Please Help Me

Andrea07

Please Help Me

Andrea07

Hello, I am a 40 year old mom who was just dx in Oct.(07) and I'm Her2 + and ER+, 1.8cm tumor, IDC, and 1 node involved.  I have had one treatment of taxotere, carboplatin, and herceptin....................and I'm sick with worry.   I will have surgery either lump or mas after treament. 

 It seems like all I read is how her2 will cause a recurrence and I'm losing my mind with worry.   I haven't even made it through this initial battle yet and my mind is playing out getting dx again later.   I keep thinking of a few girls that I knew of who passed away from bc and wonder if they were Her2, also. 

Oh, please help me relax and trust that this her 2+ isn't necessarily a "death sentence".   Maybe it's because I'm so new into this journey, but I'm just over the top with worry.   I have two small children (ages 6 and 3) and keep looking at them wondering if I'll be here to see them grow. 

Thanks so much for any advice.

Andrea

maryannecb

Hi Andrea, calm yourself. The first few months are the worst for being afraid.

The early studies have shown that Herceptin is well and truly helping us Her2 women. On top of that you are ER+, lots of useful drugs await you.

It is normal to feel panic at this stage. As time passes, you will feel more confidence in your plan and your coping will get better. Many women can experience depression though so if you do not start to rally your mind, getting help for that is a good idea.

Clearly Herceptin has been a breakthrough drug and hopefully we will continue to benefit from its use.

Fists up!

Mary-Anne

Diana1993

Dear Andrea,

I was dx in 1993 and have had a mastectomy, chemo 2x and radiation. ( also tested positive for herceptin but was not informed until two years ago, simply because there was no treatment available at the time) I'm still on this journey and it changes constantly but the best advice i received was stay positive.  Now that is not easy, but concentrate on what matters, your family, friends and accept the love that is all around you.  Believe, and it will happen for you.  Today I hit another roadblock and with a few phone calls a new treatment is coming together for me.  This is a great site, and also join her2.org to receive informed help.  Ask and it is there.

cath52

Andrea,

Hello, I am a 52 year old Mom and Grandma and understand totally where you are at. I also was dx with medullary  with Her2++ pr-er- Feb. 06. Right now for you it is very scary but keep researching and talking on this site and you will find many women in your shoes. Also a site I found ;www.her2support.com. It has become a mainstay for me lately. I wish I had found it when I was going through treatment. Lots of women there who  are survivors to talk to. I know they say our type is not good but every day new things are being discovered and only God knows our future. I thought the same as you when first diagnosed about my grandchildren remembering me and me seeing my youngest daughter married but I have come to rest in the fact that each day is a new day and God is in control. It has really put to rest my fears for the future. Hopefully I have helped in some way.

Cathy

cath52

Andrea,

Sorry I wrote the wrong web address. ITs www.her2support.org.

Cathy

kcq

Dont worry too much.  you need your strength to fight.  Herceptin is great to keep your cancer from recurring.  Hang in there--it is a rough road and  you will need your strength to travel it; dont use your strength to image what may or may not happen.  There are many, many wonderful, strong women who have traveled this road and find themselves on the other side.  You will be one of those women who can give you advice and support.  Hold your head high even on the days when you dont feel like it.  love to you

DebbieB

Hi Andrea,

I understand exactly where you are.  I can remember the anxiety I experienced when I learned I was HER+.  I would have given anything to hear from a long term survivor and it was very difficult to find them.  It's not because they do not exist.  It's just they have only started routinely testing for HER+ in the past 6-7 years.  Plus only about 25% of us are HER+.  When I was dx'd you couldn't find ANYTHING good about being HER+.   

I was dx'd 6 years ago and here I am still NED.  Plus I have never had herceptin because back then it was only offered to Stage 4 ladies.  I only had 4 rounds of AC chemo.

So hang in there.  With each day, each week, each month, it will get easier!  It is not an automatic death sentence.  You can live to see your babies grow up!

Debbie

nitewind

I remember the anxiety very well. when my surgeon told me the news, he said "The bad news is that you are Her2+ and the great news is that you're Her2+" needless to say, I was confused. But he was so excited about this drug called Herceptin. He said that it was working so well in blind trials that they felt it was unethical not to give it to the women who were just taking the placebo. This is a breakthrough drug and now it's being followed by Tykerb. They're doing so much research, maybe we are the lucky ones to be Her2+.

Take a couple of deep breaths and most importantly try not to research to much on Her2. Most of the info out there is pre herceptin.

I had chemo, a/c and taxotere, radiation and I just finished a year of herceptin last Friday. Please do visit the her2support forum, The ladies there have taught me so much in this last year and a half and they are the sweetest bunch you'll ever meet.

Keep a good outlook and never give up, you'll do just fine.

Hugs

Susan