. There are so many nice people here that it has helped me get through my fears I had when I was DX'd with DCIS. Good luck in the future.

Welcome to the site. I think that you will find this a friendly place to come when you need to sound off or vent from anger. We are all here to listen and help, if we can, because at some point and time in each of our lives we have been in your situation. Please don't be afraid to ask questions either. No question on this site is silly or dumb. We all have questions we would like other opinions on or answers to. There are so many nice people here that it has helped me get through my fears I had when I was DX'd with DCIS. Good luck in the future.

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. Your experience as a survivor is valuable to those who are just starting their journey. You can help by answering a few questions. Please feel free to join in the conversations. Here is a link to our cancer dx page for your type of cancer. Take a look at it to get you started on some information. You will notice at the bottom of that page 4 of our active users who have had that journey already, you may wish to contact them for their experience and wisdom. Also, I encourage you to go to the questions page now by clicking on the questions tab at the top of the page and post what is the most pressing issue you have right now. This will introduce you to the community and get you started on the help you need right now.

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Team WhatNext Community Mgr.

Welcome to the WhatNext family! The WhatNext family is made up of people like you who are looking for help or looking to help others. To help you along your journey the WhatNext family has put together a Beginner's Guide to Cancer that I highly recommend you check-out here: http://bit.ly/10BQKCi. Also, please do not hesitate to reach out to others or ask for help.

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David
Founder, WhatNexter

Hi barbdee, I too did the carboplatin/taxotere/herceptin combo. I also have neuropathy issues and agree it is too nasty to consider later in life. I am interested in info on your trial. I did a vaccine trial with few issues. To this day I am not sure what it was suppose to actually do but I think it bought me a peppy year. Take care. Lin, a displaced Californian.

Welcome to the site.

Thanks for "following" me...please let me know if I can do anything for you...have a good week.

Hello...please let us know what we can do to help you on your journey...there is a wealth of information, experience and support here...welcome.