Your treatment

kathleen1966

I am just wondering, and perhaps this is a bad thing as I've been told not to compare chemo, but I was wondering what type of chemo other Her2+ women with node involvement received (and without node involvement).  I had four nodes and received TCH every three weeks for six treatments.  I am now having radiation.  I am finished with the chemo. There are times when I worry, wondering if I got the most aggressive treatment.  I know that the A starting chemo is the strongest but it also can dammage the heart and with the herceptin, it is becoming less commonly used.  And the TCH is clinically as effective (slightly less, not clinically significant).  Also, with 10% of my cells testing positive for Progesterone, should I get a second opinion as to whether or not I should take the hormone receptor positive drug tamoxifin.  I don't really WANT to take this drug but I want to be sure I am doing what I NEED to do.  Thanks soo much ladies!  I am six weeks out of chemo.  I still have very little hair and sometimes I wake up and think "Oh My GOD, I'm not on chemo....I am unprotected" Yes, I am good at putting it at the back of my head after this thought.  Also good at talking myself out of thinking every pain I am having is a recurrence.  And I suppose now that I am finished I shouldn't worry about what I had.  I suppose I am looking for re-assurance...from others who were sent down the same treatment path.  Thanks again.

kathleen1966

And I hate it when I mis-spell.  Damage!!!!

Glad2BHere

kathleen1966  Are you continuing with a year of Herceptin?  I had TCH- supposed to do 6, but only made it through 5,  so just continued with Herceptin, then a masectomy (the cancer was completely gone in my breasts and lymph nodes when they examined the tissue after my surgery), then rads.  I am surprised they are not continuing on the Herceptin?  That would be what I would question more than the Tamoxifen.

suzieq60

I had TCH x 6 - node negative. My onc said I would have had AC-TH if I had positive nodes. I hope you are still having herceptin as Glad2Bhere says.

Sue

Iamstronger

I had TCH x 6 and herceptin for a year.  I was also in the Beth STudy and received Avastin along with the TCH.  I then had Rads and am on tamoxifen.

mtndawn

I had neoadjuvant tch.  Several nodes were involved, tumor 5+ cm.  At time of surgery, there was "no evidence of malignancy" in breast or nodes.   I am still doing Herceptin.  This treatment worked extremely well for me, but it doesn't always work for everyone.  Nodes or not, though, it can work very well.

dimidani

I am 36 years old, had Neoadjuvant chemo, 4 AC and 4 TH. I will be done with herceptin on June 1st. There was no evidence of malignacy post surgey PCR. Before chemo my tumor was 1.6 cm and 2 nodes. They removed 7 nodes @ the time of surgery and there was no cancer in none of them. I will be finishing Radiation next WED and I will start Tamoxifen after rad. My ER was strong over 90% and PR over 50%. My tumor was Adenocarcinoma with cribiform and papilary features grade 2. I also accepted to be on a study taking Tamoxifen and Metformin. Metformin is a drug that is used for people that are diabetic. Metformin aparently could enhance the effectiveness of available hormonal therapies and prolong survival.

kathleen1966

Thanks soo much, all very helpful and yes, I should have mentioned that I am continuing with the herceptin for the rest of the year. I had my chemo AFTER surgery so I will have no way of knowing if it worked.  I didn't consider this when I made this decision. I was going to need a mastectomy anyway, I saw no need for chemo first as it wouldn't have saved my breast (extensive DCIS in addition to the IDC and paget' s disease). It would have been nice to have the assurance that the chemo worked. Thanks! 

AmyIsStrong

From what I have read, and my experience as well, it is very common to feel the way you do at the end of active treatment (ie chemotherapy). I didn't expect to feel as vulnerable as I did after chemotherapy ended. And then I experienced it again when Herceptin ended. But as hard as it is to believe now, you do get used to it. And now, 8 months after finishing H, I am LOVING being done with all the medical stuff and back to my regular life.



If you can't get past the worry in a few months, you might want tto consider a few sessions with a cancer counselor....there may be one at your cancer center. I saw mine for a while and it really helped. But mostly time will help.

pejkug3

I see the onc in my hometown tomorrow.  So I cannot comment as to what he recommends.

I received a chemo recommendation from the onc dept at the Mayo clinic yesterday - AC X4, Taxol x 12 and a year of Herceptin.

Ouch.  That hurt to hear.

STats:  .5cm, 1/6 nodes, lumpectomy, grade II/III, ER+(80%)/PR+(40%), HER2 3+, not sure on staging