For my aunt

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memory
memory Member Posts: 106
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

My aunt was recently diagnosed with IDC which was also HER2+. (ER+) There was a micromet in one node. She is Stage 2B. Since my own experience was so different than hers will be, I wondered if you ladies could share any experiences, things you think she should know, as she embarks on this journey. She's beginning chemo next week. One of her drugs will be adriamycin (sigh). She doesn't know how many rounds she will get. Then it's on to Herceptin and Tamox for five years.

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  • Mantra
    Mantra Member Posts: 968
    edited June 2011

    Sorry you and your aunt are going through this. I too am trying to find out as much info as possible. My sister just had surgery for HR2 positve cancer with one node being positive. She was diagnosed May 5 and had surgery June 16. She fell through the crack at a major cancer centre .  . . they admitted they were wrong and surgery should have been much earlier. Her tumor doubled in size while she waited for surgery.

    She has yet to start chemo or even meet with an oncologist. I know her BS said she will be on Tamox and Hepercin. I'm concerned that she hasn't met with the oncologist yet. She still hasn't had a chest x-ray or bone scan but they will be done in a couple of weeks.

    Thanks for starting this thread and I hope we both can learn from others who have been through it.

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  • elmcity69
    elmcity69 Member Posts: 998
    edited June 2011

    I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your aunt's.

    I did dose dense A/C (Adriamycin/Cytoxan), with Taxol following. Herceptin x1year. Herceptin was  a breeze - it is not chemo, so the side effects are usuallly minimal. A/C was tough, no doubt about it - although I don't read of any chemo protocol that is easy. Biggest tip for A/C: take the Sudafed round the clock, and keep drinking, whatever gets you through. Sinus headaches are tough with A/C, but the Sudafed helps tremendously.

    Herceptin requires MUGA scans every three months; the test is quite simple, just a hassle having one more damned appointment. My heart function fell from 74 to 58 - the latter is still normal-- but that was due to Herceptin and Adriamycin. It's back up to normal now, just 4 months later.

    Most important: she should ignore the gloom and doom around HER2 status. My onc, another at yale (2nd opinion early on), and my rad onc all state that HER2 + is a good thing these days, given Herceptin. Also ignore the negative chatter around A/C: people call A the "red devil" and such crap. None of that helps us on the journey  (and yes, i'm going to editorialize: but this stuff is not poison. Cancer kills us. Chemo doesn't.).

    Good luck and God bless, both to you and your aunt. Feel free to PM me if I can be of further help.

    Janyce

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  • memory
    memory Member Posts: 106
    edited June 2011

    Janyce, thanks for the "been there, done that" response. My BC treatment is looking like a walk in the park (no chemo, no rads), compared to what my aunt will have to undergo.

     Glad for the good words about HER2. I saw the movie, Living Proof, (if you haven't seen it, it's not high art, but worth a look), and herceptin has a very interesting history. I didn't repeat "the red devil" terminology to her; didn't want to scare her, but I'm glad to hear it's doable. I'll pass along the information about Sudafed and water.

    Good luck and God bless you, too.

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