2nd time around

Sue_B

Hi Everyone!
In February 2004 I has diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy and lymph node disection followed by chemo (A/C & Taxol) and 6 weeks radiation. In March of 2004 I started having difficulty with arm swelling and pain. In June 2004 I was told the tumors were back. In July I had a single mastectomy and 1-1/2 weeks after surgery I had 5 new tumors pop-up. I had 7 weeks of radiation along with 3 treatments of hyperthermia and took Xeloda (oral chemo). After 7 weeks all the tumors were gone. Three days after radiation stopped I had several new tumors pop-up just outside the radiation line. Now I'm doing chemo again (cross your fingers)! I am being referred to have genetic testing. I asked my parents for family history since I'm the youngest in the family to have cancer (orginally diagnosed at 33 yrs old). Anybody have any suggestions as to what to ask or information to have ready for the geneticist?
Sue B

kimmytoo

They want to know all types of cancer had by family members. Mine went as far as great-aunts and uncles. I was shocked to find out how much and how many types of cancer people in my family have had. We're a pretty close family, but I found out about cancers that people had before I was born that I knew NOTHING about (MY GRANDFATHER, for Pete's sake.... we were so close!).

Ask whoever you can. My grandma and grandpa that are still living gave me more info than my parents even knew... My genetic counselor said the more detailed history the better. (And she wanted to know the ages that the people were when they were diagnosed with cancer, what year they were diagnosed, if they were deceased - what they died from) I had asked alot of questions of my family - but still had to call and verify some stuff during the appt. Just have as much info as possible.

BTW - even though it looks like I fell out of the cancer tree, I tested negative for the gene. Who knew?

sams_mom

They will take a complete family history...will go back as far as you can with medical history...also will ask if you are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent as us Ashkenazi Jews are apparently the "chosen people" for breast cancer genetic mutations. They ask about other ethnicities too but I'm not sure which are the ones with higher risk.

inspiewriter

Definitely family history.

Wanno

I, too, am in my secon time with bc. I recurred in the chest wall between ribs 2345. I had surgery to completely remove the tumor. Now my onc is recommending Taxol plus radiation. I am very confused!

trudann

Wanno, I too had recurrance in the chest wall & had surgery to remove tumor. But b4 surgery I had 4 A/C, which was awful, then 4 taxol which was a breeze for me. I now wish I would not have done both rads & surgery, as my surgery incision formed a seroma, broke open & has been unable to heal & has been draining since Sept. The chemo worked so well for me (I am ER/PR negative, Her2 neg, & some other negative}, and I have read that chemo is really effective for us bc negative types. So, if you do radiation, I would make sure your surgery has healed completley, as the radiation is why my tissue won't heal. Did they get clean margins? Where was your original bc? I would ask your Doc what your ER/PR & HER2 status is. Then ask why he suggests chemo & rads after surgery. Which would he suggest doing first? I hope this helps, email me if you have any questions, trudann