Six Months BEFORE Surgery

Laura, I had chemotherapy treatment that started in January and lasted through June.  I then had surgery in July.  My diagnosis was invasive ductal carcinoma, with a 5 cm tumor.  At the time of my surgery, the pathologist found NO cancer cells in either my breast (which was removed) or my lymph nodes!  The only negative comment was from my breast surgeon who said that neoadjuvant chemo made the breast tissue "tougher" to work with.  I imagine that would have made things more difficult if I had been thinking about reconstruction.

Hello again Laura,

I am happy to give you a little info. I did chemo first. I did 5 mos of chemo. First I did 4 rounds of AC every other wk. Then I did taxotere and herceptin once every 3 wks. I am still taking the herceptin once every 3 wks until next summer. I finished chemo on Aug 20th and have surgery on 10/22. I will have a bilateral with immediate recon (expanders). I kinda questioned my surgeon and oncologist about chemo 1st, and they said that they wanted to be aggressive because of my age, the tumor size and the node. All I can do is trust and pray that God is healing me through them. And just keep in mind once you start chemo, it is killing cancer right off the bat. When I went in for my mri, gamma scan and mammogram after chemo the tumor shrunk ALOT and the cells appear to be dead. So I think your docs are takin good care of you, I know your gonna be fine!

Tracey

      Laura,

                I did chemo before surgery too. Just like the other ladies I had AC and then Herceptin and taxol together. Be strong Laura and keep the faith you will do fine. I know with me the waiting was the hardest part before surgery but always keep in my you are be treated very well and you have so much support behind you. Right know I am on herceptin....until November "08" and I am doing well on it. "Thank you God".  Laura you will be fine!

Debbie

Hi Laura,

The PS's plan is to have me fully expanded before rads but my radiation doc wants to start rads within 6 weeks. I am thinking we will need 8 wks, but I go to my PS next friday and I am gonna try to get specific times. I asked the radiation doc if it would be ok to start rads at 8wks and he said there is no study done on radiation benefits after the 6 wk time table. But yes the plan is to be fully expanded before rads, my PS said he will put in 200cc at surgery. I hope this helps. Ask me anything anytime!!

Hugs,

Tracey

Laura,

          Hi I finally figured out that I should check my messages. Sorry about that. You seem like your doing good. And your keeping on schedule which is a good thing. Me my Onc. calls me her problem patient. Good naturally as she says it. Cause basically I am!!!!! I have finally finished with Rads on Friday YEY!!!!!! Everything looks good except under my arm where they boosted, its quite burnt, but tolerable. I ended up with neuropthy, from the Abraxane of course. But its feeling better since they started me on Lyrica. Not that all the pain is gone but its better. They had to stop Herceptin for the next 8weeks due to poor Muga Scan. But to be honest I am kind of glad in a way cause I am so darn tired of all this. Its tough enough on its own never mind all the little issues that pop up. I am looking forward to having my reconstruction finished. I am not quite sure how they are going to do it since they took out that one expander. I really hope they can just slip it in and I don't have to expand it again.

           Reading your post I don't know why some drs. perfer to do all chemo first mine was discussed that way but then decided that I would benifit more from having it done first. maybe because I was triple positive I don't know! I promise you the surgery is not bad at all. And I think you do have alittle more pain when they reconstruct then due to the skin stretching. But I would do it the same way over again. I never even needed another fill after the fill I got in the operation it was just the size I wanted to be. I got lucky that way but unlucky to end up losing one. I wish you well and keep up the spirit it will be over and done with before you know it.

I pmed you back only 2 months later LOL!!!! Take care!! write anytime I promise now that I know to check I will!!!                                      HUGS-BRIDGET

I had chemo first, just finished 4 AC and 4 taxol last Monday, just got MRI results, and tumor gone, nodes looking good.  Hang in there ladies, you are killing that cancer!!!  I havent even started herceptin yet!!!