3 months after chemo BC is back...help

Anonymous

Hi ladies. Back in october I was diagnosed with Stage IIIb because the cancer had gotten to the internal mammary lymph nodes. I'm also BRCA1+ and TN. After 16 weeks of taxol/avastin and 8 wks of a/c I got a clear PET scan in April. Now 3 months later after a BMX in June i was about to start radiation and the PET/CT for the planning showed activitiy in the IM lymph nodes AGAIN! It grew back to bigger the size that it was the first time in only 3 months... With my initial diagnosis they said i had a nottingham score of 9 and grade 3 but I didn't know it grew THIS fast. Now instead of radiation i'll have to get more chemo... Now that my hair is growing back and i signed up for the LSAT and was getting ready for law school admissions. Ugh I guess they didn't get it all the first time and we didn't do radiation fast enough. I have new doctors now and hoping they can fix me but right now i feel so broken. Anyone else in my shoes and having to do more chemo after surgery? Did the chemo take it away the 2nd time?

ebann

I was dx in 2008 with IBC. I am a TN too. I started chemo, and then had surgery. When they removed my breasts they found that it was in my nodes and chest wall so I had to do more chemo along with radiation. Then in 2009 I was NED. I was NED for a year and half.  Then in 2010 I was dx with mets. It went to my bones did chemo and radiation again. Had to have surgery and stopped chemo for 4 months. Then did another PET scan and the cancer spread to more of my bones, liver, glands and nodes. So I can relate well. It does not seem  fair. We seem to have to fight harder. Ask  your Dr. about Metformin (diabetic drug) works will with TN and reduces recurrence and shrinks tumors. I cannot go on it cause of my liver but once it is cleared I will be on it. My naturopath sent me all the research very interesting of what I can understand. Also see if your  Dr.'s have heard of Target Tumor Profile it has been around for 3 years now and has been very successful.

http://www.carislifesciences.com/caris-target-now-patient-stories

I hope this helps. Fight and do not give up hope. ((((hugs))))

Anonymous

Thank you elizabeth, I just need to stay positive about the situation.

Lawgirl

I so hear your pain! hugs:) I did chemo b4 surgery for six months, onc finally stopped it due to horrific side effects on taxotere which I'm still dealing with. had 1mx in June- surgeon came back with recommendation for more chemo, side effects notwithstanding. my onc won't do the chemo till after I've had a rest from 30 rads plus 5 boosts, ( I personally think they are trying to figure out what chemo drugs to use so as not to permanently impair me). so I have to sit, wait and hope it doesn't grow as fast as the first time. I'm sorry you feel broken I know how you feel. They didn't get all mine in surgery, thinking of you, hugs.

Suze35

I'm in a similar situation, I'm currently doing Xeloda with Avastin. I did neoadjuvant AC and Taxol with Carboplatin, but unfortunately the cancer stopped responding towards the end and I had a lot of disease left at surgery. I had a second surgery to remove more nodes, and made a plan to start more chemo after radiation. Before and during radiation, I had two more nodes pop up (supraclavicular), and had extra rads to them. All my scans so far have been clear, I'll have another PET in October to make sure nothing has popped up while I'm on chemo.



It sucks, no way around it. It's really good they caught it, as often these things get overlooked. Now you can take another swing at this crap and hopefully knock it out for good.

bak94

Wow, are diagnoses are close! Brca 1 positive and in the im nodes! I am still going through treatment, and so far the im nodes are shrinking. I was wondering about the waiting time between surgery and rads. I am so sorry you are going through this, it does suck, but hopefully they will find a chemo to kick some cancer you know what.

Titan

kita..good luck with your  chemos..and good luck with the LSAT's....keep on with your plans for the future..ok?