In the mushy middle - Different Dr. opinions

Onehalf

Hi,

I think I might fit into this catergory....

Had a lumpectomy on September 30th. Surgery and recovery went really well. That damn drainage tube was my only problem as my bra band ran across where the drainage tube came out. Once that came out I felt normal again.....

Met with the Onco. on Wednesday October 8th. I will be getting Chemo on November 5th.(Radiation when Chemo is over) Both my surgeon and oncologist have both used the phrase that I will be getting "light chemo".....I know, I know....chemo is chemo. My "cocktail" will be Taxtotere / Cytoxan.

 As far as feelings....I'm ok with all this. To me it is just another part of life. I am grateful that I do have the chances that I do have. I believe that healing begins in the mind...so that is why I do have a sense of humor about some of the things I will be facing....like baldness....I have already informed my husband that he will get the opportunity to be with another women....does he want a blonde, or redhead ( I am a brunette). Also I have informed my family that this year for Thanksgiving I will be serving Ham, as I do not want them to get me confused with theTurkey (cause I will have a bald head by then).

I do have worries and fears.....Wondering what my side effects will be like. Truthfully I have read over some of the information given on this site, but when I sense someone is posting in the negative....I do skip over what they are saying, like I said healing begins in the mind. I do tend to heal quickly and easy, so I am hoping for not such a hard time with side effects, but I am also realistic....so if things happen then I will just deal with it when it comes up....

My other fear ( one of my biggest) balancing my BC and still working. I want to be at work as much as I can. I love my job. I work with small children. I have support at work, but also this is the real world.....if you're not there, they need someone. And too many times of not being there is not in your favor ( no matter what the laws say) I also need to work as much as I can for my own mental.....I am not a stay at home type of person. Besides as I always joke, what is a better job then "getting paid to play"

I hope I am not being unrealistic....I have the vision, of working, taking the Chemo days off (hopefully scheduled on Thurs) taking Friday off if needed, having the weekend to recover....then start the new week. Until next treatment.(Which I believe are every 3 weeks) What is your experiences or opinions?

Denise

jill323

Cristl -

 Hi !  Welcome to the mushy middle ladies !  Indeed your story sounds very similar to all the folks here.   I definitely hear you on the being scared part.  I am with you on that one. 

Your story sounds amazingly like my own - lots of DCIS, but small nasty IDC tumor (Her 2+++).  Also they tell me I am relatively young (43).    They tend to be more aggressive with younger folks because the chance for recurrence can be higher. 

That said, if it makes you feel any better, I am encouraged to find out my onc. landed exactly where yours did - Taxol and Herceptin.   With all the research I did on the drugs, this was one of the nicer combinations in terms of lack of potential longer term side effects, especially in the areas of a) shutting down ovaries, and b) heart toxicity.  I suspect that your doc recommended this regimen for this reason and because herceptin (which is not yet indicated without chemo) can be a real positive !   This is the only benefit of having your cancer being Her2+++.

Personally, I went through the same wrangling you are doing now about the chemo thing.  But, eventually relented when I realized this was this and herceptin were the strongest thing in the arsenal to keep it from coming back.  I was glad my onc.'s went for the lightest regimen possible.  (I call it "chemo light" given the supposedly small size of my tumor (see posts above).

However, I will tell you that there will be a lot of oncologists out there reluctant to treat a tumor of less than 0.5 cm with chemo, especially if the patient is highly ER/PR positive (I was not).   Accordingly, you may want to ask your oncologist to model your recurrence risk in Adjavant ! taking into account your ER status and dimensionalize what chemo buys you.  However, they cannot yet model herceptin in Adjuvant.   So, this is something that will give you an additional benefit beyond chemo that cannot be modeled at this time.  However, at least you would be able to see the baseline as to what chemo buys you vs. not.    In other words, ask your oncologist what your recurrence risk would look like if you took chemo vs. just taking the meds.   It will then be your call (a very personal one) as to what you want to do in terms of risk/benefit.  But, remember in the end, it is your call.   

The pregnancy question adds a whole different dimension I cannot really help with.   I know there have been cases of successful pregnancy after chemo, but I am not expert enough to help with that one.   Ladies - Anyone out there deal with that ?

Jill  

jill323

Hey, Denise !

Welcome, and I love the attitude !   Your description of getting the drainage tube out cracked me up because I had the exact same issue.  The surgeon thought I was nuts for complaining about that particular thing, but I also got the damn thing out as soon as I could.

I am another person who loves my job.  I have been very open with my co-workers and employees about my situation, putting them on notice that there would be "up days and down days" and would appreciate their patience on the "down days".   They have been great so far.

 For me, work has been a bit of blessing through this not because I am a work aholic or anything like that.   But, rather, it has been a great distraction and a challenge.  It gets my mind off of other things.   I am more energized at work right now than I have been for years as a result.

However, I am just entering the chemo thing too.  I am planning on taking it on Wed. because some of the ladies that proceeded me told me taking it on Wed. meant it hit them on the week-end (when I can be "cared for").   I guess both of us will find out.   Let's commiserate at the right time on this !

Jill

P.S. I am going to use the "blond or brunette" line with my husband !  Hilarious.  I already told him that it will give us something else in common to commiserate about, but I like your line better!

Onehalf

Jill-

Thanks for the info.

One problem, my ER/PR, etc...were all negative. I am not yet clear on understanding this information....all I understand that this is not what the docs would like to see, as I can not be treated with Hormonal (spelling is wrong) drugs.

This was why part of the balance was for me to do Chemo.

By doing the treatment of Chemo will move that margin of % to 6%, which is not a huge number, except for as the oncologist explained that I am YOUNG at 48 years, and I have "decades" to live.

As you mentioned above about pregnancy.....LOL not a worry for me, My youngest is 23 years old, and my husband has had the snipped job. So if I get pregnant then I have bigger problems ahead LOL, LOL!

Mocity

Hi Jill,

 Thank you so much for your resonse.  Indeed it sounds like we are pretty similar.  AND I am somewhat relieved to hear your Onc had somewhat the same plan with Taxol and Herceptin.  He has suggested I do this weekly for 12 weeks instead of every three weeks.  After reading and reading I am/was getting nervous that most have the AC and then the Taxol so I was starting to worry I should be planning on doing that as well????  I am praying MD Anderson will get me in sooner than later for a 2nd opinion.  I feel confident in my Doc but feel a 2nd opinion would be the smart thing.  BUT I am worried that I need to get it started and maybe shouldn't wait. 

I work full time and am worried how this is going to affect that.  I keep telling myself the worst of it will be for 12 weeks.  My Onc is telling me that I will be fine to work even putting the example that he has pediatric eye surgeons that do the treatment adn still go to work and maintain fairly normal schedules.  I like your Wed idea.  I was thinking Thursday.

Ugh, this is so much to process.  This weekend my cousins went with me to my hairdresser who measured my head!  As a gift he is getting me a "hair system".  I am still fairly unclear what this is but he is assuring me that he has used this with other chemo clients of his.  I am blessed to have people like this around me and I do know that.  I am just pretty uncomfortable from my BLM and feel so "out of sorts" right now.  I can't imagine walking around with these rocks on my chest and then that on my head.  I guess I will get use to it all but right now it is so overwhelming.  I want to have a good attitude about that but can't seem to adjust.

Everyone take care! Cristl

jill323

Cristal -

Hi again !  I would ask your onc. about the AC thing.  At first my onc. recommended that (I swear she was going to throw the book at me), but she backed off after a second oncologist (that my first one sent me to - a doc. asking for a second opinion!), backed her off given the size of my tumor.   Basically, the issue we both have is do they treat small or do they treat aggressive (Her 2+)?  In my case, I did not care to be extreme either way.    The Taxol plus Herceptin appeared to be a nice "middle ground" given the case, and where I suspect your onc. netted out on his own.   And honestly, the only reason I even agreed to the Taxol in the first place is because I wanted the herceptin, which is only clinically proven in a setting that contains any chemo. 

Now... the first thing you need to realize is that there is NO right answer, which I found really exasperating.  It took me forever to get that.   It will come down to a personal call - how much benefit do you get for how much risk.    As for a second opinion - this is always a good thing as it will give you more data on the table.  And getting it is worth the time.   However, just realize that it will drag this thing out (which nearly made me craazy), but worth it if you need that information to make an informed decision.   From what I understand, you are not risking more than your "mental health" at this point to get that second opinion.    I will tell you, however, that it appears your current onc. has found a "middle ground" given your situation as what he is offering is not "typical".   And as you are ER/PR +, that will play to your favor as well, which is probably also factoring in his recommendation for this "middle ground".  

Anyway, I have talked with LOTS of women who have worked through chemo.  Yes, it is challenging.   But, the thing that I have found to be quite an enabler is being very up front with people - not using this as an excuse but rather as an expecation setter.  I am the boss for a lot of folks where I work.  So, not being clear as to what they can expect would not work as a lot of them count on me.  However, I also was clear with my managers and they have also been quite good about it.   I plan to play this by ear.  The thing that has really gotten in the way is the expectation to travel, which I usually do a fair amount.   So far, though, I have been able to mitigate this.   

Finally, yes - it is a LOT to process.   Your hairdresser thing sounds great !  I think I may call mine as well.  But, you sound like an amazingly strong woman.   Do what you can, get as much info as possible - BUT ask for help when you need it !  That last part is the hardest part for us independent types to do, but I am finding that to be critical.

Take care, and let us know where you come out !

Jill

  

swimangel72

Cristi definitely go for the second opinion - also be sure to get a second opinion on the pathology itself. You can request to have the tissue from your mastectomy sent to another laboratory - this really will give you peace of mind before starting treatment. You could enlist the help of your current oncologist to hasten things along...........a good oncologist won't refuse your request for a second opinion either in the pathology report or in getting an appointment with another onc, especially if he is insisting you start treatment right away. Doctors know doctors - and have friends within their own fields - so pick your onc's brain and tell him politely but assertively you need his help in getting second opinions NOW! 

I know how scary it is to hear that you need chemo after going through so much surgery - I was so depressed when I first found out - but after encouragement from the women here at bc.org, I just gritted my teeth and jumped right in. There are other women your age going through the same thing, so I hope they will respond to you. For me, my lowest emotional point was the mediport placement - but the 4 months went fast - and now I'm on Herceptin alone which isn't causing me any SEs at all. If you haven't done so yet, check out www.her2support.org for more information about Her2+ breast cancer and treatment options. Good luck and hang in there!

bluedasher

Cristal, your IDC was very small. The A in AC may damage the heart and has a small risk (< 1%) of leukemia. My IDC was bigger than yours - about 0.8 cm and I didn't feel that for me the benefit from AC-T chemo would be big enough to justify the risk.

I decided to do Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin, TCH, which doesn't carry those long term risks. Herceptin can hurt the heart too, but it is different because the heart recovers from that damage after Herceptin is stopped.

Another issue if you do AC-TH is that if the Adriamycin reduces your heart function too much you won't be able to take Herceptin in the next phase and you lose a powerful tool against your cancer cells.

I expect that the Taxol and Herceptin your doctor proposes is a good choice for you, but if you wanted to do a heavier chemo, you might avoid AC and do something like TCH instead.

Jill, my job involves travel too. I travel to meetings of people from across my industry and at some of the meetings I have a leadership role. I was able to schedule my chemo so most of the meetings fall during the third week of the cycles when they tell me side effects will be least. I do have a back-up plan for who should lead my group if I'm not there.

Hi OneHalf - Welcome to the murky middle! It makes decisions about chemo hard, but that is because they caught our cancers early and our risk of recurrence and mortality is low. 

Mocity

HI All,

Thanks so much for the wonderful responses.  I am set to go for a second opinion next week at MD Anderson here in Houston.  However, I feel in my heart I will stay with my Onc at Baylor.  His NP is top rate and he is as well.  My Dad is at MDA and it is a wonderful place so I want to get their opinion.  I believe it would be a much  more personalized attention over at Baylor.  Who knows... we will see.  Second opinions seem great if they are the same as the first one.  If not, more confusion I guess.... Thnanks again to all that responded to me.  Take care, Cristl

jill323

So, Cristl -

Any news yet on your situation ?   Not trying to be nosy, but wondering how it worked out for you.

Jill

jill323

Hey ladies !

I have been trolling the site this morning.   Day three into my first chemo and starting to wonder about this working and chemo thing.   I cannot even imagine being effective at work the way I feel right now. 

Anyway, the first treatment ended up happening on Thursday instead of Wednesday due to my doc being behind.  Taxol is one that they have to give real SLOWLY given the risk of allergic reaction.   I was at the treatment center for about 5 hours that day.   The taxol alone took almost 4 hours, and I was pretty much out of it at the end due to the amount of alcohol they use to administer this drug (so, yes, I was basically drunk).    They told me the next one can go quicker now that I have one under my belt. 

The next day, I felt a little woozy and shaky but pretty well.  I did go into work but had to leave at mid day to get the Neulasta shot (gosh, that was fun).    I managed to get some work done and even attended a conference call after the Neulasta shot.    However, on Saturday, this thing began hitting full force.  Honestly, I think it is the Neulasta shot more than the chemo driving this.   My back and joints ached, and I was incredibly fatigued - very lethargic.   Today is much the same.  I don't feel like doing much of anything and feel very shaky.   Also getting a lot of muscle and joint aches - my back and abdomen are killing me!  That said, all the meds they gave me appears to be warding off the really nasty side effects like nausea/vomiting.  It feels like World War 3 is happening inside my body.   

That said, I cannot even imagine feeling like working if I feel like I do now.  Honestly, I think I would be in the way more than useful at this point.   I hope I turn a corner tomorrow.    Will let you know.

Jill

Mocity

Hi Jill,

I am going to MD Anderson tomorrow for my 2nd opinion.  If I stay with my current doc and plan I will start the taxol/herceptin next week and go weekly for 12 weeks and then every 3 weeks for the herceptin after that for a year.

I am sad (and scared) to hear how bad the Taxol is treating you.  I work full time too.  Yikes!

Cristl

jill323

Hi Cristal -

Best of luck with your appointment tomorrow !   If you are up to it, please let us know where you come out.

Sorry to scare you with the Taxol thing.   In all honesty, it is bothersome, but doable.   I am sure to turn a corner soon.  This is why I scheduled to be "down' on the week ends - so I can grouse about it and recover for the work week !    Turns out my husband is an excellent care giver.  Yet another reason to be down on the week ends.    The day after the chemo was not really that bad.  It did not hit me until the week end.  

That said, everybody reacts differently, and I am an unapologetic wimp.   But, hanging in here relatively well.   I am glad (so far) not to have had some of the really bad side effects.   The docs really loaded me up to prevent that.   

In any case, I will be fine.  Just keeping my mind on the end game, which is to fight this little monster.   That is what is important.

Jill

Mocity

Hi Jill,

I will definately let you know what they say.  I am nervous because I am sure it will be different and then I will have to make those decision.  Ugh!

I am so nervous.  I was thinking I would get the treatments on a Thursday, go to work on Friday and hopefully rest up over the weekend?  Weekly sure seems like a lot of work but I guess worth it.  My Doc told me the first time is much longer than the following 11 so I guess that is in line with what you said.   I need to get this all worked out at my office and get a plan in place.  My Onc told me he has surgeons that do this treatment and work the whole time.  I can't imagine and I haven't even started. 

I hope you feel better.  I hope it isn't like that for your every week.  Did your doc mention when you would lose your hair?  Mine said 7-14 days.  I am so freaked out about it.

I need to get a better attitude about this.  Sometimes I think I need to get off the internet and hope for the best.  I too need to keep my mind on the end game and just getting this over with.

I think you are the only one I have "connected with" that is doing taxol/herceptin without the AC.    Have you had a mastectomy?  Maybe I missed it above... I am 6 weeks out and will be starting my "fills".  I think I will have to go the day of my chemo to make this all work out from my job standpoint.  I might do those every other week or something like that.

I will be thinking about you and hoping you feel better and better.

Take care, Cristl 

bluedasher

Hi Jill, since it seems to be the bone ache Neulastin side effects that are the problem, perahps you could ask your doctor whether you really need it. The doctors seem divided - some give it as a matter of course and some wait to see how blood counts are without it and only add as needed. Neupogen is a milder solution that doesn't boost counts as much and may need several doses but has less strong side effects.

I'm kind of worried about being over medicated for side effects and then medicated more for the additional side effects of the side effect medication so I'm glad my doctor takes a wait and see path regarding Neupogen and Neulastin.

jill323

Hi, Bluedasher -

Good luck on your treatment tomorrow ! 

In my case, I am pretty sure these aches are primarily due to the Neulasta because my back started aching in earnest a few hours after taking the shot.  And between us and this board, I was kind of wondering why I had to have it because my blood work already showed I had high white counts.   Unfortunately, because my treatment was delayed a day, I could not ask the doc about this in real time (i.e. did not know about it until too late).  Will definitely ask her next time.

As for the other side effects - I am usually one that avoids medicine at all costs.   In fact, before my diagnosis,  I only took a multi vitamin regularly.    However, I am very body aware.   This might sound strange, but after the chemo, I was grateful for the side effect medications that they loaded me up with because I could almost feel them trying to come on - particularly the nausea.  However, the meds did a nice job counteracting it.   Also, Taxol is one drug that can have some severe allergic reactions.   So, I was also grateful with the caution and care for preventing allergic reaction.   In addition to the preventative meds, they watched me like a hawk during treatment and also called me the next day to grill me with questions!

In any case, good luck with your treatment tomorrow !  I wish you all the best.  Let us know how it works for you.

Jill

bluedasher

Yes, I'm quite willing to let them load me up with what they feel is needed to prevent allergic reactions and nausea. I'm a wimp about nausea and allergic reactions can be such severe things.

Anyway, I've had steroids in the past for allergy issues and my body always tolerated them well.

It is just when I hear that some doctors are giving something very strong as a matter of course and others say they only give it based on test results and haven't usually found it needed with certain chemos, then I'd rather not get it unless testing shows I need it. My baseline white counts were also at the higher end of the normal range. 

jill323

Cristl -

Sorry I missed you over the past couple of days.  I hope everything went well with your appointment.  

As for my situation, I am happy to report that on Monday evening I finally turned a corner in terms of enegy and am feeling a lot better.    I could almost feel my energy seeping back in.   I had my chemo last Thursday and worked half a day Friday (in the morning) prior to getting the Neulasta shot.   I was pretty much zapped of energy (i.e. very fatigued) with a lot of bone aches over the week end, and managed half a day at work on Monday.  Finding I am better in the morning.    Took a nap in the afternoon and felt a lot better Monday night.  Today I actually managed a full day of work - and it was productive !    It actually felt good to work.  I still have some joint aches, but the nagging fatigue is not there right now.   I am probably a little more tired than usual, but it is manageable.  So far (knock on wood), I have been able to avoid a lot of the really severe side effects.

As far as "hair loss" goes, my onc. says it will start thinning in about 7-14 days (same as yours).  I have notice that my scalp is starting to itch a bit.    Whether I lose it all or not on this particular regimen is yet to be seen - some people do and some do not.    I am taking Taxol/Herceptin every three weeks (still negotiating rounds), but it is a "higher" dose than the weekly regimen (Herceptin has to be dosed carefully - either smaller doses weekly or bigger doses spead out).  I opted for higher junk less often.  

I had a lumpectomy, so after chemo it is off to radiation for six weeks and then just Herceptin every three weeks for a total of one year's time.   Seems so far away right now.  

In any case, feel free to log on and "vent" any time !  We all need this.   In the meantime, I am feeling a lot better about being able to handle work with this than I was over the week end.  I am even planning some travel to Europe (for business) with my onc.'s blessing.  Just a matter of getting it planned right (hope I am not being too ambitious). 

Let us know where you come out !

Jill

Mocity

Jill,  I am more confused than ever about my "second opinion" today...... Can I email you?

jill323

By all means. I will send you a private message with my e-mail address.   I hope my experience can benefit you. 

Jill

jill323

Ladies -

I have not posted here for a long time because I had moved on to my treatment phase.   But, something major happened two weeks ago that I hope will help all ladies dealing with a mushy middle situation.    So, I am posting this now in hopes of helping any "mushy middle" lady that stumbles onto this thread. 

Basically, there was a study released by MD Anderson specifically studying tumors less than 1 cm in size (T1a, b).   It studied over 1000 women over 12 years who had not received adjuvant therapies of any kind.   This study was a watershed study for us "mushy middle" types, in that it showed Her2+++ infiltrating tumors to be more than three times likely to recur than those that were Her2 negative - regardless of size.   The ending recommendation was that any infiltrating tumor that is Her2 postive, be a candidate for systemic treatment, including anti Her2 agents (Herceptin). 

I showed this study to my doc, who was thrilled to receive it.  It validated the recommendation she made and the choice I ended up making.  In the end, however, she suspects this study will change some of the treatment protocols for smaller tumors - in other words, not "mushy middle" any more !

First, the link to the abstract

http://www.abstracts2view.com/sabcs/view.php?nu=SABCS08L_444&terms=

Second, the link to the poster (the one you want is number 2 on this page).   When you go to the second poster, it will bring up and Adobe image of the poster. 

http://www.posters2view.com/sabcs08/search.php?search=do&intMaxHits=10&where%5B%5D=&andornot%5B%5D=&query=md+anderson

If you can't get the links to work, cut and paste into your browser.

I can send you the press release separately, but have that in a word document (it is actually the easiest to read), but cannot figure out how to insert a word document here.    Just let me know.

Hope this helps anyone out there dealing with this kind of choice.   

Jill

bee5467

Christl -- I hesitate to advise you, as we are all different, as is obvious by this thread.  My onc said I was a very early stage III.  I had a mast., chemo (4 times over 12 weeks) and rad (5/days a week for 6 weeks).  

Just about the time I got the chemo & rad news,  a very dear friend of mine who adamantly refused Chemo 10 years ago, discovered her BC has metszd to her lungs, liver, and now her brain.  

I got the chemo. I just don't want any of this stuff again.  So I went along with aggressive treatment.  If I do get it again, at least it won't be because I was too afraid of chemo.  I was fortunate, as my chemo was not too bad, and I have to say, it was not nearly what I had feared.   Losing my hair, however, was monumental.  It came as a real surprise that I was so devastated by that.

Anyway, we're all here for you, whatever you decide! 

jill323

Bee - Thanks for weighing in with your experience.  It was stories like these that led both Cristl and I toward a more "aggressive" route (if you want to check up on her, we all post frequently on a thread on the IDC forum called "first chemo done").     Given the above study I attached, it also appears we at least made the choice on the right side of the stats.

That said, I am very sorry to hear about your dear friend.  My heart goes out to both you and her.  I if you don't mind sharing, what was the stage/grade of your friend when she was diagnosed 10 years ago ?   How is she doing now ?

Jill

bee5467

jill -- I'm not sure was her original stage was.  Her family doctor and she decided not to do chemo. Her onco was very upset.  Last January, she thought she had pneumonia.  She did, but also mets in the lung and liver.  She is now terminal, and is under the care of Hospice.  The brain mets was the last straw, I think.  Her spirit is good however, and she's eating all the ice cream and cake any human possibly could.  After 9 months of the most aggressive chemo imagined,  she's now taken charge and is refusing any more treatment.  She's accepted her diagnosis, and is at peace. 

jill323

Bee -

Thanks for sharing this.   I am sorry about your friend, but glad she is at peace   At least she appears to have lived her life on her terms.    And thanks for letting us know.   For those of us on the fence in regard to treatment, learning from someone else's experience, even negative, is reaffirming.   In some way, your friend has helped those of us in that situation.  

Jill

bee5467

Jill - I hope it will help others.  I get very sad when I see anyone considering going against onco. recommendation for chemo.  My mother refused it too.  She too had ten more years, like my friend. And then she died.    

Anonymous

I'm bumping this thread because I am currently in the mushy middle and I bet other recently diagnosed are, too.... and it is REALLY a great thread.   I'll be getting my chemo options tomorrow and reading what others went through is super helpful.  THANKS!

jill323

Well... let me say I am delighted this old thread has made a re-appearance, and even happier that it helped someone.   It seems like ages ago now, but at the time, this thread was a life line for me.  

I almost feel like I need to let you all know where things came out for this "mushy middle" lady.   I finished chemo right around Christmas.   For me personally, I think the Taxol/Herceptin regimen was the right choice, although I guess time will really be the determining factor on that.  I finished radiation March 4 and am now continuing my herceptin treatments and will until about next January or so. 

It has been one heck of a year - that is for sure.   But, despite all the wrangling that happened over what to do in terms of adjuvant therapy, I am quite comfortable with the choice I ended up making - especially after that MD Anderson study came out (gosh, I wish I had that last October).   I get the impression that "young" and strongly Her2+++ is not so "mushy" anymore.

Best of luck to any of you "mushy middle" ladies out there !

Jill   

Anonymous

Jill - 

Yesterday my surgeon told me that cancers like mine are quite the cutting edge cases these days!   Early stage HER2+++ cancers are apparently becoming a major topic of concern in the oncology community these days. Also, I had a really cool areola sparing mastectomy that left me with a pretty normal looking pair of breasts.  I feel like we're on the first wave of a treatment revolution for breast cancer, in which biomarkers become as important a prognostic factor as size and spread, and surgical techniques better balance cosmetic and oncological demands. 

My oncologist came from MD Anderson (she's at the University of NM cancer center now) and has done research on HER2+++ breast cancer, so I'll be surprised if she doesn't at least mention chemo. I'm hoping maybe I can participate in an interventional clinical trial to help provide the oncology community with better data on the risks and benefits of systemic therapy for early cancers. 

Would love to hear from other young women in the (not-so?) mushy middle!

 L.  

barb39

I had a .5 tumor with 10 /13 lymph node invoveled. I was very upset. I did chemo, radiationa nd hercepton and for 9 yearwss have had no problems. the stage was 3 A and it was estrogen negative and hercetin positive. i feel great. let me know what you think!!