nkevorkian

Hi, I had T/C 3 yrs ago- for ER +. Also lost some nails.
Thought my hair would never grow back-feather like fuzz, for a long time. Under arm hair gone, sl on legs-yea!
Brows - just few light hairs. Best part: I had the lady who did my nipple tats at my P S's office tat my brows!
Hair still thin in spots & fine texture. Freq use Nioxin shampoo. I wear hair short & use product 'big sexy hair root boost' before drying. I'm on Letrozole for years- SE is low hair growth.
I figure it is what it is and am thankful for all I do have in my life.
Aren't we glad we have the treatment options our sisters of years past didn't have. Wishing you the best-hugs.

. They may not be closed or need a cleaning. Taxotere does give some people tearing without ruining tear ducts.. But I would go to a specialist and have it checked out. You may be able to eliminate some of the tearing. Once my stents come out I should be ok for good hopefully or a long time! I just have to balance stopping the tearing and dry eye lol.

I cant tell you how relieved I am to read your post on the recurrence rate for Her2 ER & PR negative Stage 2 Breast Cancer that metastasized to my lymph nodes under my left arm and one lymph node behind my chest wall. I was just recently diagnosed in Jan 2015 and I did not ask my doctor about prognosis/recurrence. I was just focusing on doing what I'm told and not looking too much ahead. Just recently saw something on the news about HER2 Breast Ca and decided to look it up on the internet. I was devastated by the survival, reoccurrence and total remission statistics. However I don't think most of the statistics include Herceptin and Perjuta infusions. I'm looking at probably over a year of treatment chemo/surgery/radiation/reconstructive surgery (unless I can get reconstructive surgery when I get the double mastectomy). I'm trying to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead but I find myself crying all the time. Thinking there was a good possibility I would have recurrence and knowing that I would have that forever over my head was making me sick. I have two small children and I want to see them grow up and live a long life. Reading your post gave me hope. I hope these targeted medicines are game changers. I also hope the breast cancer vaccines for HER2 proof successful and will be available in the near future.

Thank you so much for your response. I am also having hair problems. Hopefully, it will grow...my last Herceptin treatment is February 18.

Hi,
Glad you found this site early on. I was a little over half way thru & sure could have used some helpful hints. This is a tough DX but we're tougher!
When I saw the notebook with all the treatments ahead of me, I was overwhelmed. Now near 2 years out, I am beginning to forget some of the details. Please know I'm here, as others are, to answer any & all questions you may have. (or just complain). If you need something, just contact me. All the best, hugs, Barb

My thyroid took a "glancing" blow from radiation so I now have low thyroid and thin hair. It seems most folks have a normal return of their hair. Hang in there.

Thinking of you, hoping for a speedy recovery!!!

I'm not sure what my holistic dr. would say. . he would probably tell you to do the herceptin therapy and then focus on the immune system. He's not against traditional medicine, (he actually has worked with some oncologists at John Hopkins), I went to see him when I was on the fence about doing chemo. Brought all my research to him and he showed me more data and we discussed. Since you are ER/PR negative I don't believe a recommendation of hormone therapy is in your future (not 100% certain). There has to be some good holistic drs in St. Pete's that can properly guide you. Until you find one, just do everything possible to build your immune system. As my holistic dr. says - wellness is not a part time job !

The very best wishes to you for tomorrow, nkevorkian. I'll be thinking of you and sending prayers your way.

Best wishes tomorrow...praying for sure and steady hands for your surgeon and a quick and easy recovery for you. God bless!

Saw your post on the healing time after mastectomy question and just wanted to wish you luck on your surgery tomorrow. . . .so good luck and best wishes for the procedure and for recovery! : )

I wrote this summary for a friend a couple years ago...Hope it helps you.

I believe every case is different and treatments can vary greatly. That said...I will share w/ you my diagnosis and then what I was treated with. Started with 1 lump in my breast which I could easily feel...no pain or discomfort..(.just terror). within a short time... 2 months...another lump right next to it. Nov 2007 - I went to Dr...many tests. Yes..cancer. 2 biopsies turned into lumpectomies as surgeon said they came out easily and intact. Sounded like a good thing...BUT-- Pet Scan showed cancer had already spread to liver (2 tumors...1 the size of an orange) and 2 others on (not in) my spine. DX: Breast cancer; invasive ductal cancer, metastasized (that means has spread to other organs). ER+, PR+, Her2 neu (or +) not sure now as my notes said 2 dif things. Chemo was started immediately even tho it was the holidays...they said it was very urgent...no point in mastectomy (which had already been planned) as it had already spread. I was actually happy about this...not realizing just then how serious it was to be stage IV. I had a port put in to save my veins and it worked very well...it was comfortable and no problems thru-out treatments. Dr prescribed Emend to stop nausea...I had none! Really...absolutely NO nausea. I'm the only one I ever heard of that managed that. I followed directions exactly and drank lots of extra water day before, day of, and day after treatments. I always ate a little (like 1/2 a cheese sandwich) before each treatment. I seriously felt just fine after treatments. We usually went out for a light dinner on the way home. I was way more tired than usual but still kept working as I needed to focus on that to keep from ....well, you know...thinking too much about it. Just slept lots extra.
Treatments: 1st: CA= Cytoxin and Andriomycin (the red one) 4 treatments 3 weeks apart.( My hair was gone w/in 10 days of 1st treatment...even tho I knew it was gonna happen...it was still very traumatic when it fell out by handfuls in the shower.)
2nd: TH= Taxol and Herceptin Both weekly for 12 weeks with the Herceptin continuing for a full year...once a week. The Herceptin is a targeted therapy that mostly only attacks cancer cells...so not so many side effects going on. Altho they had to repeatedly test heart for problems that can be caused by it.
I was tested pretty much every 3 months throughout the chemo process (cat scans & mugas of heart), blood tests with every treatment....and a few days afterwards. The testing gets farther apart the longer you go after treatments are done. At 4 years clear I am still scheduled to have cat scans every 6 months....not sure how long that might go on. I get very tense every retest...rest of the time I don't think much about it at all anymore.
My Dr says I should stay on the Arimidex (one tiny pill a day) 'forever' as it blocks the estrogen which fed my type of cancer. It was too strong for me (extreme vaginal dryness and hand and foot discomfort that didn't let me sleep) So now I take a half pill religiously and seem to be doing well with that. (Dr does not approve of this 1/2 pill...but I couldn't do the whole pill. We do what we gotta do. I'm very grateful to my doctor and the treatments that brought me through this. I try to really do the things I enjoy and spend as much good time with my family and grandkids as I can. Did change my attitude about life some...I don't fret about any 'little' things anymore....they don't matter in the big picture after going thru this. I hope your treatments will go as well as mine and would love for you to stay in touch. Feel free to ask me anything!
Continued...


ADDENDUM--April 2014: Now I am at 6 1/2 years post diagnosis and officially 5 years clear. I would jump for joy at this, except that doctor told me a stage IV can never really be considered 'cancer free'. That one hit me hard. But despite that...life is pretty good and I am so grateful to still be here. Means so much to me that my husband was so supportive of me and went with me to just about every Dr appt and treatment. And then, that I was still here to be with him when he needed me (he died last year). In the years since my diagnosis I have seen two of my children happily married and welcomed 3 new grandchildren. That is a lot of livin' !!
I still see oncologist twice year and he does blood tests. Mammograms once a year. Cat scans of Chest/Abdomen/Pelvis/Brain once a year now. Still nerve wracking!!

Leslie48240 (I was 62 when this all started...and otherwise healthy & active)

Just read some of your posts below.....you are lucky to get Perjeta, I missed that cut-off by a month

What stage of your treatment are you at now?

Hi. Looks like we are at the same spot. I was diagnosed about a month ago and will start chemo on Thursday. I am 49. It has been quite the roller coaster ride! I have learned more than I ever wanted to know! I will keep you in my prayers.

Hi @nkevorkian, my name is Kari or Kmack927 on here. I have the same stage and type of cancer as you. I finished all my treatments in August, now just going thru the reconstruction phase. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Hey there. I read down at the bottom you have your next treatment this Friday? 1/31? I hope and pray it goes well and you can manage any side effects (like nausea) by taking the anti-nausea med. One thing that is key is to try hard to drink plenty of water each day. That is on top of other liquids you may take in. You want to flush the chemo out cause the longer it hangs around it can sure mess with your kidneys. Do you go back the day after chemo and get fluids and perhaps the Neulasta shot? I got those shots and they must have done what they were supposed to; help build up your white cells. I'm also in FL (Orlando). Are you going to Moffitt? (not sure how to spell it; think it's in Tampa area) I hope things go well for you.. I had cytoxin and taxotere. My surgery followed after 6 weeks. Recovery from that and then did my 33 radiation treatments. I'll respond if you have any questions or just want to talk. Gladly. God Bless…. Janstar47- FL

Hello...you will find lots of information, experience and support here...please let us know how we can help...a few suggestions and things to remember : 1) BREATHE 2) try to bring someone to your appointments as there is sooooo much discussed that an extra set of ears is always a good thing 3) get a binder that you can section off...I did one for reports, referrals, Leave of Absence and work, phone numbers, etc....that way I had everything in one place and organized for easy reference 4) BREATHE 5) I promise it will get better when you have a plan of action in place and know the steps you will start to take on your journey...5) you will never be alone as long as you have all of us. 6) BREATHE 7) find something to laugh about every day, release those endorphins 8) be sure you are getting enough sleep, if fear and anxiety is keeping you awake, ask for something to help you sleep...
I am sending along best wishes, blessings and a sincere welcome...visit often!

Hello and welcome, we are glad you found us. 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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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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