So worried waiting for Mammaprint results

melb44

My doctor ordered a mammaprint to determine whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy would be best for me. I should get the results soon and the waiting is killing me. I had originally hoped I wouldn't need chemo and I know that if the reoccurrence score comes back high I am going to do it but I am just really unhappy that I am in this situation. I feel petty being upset when I know others have such worse diagnoses.

Can anyone talk me down from the ledge and help me realize that chemo won't be that bad. I also have Chrohn's disease which is finally doing well and I can't help but think that all of this isn't going to help. My doctor said he would want me to do 6 rounds with 3 weeks between. It is such a long time. We already have a big family trip planned for the beginning of Septmeber and I am worried we will have to cancel.

I keep trying to be strong for my daughters age 12 and 9 and act like this is no big deal and that I will fight it and be fine but inside I am scared to death.

ml143333

First off, you can do this!  I promise.

I am just getting ready to finish 8 rounds of chemo every three weeks.  My last treatment will be 4/10/2015.  Right now, it probably seems like you can't do chemo, but the harsh reality is that you can.  There are great drugs that help with nausea so don't worry too much about that.  Losing your hair isn't great, but it is doable.  There are other SEs that can come with chemo, but remember that just because there is a SE associated with chemo doesn't mean that you will have it.  Remember - You are Stronger then you Think!

Talk with you MO about your trip in September.  I had to juggle things around for a trip and it was no big deal.

keepthefaith

melb44, the thought of chemo is daunting. We visualize ourselves throwing our guts up with a bald head and then laying in bed in a dark room not able to move. Not so much, for the majority. Like my MO said, her patients told her, "I wouldn't want to have to do it again, but it was not as bad as I thought it would be." That was very true for me. Like Mandy said, we all react differently. Stay in touch with your MO if you get any SE's at all, no matter how minor you think they are. More than likely, they have something that will ease them. I worked part time and the physical part was very manageable for me. I went to Tuscon in the middle of my chemo for my Mom's 80th birthday. Make sure you stay hydrated before and after chemo; any physical activity, such as short walks, when you can, will help. Join a thread here, that relates to your chemo for help and support. Call your local American Cancer Society for resources on wigs, the Look Good Feel Good program, a ride to appts, cleaning, etc., if you need help with any of those. Best wishes. You can do it!

readytorock

melb44 - I'm curious where you are that a mammaprint was ordered? I don't hear about it much here. I had it done and received a low risk, but chose to do chemo anyway. Chemo was not very difficult for me, luckily.

I hope yours comes back low!

melb44

Readytorock - I am at Troy Beaumont in Metro Detroit. I see on these boards that most people get the oncotype test but he only ordered the Mammaprint. At the time I really had not done much research so I didn't even know that isn't what most doctors order. It seems like many people who get intermediate oncotype then go on and get the mammaprint so I guess I am glad that I can just go straight to the more detailed test.

He also likes to do the neoadjuvant chemotherapy to shrink the tumor and watch to see if the chemo protocol is working. That makes sense to me but that also isn't what many people do it seems. It is hard to know what is the right choice.

Can you tell me why you went ahead and had the chemo if your score came back low risk? I am glad to hear it wasn't too bad for you.

SpecialK

I also had Mammaprint and I am in Florida.  My oncological breast surgeon is working with Agendia on a study so he uses it rather than Oncotype Dx.  He uses it because the information in the genetic assay may become more important in the future beyond the use for recurrence risk, and Mammaprint looks at a larger number of genes than Oncotype does so it may eventually be more useful.  Also, it can be used on Her2+ and ER/PR- so it covers a broader population.

readytorock

melb44 -

I decided on chemo even with the low result on the mammaprint because neither of the oncologists that I was seeing would change their original opinions from the oncotype test where they had said if I came in over 18, they would recommend chemo. I came in at 19. Neither of them had customarily used mammaprint and only ordered it because I had asked for it.

I only asked for it because I found it on Google!!! I wasn't told before hand that this wouldn't change their mind and in the end I just felt better doing everything I could (chemo)!

melb44

Well the test results came back high so chemo it is.

readytorock

melb44 -

First -  hugs!

Second - you WILL start to feel better knowing you have a plan in place.

Third - chemo for a lot of people is NOT that bad!  Other than losing my hair, the worst I had was heartburn and nose bleeds!

melb44

Thanks readytorock. Glad to hear it wasn't that bad for you. The whole thing is just scary.

ElaineTherese

melb44 -- not the results you were hoping for, I'm sure.

Chemo is different for everyone; I worked through chemo and wasn't hit with too many debilitating SEs. But, yes, some of my chemo buddies found it to be very challenging. Take it easy, and accept help when it's offered.

AnewBeginning

Hi Elaine

Im so glad to hear your chemo isnt that bad. I will be starting Herceptin, Taxol and (if insurance pays for Perjeta) after Easter.I am so afraid of all the side effects and thinking I cant go through with it picturing myself sick all the time. Do the side effects start right away or is it different for everyone?

mysunshine48

Melb44 - I also had the Mammoprint and it came back high. I don't have surgery until April 10 and already know I need chemo. NO, not a good thing to hear. I was shocked since my tumor is only 1cm. Anyway, now I know and have accepted it and WILL JUST GET THROUGH IT! That is what we have to do. I am more scared about that than I am surgery. We will have to keep in touch and compare notes and be each other's cheerleaders!

Lynn

melb44

Lynn (Sunshine) -

Sorry to hear you are in the same situation. What kind of surgery have you decided on? Did you you get the option of doing the chemo before surgery? That is what my breast specialist is suggesting I do. I have another appointment on Tuesday to talk about the options.

I would love to be cheerleaders with you. I agree that we just have to get through it. Today though I am still sad/mad that I have to though.

Hopeful82014

Melb44 and Lynn - I'm sorry for the very disappointing news. No matter how many times someone tells us how doable chemo is, we all hope to avoid the necessity of finding out for ourselves. It's o.k. to take some time to mourn and be angry and go out and kick a few rocks (or whatever).

If you decide to do your chemo before surgery you will have the advantage of knowing up front how well your particular tumor responds to your chemo cocktail, which can be very helpful information going forward. After all, you want to KNOW that you're benefiting from the chemo.

Good luck getting your minds around this and working out all the rest of your options. When you feel a bit more settled (and once you know what regimen your MO recommends for you) you may want to go read some of the threads that pertain to that regimen. These can give you a good idea of not only what to expect in terms of SE but also how to prepare and to mitigate some of the effects.

Cyber hugs to both of you.

pas

Hi, I haven't been on the site for awhile but felt an urge to see how others are doing with this nasty interruption to their life. I hope you have been able to gain strength with whatever treatment you have learned is ahead of you. You will get through it and be proud of yourself for doing so. I was diagnosed in 2005 with triple negative breast cancer, 2.1 cent. and was told that tnbc was aggressive and they were treating it as such. I was ready. I had a 4 year old and no way was I going to go out without a fight. I had 8 chemo, 33 radiation treatments and you get through it and have the feeling coming out of it that you did all you were advised to do. I have been cancer-free since and thank god every day that I went ahead with the chemo. I later found out, through my persistence with my oncologist to test me, that I am BRCA2 positive. That didn't surprise me because my mom's family, including her, had cancer in their lives. I decided on the bilateral mastectomy 2 years after my initial diagnosis and lumpectomy. I then requested my ovaries and fallopian tubes be removed. I probably should have done the total hysterectomy. If you need encouragement or just to vent, just let me know! God Bless!

Pam

ElaineTherese

Anew -- most infusion centers use steroids and other anti-nausea meds on the day of a chemo infusion. Often, this gives the patient a bit of an energy boost and can cause insomnia. The real SEs often hit around Days 3 and 4, after the steroid high wears off. I would just take it easy on those days and wouldn't try to get too much done. Day 6, I would be feeling better.

Herceptin, Taxol, and Perjeta are sometimes considered to be a gentler cocktail than, say, AC. That's why Herceptin and Taxol can be given weekly. But, everyone is different. Some people have problems that cocktail as well.