TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

lago

SusanHG123 Me a Hero. If only I had super powers. I would cure everyone. Save us a bunch of money in medical bills in one swoop.

ashla

Susan

Except for the D & C , I have pretty much all the same S/E's & more. My cholesterol numbers have totally reversed! ????? If I wasn't so averse to more meds I would be on sleeping pills, anti depressants, pain killers, muscle relaxants etc

Don't think I'd be able to work anymore. I know you love your new job but it must be physically challenging with the SE's. And with the added stress of your domestic life....well ..you are one amazing lady to get through it able to laugh and even make others laugh

My hands & lower back bother me the most. I started art classes and yoga after the Hercetin year . They have both helped my physical & emotional recovery enormously. And now I'm struggling to do each of them because of the arthralgic side effects!

I made the decision to stop the med but my doctor is pushing me gently. I am so grateful that I have such a compassionate, caring MO! This is so important..I'm not a healthcare professional like you but he always takes the time to explain complex matters( like the way the various hormonal therapies work) to me . Never rushes me.

Would be wonderful if we could get together one day...and have some FUN! All you working girls would have to set the agenda because of your schedules. I can meet you guys pretty much whenever, wherever.

I'm in Florida( no cabana boys tho) during the winter & NY the rest. Have room for about 4( comfortably) in each place.

You are invited....

ashla

Susan...

Yes second that...Lago #HERO........:) others too...

Gretagirl

Elaine great news!!

Musosgirl

So I half-jokingly posted this question in the August group, but since we are all just beginning our chemo journey there it makes more sense to post it here:

Any one doing neo-chemo have their tumor completely disappear and not have to do ALL their chemo cycles? That's probably super-duper wishful thinking, huh? But my MO can't feel the tumor now. My surgeon does an ultrasound every time I see her, but I won't see her again till mid-late Oct.

ElaineTherese

Nope, my lump disappeared but I ended up doing all of my chemo. An ultrasound is fine, but PET scans and MRIs are more sensitive. Furthermore, a pathological complete response can only be verified by a pathological report AFTER surgery. Hope you have one!

jumbledbamboo

Yay Elaine! So happy for you!

I had my ooph. Recovery sucks. I am just trotting around in here trying to distract myself. My stomach is so painful

lago

Musosgirl I had surgery before chemo so no tumor shrinkage. I still did all 6 tx of TCH. Chemo is not just for the local tumor but also to zap any defectors that might have moved to other parts of the body.

Musosgirl

Lago, I know. It's so hard to feel strong when feeling so blah. I was checking out the June thread to see what it will be like towards the end of my cycles--hoping for encouragement. Excitement that they closing in on D-day. That backfired miserably.

CassieCat

Muso, I did all 6 cycles. Yes, the tumor shrank after the first round, and by three rounds could not be felt or detected on ultrasound, but I still did all 6 cycles. As lago says, it's good to have all of the treatment, in the hopes of killing every single last errant cell.

Mommato3

Jumbled, did you have your ooph done laparoscopically? I'm scheduled for September 25th and would love some details. Like, how do you feel that night, 24 hrs later? Need lots of pain meds or just ibuprofen? My friend had everything removed (uterus, ovaries & tubes) and she was up shopping two days after. I'm not expecting that but hoping it's not too bad

TTfan

I haven't been posting for awhile on this thread but lurk regularly. Congrats to all the folks finishing treatment and having exciting cancerversaries! Thank you to Lago and SpecialK and all the others who stick around to encourage and inspire us! I'll finish Herceptin in November and look forward to that milestone and especially the port removal that comes with it! It's also hard to be hitting a year from Dx this month and still be in treatment and struggling with AI side effects. Makes it so hard to move on to "new normal". I don't want a new normal where I feel 20 years older than I am!

Kthielen

jumbled,

I am also interested in hearing about your hysterectomy, or anyone else that has had it done! I am having a total hysterectomy done laporascopically this Tues the 8th and am a little nervous....

lago

TTfan I've always hated "New Normal". IMO we all change every day regardless of cancer, cancer treatment or not. It will take at least 2-3 years to realize you do feel like you. Sure some changes but we all have changes. I do not feel nor look 20 years older. Most people still think I'm in my 40's.

Jerseygirl927

girls, we're doing good. We encourage each other, we complain together, we even take the same meds mostly, we just have different issues depending on age, medical history, location and such. We just need to support each other when we can and complain if we have to. I just love the fact that we are all in this and have each other's back. What more can you ask for, except a cure, but here's praying its soon. Hugs to all, and if i need a vacation in Florida, I am coming your way Ashla

Yoshi_Falls

Hi. Just wanted to congratulate Lago on 5 years NED. Lago, I am a 'fan' of yours as well. I am currently in the middle of AC & TH. I would like to thank, You, Toni Lee and Special K for your informative and positive posts. Please keep them coming. I am following from New Zealand and find this forum very useful.

rosesrx

Been off the boards for a week, just started reading. Congrats Elaine!

About the Lap ooph. I had lap hysterectomy/ooph. well along with Mx and port placement. The cramping from the lap was more the reason for taking pain meds than the others but only for 3 days or so but I have a high tolerance for pain. Only spent 30 hrs in hospital from preop meds to discharge. Clear liquid diet and advance to tolerated. Up to bathroom in am (had foley through the night). Walking the halls by mid day and dressed and ready to go by the time MD came to sign papers. I slept in my bed but probably would have done better in recliner.

Last TCH done on the 2nd!!! The usual s/e. have had company so pushed myself more than I usually do. Resting up now. Follow up with MO tomorrow and he will probably give me RX for AI.

lago

Yoshi my family almost moved to New Zealand back in 1972. Nixon got elected for a 2nd term (by I belive the biggest landslide) and my dad was so disgusted. Had a job lined up and everything but my mom didn't want to give up her American Citizenship. I think that

Gretagirl

Well said Jerseygirl927. I feel like crap this time. Constipated or diarrhea who knows and mouth icky and this nausea will not let up! One week tomorrow since third treatment and I just feel Yuck!. But also know this is minor stuff and it could be worse! So...... Plan on talking to MO I still have some questions that are hanging in my mind about treatment and I just can't get to a comfortable spot with it. Hope y'all have a great evening

Moonflwr912

hang in there. It does get better.

nursenay

hi I was on here back in 2013 when I was first diagnosed. Fast forward and my question is how can you tell pain from Al versus a recurrence?,, I'm a triple girl,and am hopping that's in my favor

lago

Bone pain is different and than stiffness but discuss this with your oncologist. 2 of my friends didn't know they had mets till they broke something.

jumbledbamboo

I have had ongoing wrist pain. Got an xray and it was fine but I have had 3 broken fingers on that hand

chocomousse

Just found out that I'm HER2+, score 3+ and ER&PR + and am still reading about what this means. My onc will be going over my chart with the tumor board next week and before the addendum path. report came back, I was given the all clear with no further treatment necessary as my IDC was stage 1A and my nodes and margins were clear. I'm seeing people in this thread who had negative nodes getting hormone and chemo therapy after a Uni or BMX and would like to know why? If the surgery removed the cancer with clear margins then the cancer is gone. Why the need for Herceptin? I can understand for people who had a LX or UMX done as it decreases the chance of recurrence in the same breast and/or remaining breast but why the need if both breasts are removed? Her2+ is a breast cancer mutation so if the breast cancer is gone, why target therapies at it? Does it continue to exist inside the body?

wabals

Her2+ is a more aggressive form. Chemo and herceptin and radiation are given to prevent recurrence, local and distant.

Gingersnappy

I'm doing neoadjuvant THP and plan to have BMX surgery sometime this winter. Reconstruction at a later date. I'm wondering with the +++ diagnosis what the likelihood of radiation is. I know it's really a question for my oncologist, but I figured I could ask here and get reliable answers!

debiann

Chocomousse, unfortunately,  something many of us learn after we have been diagnosed with bc, is that even node negative early stage tumors can spread via the bloodstream to distant places in your body, usually bones, lungs, liver or brain.  Chemo is to kill any stray cells that may have escaped the breast.  Your MO can discuss your particular risk with you and let you know the benefit of chemo.

chocomousse

Thanks guys. But HER2+ is a breast cancer specific mutation so how can it cause cancer in areas outside of the breast?

I also had a CEA and CA 27.29 test and both were in the normal range.

Based on everyone's signatures, it seems that the liklihood of me remaining treatmrnt free is low.

What do the following mean: NED and MO?

twiggyOR

NED is no evidence of disease and MO is medical oncologist. I was told that HER2+ was guaranteed chemo and radiation.

twiggyOR

I got my first cycle of TCHP today. Waiting to see what SE hit me.