STAGE 1, GRADE 3, ER-, PR-, HER2+

Welcome to this site, Charlene. Nobody wants to come here, but it's a great place for support, information, and wisdom from women who have been there, done that.

Personally, my diagnosis was like yours except stage 2A since my tumor was 2.2 cm. I had a mastectomy since I also had DCIS in two ducts up to the margins of the lumpectomy, then started chemo in April (Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin). That finished in July, and I've been getting Herceptin alone since then, every 3 weeks. I have continued to work, travel, and live life. 

Don't scare yourself looking up scary statistics about Grade 3 Her2+ - those stats are outdated since Herceptin has been given to those of us with early stage.

Several threads discuss the different treatments offered for a dx like yours. Best wishes to you as you meet with your oncologists, and come here with any questions you have or if you just want to vent.

Sue

Hi there, I don't know what stage mine is, but I was told it was Grade 2, ER-, PR-, HER2+.  My oncologist signed me up for a clinical trial.  I have had one round of chemo, which was FEC (F something, Epirubicin, Cytoxan).  I took the AMEND an hour before my first treatment.  My nausea hit me that afternoon.  I took the pills they gave me exactly as they told me, and I never threw up at all.  I did sleep pretty much for 2 days. My first treatment was new year's eve.  I slept that night, all the next day (New Year's Day), and all day Friday.  I actually got out of bed that Saturday, and forced myself to walk around my house.  My husband gave me my Neulasta shot.  He did fine!  I did not have the bone pain everyone talks about.  I did feel slight nausea, but took the pills, and they worked.  I had no appetite at all the first 2 days.  Water tasted funny, but I was able to find something to drink that actually tasted good (peach tea).  I began to feel "normal" the further away from chemo day I got.  I am now on day 18, and feel great.  I go back this coming Wednesday for my second round of chemo.  So, this time, I will be ready, so to speak.  I will expect to be nausea, and sleep for 3 days.  I am hoping it doesn't get worse, and basically is the same each treatment?  But, I don't know.  I am new to this as well.  They told me I would lose my hair within 2 to 3 weeks.  I still have my hair.  I think it is beginning to thin, but it has not come out in globs.  I drank water today, and it actually tasted normal.  About the time I am getting back to normal, I go back again.  My treatment plan is FEC every 21 days, and I do that 4 times.  Then I will start Paclitaxel/Herceptin weekly for 12 weeks.  Then we will look at mastectomy.  They want to shrink it first, then surgery.  So far, it has not been bad.  I think it is doable.  Of course, like I said, I have only had one treatment, but it was not that bad. 

Hi Charlene,

I had the exact same diagnosis as you, DX Sept/06, I finished all my treatments Feb/08.  I was given 4 A/C treatments (every 3 weeks), followed by 6 Taxol (weekly), 42 rounds of radiation (given daily) and 1 full year of Herceptin (every 3 weeks).  I won't lie, I had a year and a half of hell, unfortunately my treatments were bad, I had so many things go wrong, and I didn't deal well. BUT, the good news is, I am over it all, I'm here, and like everyone else, we survive, we manage and we do our best.  My experience does not have to reflect on how you will be with yours, MANY women go through chemo without any problems, and I pray that you will be one of them. 

I am on this site daily, I am obsessed, because I am so sure that my cancer will return.  Every time something feels wrong (I have a cough, something hurts, etc), I'm sure that it is a sign.  I am definitely suffering from post dramatic stress (I can cry on a dime),  next week when I see my oncologist, I will ask for something to help with my depression.  I am also now in permanent menopsause and suffering with effects from that. 

I would like to say, the board is an incredible wealth of information, wonderful women, and every time I needed something, someone was there to help me.  Don't feel ashamed to ask questions, read up on everything (knowledge is important), and feel free to cry whenever you need to.  Surround yourself with people who care and support you, that will help.

I wish you a VERY easy time and I pray you will be fine.

Shelley

Hello Charlene,

Thank you for your reply.  I check on this site about every 3-4 days.  The information about the vitamins is very helpful.  The only things my doctor said not to take are vitamins A & C the first two days of chemo.  I have read conflicting information of vitamins and the reactions with chemo so I have been afraid to take anything.  But what your nutritionist says makes me feel better about taking them as I have always been a vitamin person.

I was told to drink 5 - 8 oz. bottles of water the day of chemo and 4 - 8 oz. bottles everyday following.  However, I have always wondered if the more the better, so now with what you have said I will drink more!

I have the Herceptin, (Vofran for nausea),Taxotere, Carboplatin treatment.  I take Decadron the day before, of, and after treatments.  Emend one hour before treatment and one tablet for the next two days.  I have never been nauseated, thank God.  However, I do get heartburn the first five days so the doctor gave me Protonix for that plus I eat a very blain diet.  I also have the Neulasta shot for the white blood count.

I had an echocardiogram before treatments began and it showed a slight leaky valve.  I had another one after two treatments and there was no change.  So now the doctor will wait until the sixth treatment is over and do another one.  I was told Herceptin is not so good for your heart. I guess we have to weigh the benefits with the side-effects.

 I don't think my doctor has taken any blood tests for determining how the progress is going.  I don't know if they wait until all treatments are over or what.  He isn't one to tell me very much.  I always have to ask and then he looks at me like I should be allowing him to do his job and not ask any questions.  My 4th treatment is Feb 18th (two days) so I'm mentally trying to prepare.

Thank you for the 90% cure rate!!!! I love that!

Hi Daisy,

 I'm a little confused about your doctor saying you can't take Herceptin?  I was also ER/PR negative and HER2 triple positive, and I was told I had to take Herceptin, maybe you should get another opinion.

Hi Char,

Yes you are right, and L'Chaim in Hebrew means TO life!

I am a little confused about the vitamins.  My Onc told me that she does not want me taking any vitamins at all, the only thing she approved was calcium.  Can anyone shed any light on why she would not approve any vitamins, does it have to do with being ER/PR negative?

 Shelley

Whow...I am just coming back from #4.  It was so far the hardest in that I was so extremely tired. I talked with the doctor about it and he said that does happen sometimes.  I suggested for him to pospone the next one so I could recover a little.  He said all ot the blood counts were okay therefore everything should stay on schedule.

I just spoke to a friend who went through this 7 years ago and she encouraged me to go along with orders as things do get better about three weeks after the last treatment.  I thought I was being so strong but had no control this time.  I mentally have to keep up the spirits and KNOW that God is guiding me and giving me strenght.  And I believe God is with all of us now as we go through this together.

Thank you all for being there.

With love,

Michelle

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the thread replies.  2 weeks ago I found out I have breast cancer, and last week I did the surgery (wide excision) and today got the results of my histogram.  I have 2 cm, Grade 3,  ER/PR-, HER2+ and to add, I'm only 31 yrs old.

Being HER2+ freaked me out.  I chanced upon this thread and feel a little more comforted by what you have all posted.  

I will see an oncologist soon to determine my treatment.

Take care all of you and thanks for being part of this online support group. 

Evelyn 

Dear Char, Evelyn, Shelly & Ladies,

I'm finally feeling better.  Thanks Char for your reply of March 1st.  I didn't skip any treatments. Did #4 on Feb. 18th and #5 on Mar 11.  Whow, talk about tired!  But I've never gotten nauseated which was initially my biggest fear so I focus on being greatful for that.  However, I do get heartburn the first 5 days or so but I find eating smaller portions more often helps that. So one more treatment on April 3 and then only Herceptin every three weeks until December.

Char, I noticed in one of your replies that you get AC. What is that?  Is one of them Carboplatin?  You asked me if I worked.  No, I married a man in 2000 that has his own business and he asked me to quit my job as admin. secretary at school district to help him with his business.  I am very fortunate now that he is so supportive.  I know that some people work through this and I think of that while I'm feeling sorry for myself.  My hats off to you women who continue to work.

I have come across so many people now who tell me about themselves or someone they know who has gone through this and in all those stories everyone has had good results. My surgeon told me that this used to show up in 1 out of 9 women but in the last year it appears in 1 out of 8 women.

Evelyn, recently two different friends of ours told us about women in their 30s having this and just beginning with surgery and treatments.  It's very scarry.  I can only say that as time goes by for myself, anyway, things seem to calm down.  I guess you come to the conclusion that YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT and ten, twenty, or thirty years from now we are all going to still be here. I find the less I read about it the better I feel.

God Bless YOU ALL,

Michelle

Hello Char & All Ladies,

I am 58 also!  I too have two boys, ages 32 and 36.  I am in my second marriage. My husband does several things.  He has a real estate brokers license so he sells when he can which isn't easy in this market.  He also has a loan business which offers 2nd mortgages to homeowners and an alarm security business.  So he keeps real busy.

My next and LAST treatment was scheduled for April 1st, however, my grandmother being Irish was always a bit superstitious.  I asked the doctor if I could have the treatment on April 3rd instead so he said that it didn't matter on a couple of days.  So April 3rd it is. Then on to Herceptin every three weeks.  I go for an echocardiogram the middle of April to see if the Herceptin is affecting my heart as before the treatments they found a mild leaky valve they are monitoring.  The last echo in February showed everything was normal.

 So this week I have felt great. I usually lose about 5-7 pounds right after treatments but always gain it back by the next one.  I only weight 120 and I'm 5'5" so the doctor is happy to see the weight come back.

I hope all the ladies that we first heard from on this page are doing okay and have gone on with their normal lives.  I hope one day to do that myself but for now it is good to talk to you all that are still here.

God Bless,

Michelle

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for sharing your treatment details.  I'm starting AC on April 13.  It all still seem unreal.  At this point I just want to get it over with....but guess the journey to the end may be rough.  You have all made it a little smoother with this online support group thing.  It's wonderful. 

I find that these days, I am very stressed.  More so than before I have bc.  The added pressure comes from trying to remain stressful.  How weird is that!   It's like if I get agitated at work or at home, I feel bad about it and the stress becomes even greater when I try to remain calm.  

Anyways.....Hope you are all doing great and have a great weekend!

Evelyn 

Hello everyone!

I just thought I'd drop in and say "hi", since I also have the same diagnosis as you ladies.  I would like to offer some words of encouragement for those of you who are in treatment or getting ready to begin...

Evelyn, your treatments will pass by before you know it and you'll be done and on to recovery! 

Michelle, keep hanging onto those encouraging stories from other bc survivors-- there are LOTS of them out there, as I found out!

I finished up my chemo in January 2008, finished rads in April of 2008, and had my last Herceptin treatment in November of 2008.  Thankfully, I had an easy time during chemo and rads (like you Charlene, I had lots of anti-nausea meds), with the only side effect being weight gain, but I'm working to lose it and get back in shape.  (you wouldn't believe how good McDonalds Oreo McFlurries tasted to me during chemo!)  Even so, now, I FEEL GREAT!!  There IS life after treatment, and everyone here is going to be FINE!!  I feel just like my old self, maybe even better in a lot of ways, and you all will too!

If I had to give some advice, I would say "take care of yourself, pamper yourself, try not to get too stressed out, and ask for help!!"  I worked through all my treatments, missing only the days of my actual chemo and rads, and then I worked half days.  If I had it to do over, I would probably stay home and rest more, but I love my job and working was therapeutic mentally.  I do take Ativan occasionally for anxiety, but I chalk that up more to menopause than bc.  And I have those old age aches and pains and a few anxious moments, but they all pass.  Certain odors still bother me at times, and there are some foods that I no longer enjoy that I used to (like the McFlurries), but boy I still love macaroni and cheese!

My best to everyone!

Mary Jo