Please help me

There is no crystal ball but Herceptin dramatically improves your prognosis. Also, just because you are HER2+ doesn't mean it will automatically spread. HER2+ is no longer as scary it was 10 years ago.

From what I've been reading us HER2+ gals, when treated with Herceptin have practically the same prognosis stats as those who test negative. The oncologist will give you a much better idea but having clear lymph nodes is awesome!

I so hear you. I remember thinking it was in my bones that my nodes were sore and swollen. You just get so scared. It will be alright. This is treatable! That tender breast bone, I'm sure that just hurts due to surgery. 

What is your hormonal status? One thing about being HER2 positive is that herceptin does improve the prognosis so stay away from older websites with information that is dated- it is no longer pertinent and is a bit depressing. The newer interactive sites give a better idea of the options, results and trends. 

You will have an intense year- chemo, radiation and herceptin are definitely "doable". Not the most pleasant experience, but read some of the posts here regarding getting through treatments and you will find a treasure chest of little hints that do make a difference.

Every twinge,lump, bump or ache will make you worry about mets. It's normal-we all do. It gets easier, with time, to put such thoughts on the back burner for a bit. The "two week" rule seems to be a good guideline - mets symptoms, in general, don't get better, or go away.  

I went for a follow up last week - all the other ladies in the waiting room were at least 5 years out. I was the only "newbee" at 17 months. I worked full time through treatment and have a very active life. Your diagnosis is not an imminent invitation from the grim reaper . It is a wake up call that you are dealing with a very serious condition, but it is not without treatment options. 

 Try not to panic or feel overwhelmed . Easier said than done, but you are not alone in this - many have done this before you and, unfortunately, many others will join our ranks. Concentrate on getting yourself in good physical and mental condition. Most of all, be kind to yourself. There will be days that you just simply don't feel good. So be it. Allow yourself to accept help so as to get over the rough spots.

I found something to look forward to at the end of  treatment was a help. It doesn't have to be much - just a little treat to self for finishing chemo, then rads, then Herceptin. Read the information on this site, and don't panic if you see a great number with problems. They are here, like you, to get answers or receive support. (Some bless their hearts, still post or stay in contact so as to help others). For every woman on this site ( and we are now, what? 60,000?) there are many, many, many more that have put this cancer thing behind them.

 Best wishes and many hugs. You can, and will do this. 

hi zlota

i had a uni left MX also.  Everything was tender and sore for a while.  It's this thing we BC girls do - every twinge, ache, pain makes us think 'has it spread?'

i had 6 rounds of TCH (taxatore, carboplatin, herceptin) and herceptin in the weeks between chemo.  it is doable but tiring.  i worked through all of it but that last two rounds - i got really anemic.  Now i'm doing herceptin every three weeks.  my hair's growing back and my energy is coming back.  if you go to the chemotherapy board on this site there is a lot of information on this course of treatment - which i'm assuming you are going to take.  :-)

you and your onc will be able to hammer out the details.  herceptin gives us her2 girls a decent fighting chance.  :-)

~M

Just to chime in with the others, my breast surgeon - and many oncologists I'm told - now believes that being HER2 + gives you a better outcome than if you're not, because it provides a very potent way of getting at the cancer (Herceptin). There are also other anti-HER2 drugs too being trialled at the moment for early BC - Lapatinib, Neratinib etc so there will be even more options in future.

It's fabulous that you caught it so early! Hooray!! An invasive component of .6 mm is really, really small. Plus your nodes are clear - hooray again!! I think you'll find, once they've crunched the numbers and stats for you, that your life expectancy, after treatment, is pretty much what it was before diagnosis 

None of this takes away the fact that diagnosis and going through treatment is such a frightening, terrifying time, but do keep bearing in mind that of all the serious diseases out there, breast cancer is one of the most curable. 

I had terrible anxiety for a long time, but actually the thing that soothed and calmed me most (particularly when I couldn't sleep) was reading two books by Rachel Naomi Remen. She is a physician that has counselled cancer patients for many years and is a pioneer of the holistic medicine movement and she has an amazingly healing, comforting perspective.

Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal and My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge, and Belonging 

When I was diagnosed I thought it was the end of the world and I would never smile again, but, while I wouldn't say BC is the best thing that ever happened to me, I have been amazed at how many good things have come out of this experience. Having such a searing encounter with my mortality somehow allowed me to give myself permission to discard all the things in my life that didn't fit with who I really am and what I really want to do with my life, and that's been very liberating!

Hang in there, sister!

Lucy 

Hi, I have almost the same diagnosis as you.  My IDC was 7mm, also with clear nodes and HER2+.  I had masectomy and also radiation to the chest wall.  I just finished my last herceptin (Did 6x TCH and then a year of herceptin) 2 weeks ago.  I was 38 at diagnosis and breastfeeding my 3rd baby when I found the lump.  I know how you're feeling.  I went through (and still am going through) all those terrible thoughts and uncertainties.  The good news is that the treatments you will be looking at are bearable, although not a walk in the park.  I took care of my 3 kids, walked them to school every day, cooked dinner on most nights, helped with homework etc.  Was I tired and exhausted?  Heck, yeah!  But the treatments, to me, were not debilitating.  I always felt like they were about the same as I felt in the early months of pregnancy--kind of a car sickness feeling all day long, but not enough to really put my normal life on hold.  I just always felt BLAH.  I also think that when you have kids, and you don't have a choice to be sick, that you jsut keep going because you have to!  Good luck.  PM me if you have questions!

Getting the first treatment is the scariest. When you realize its not going to kill you, its not bad at all. There are good days and By Golly you will get through the not so good and when you do its a great feeling. You know you are strong and in a very elite club. The "Survivers". The first 2 treatments of A/C I worked but got a little sicker after the third one.Taxol wasn't bad, mostly bone aches no sickness.Everyone is different so you may get through better than I.Some do better with A/C and some do better with Taxol. Herceptin is a walk in the park, no real problems. I drove to and home even though I was sleepy from the benadryl. Mostly light flu symptoms.I kinda miss that restful benadryl sleep. Maybe I need to get some. The farther out you get from DX the easier it is to deal with. You kinda forget about it sometimes. The cloud isn't so black anymore, the sun shines through a lot. The good thing, you appreciate life so much more and you never want to waste it. Good Luck, Mary