Stage II A with one Node developed how much does recurrent?

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melani_k
melani_k Member Posts: 13
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer

My 35 year old sister; recently had a tumor in left breast size: 2.8 cm and one of 24 nodes which have been removed, was developed. Mastectomy has been done a week after lumpectomy because her surgeon was worried about recurrent. the first session of Chemoteraphy ( AC- T; Adriamycine and cyclophosphamide ) has been done. ER, PR was negative but HER 2 positive, I'm really worried about recurrent. Yesterday, I heard about some body whose cancer with stage II B had developed in liver and lung just one year after Chemoteraphy and Radio teraphy.

I'm wondering if Herceptin should be used along with chemoteraphy. Of course we sent sampel to another Lab for more examination. I hope ER, PR is Positive. 

I wish, there is a certain method to know about recurrent. 

Comments

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Melani- Hi im sorry about your sister. I dont know much about Her+ but just wanted to send hugs. Im sure someone with more knowledge on this will come along soon with some answers. But i do know tthat a lot of the women here that are her+ do take herceptin. Keepin your sister and you in my prayers!

    Warm hugs

    Debbie

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    Thank you Debbie for your warm wishes. I pray for all patients too.

    We had easy life and now every thing has changed like earthquake shook us up.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Earhtquakes? Where do you live? I know they had a big one in mexico recently. Hope you and your faimily are ok. Wanted you to know also that sometimes late at night the threads move slower so you may not get a response right away. Tomorrow i will check and see if you got an answer if not i will bump it up to the top of the list so it will be seen easily. hugs!

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    Not real earthquake, I just resembled my sister cancer to earthquake that shook every thing. Hugs

    all of us are worried about her, we love her. 

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Oh ok, i understand now what you meant sorry. She is lucky to have such a caring sister like you. You will find a lot of great support and advice here on the boards to be able to help her more. Hugs

  • fredntan
    fredntan Member Posts: 1,821
    edited April 2012

    First breath long breath in, and out.



    Dont listen to those stories about other people getting reoccurrance. Her MO has probably gone over the chances with her.



    I've read that exercise reduces chance of reoccurance . Then there is the aspirin theory, metformin looks promising. Breast cancer vaccine is in trial, its called nuovax? I'm sure I misspelled it.



    Earthquake over.time to pick up the pieces.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012
  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited April 2012

    I'm shocked she had 24 nodes removed.  Why?  That is a lot for a woman who only had one positive node.

    There is a website called cancerlifemath that will help you calculate risks of recurrence.  Herceptin is only helpful if she's HER2+.

    Unfortunately, even in women with no nodes, cancer does recur, as I can attest.  However, it is not common for a Stage II with one node to recur, she probably has something like an 85% five year survival.

  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited April 2012

    I thought with more recent advances in sentinel node screening the goal was to avoid removing too many nodes.

    http://www.uptodate.com/contents/sentinel-lymph-node-biopsy-in-breast-cancer-techniques

    That being said I had the dye injected but my surgeon still removed 18 nodes for 1 positive sentinel node.  Maybe some surgeons are more aggressive.......

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    Dear all

    Thank you so much for your hopeful comments, I think her sergeon was worried about the size of tumor, if it was smaller she would not remove all. you know cancer will be clear more by micro scale not visual inspections while she had seen one of nodes was alittle bigger she removed all then sent to lab. She supposed my sister wont be needed for radiotherapy, at the present her Ancologist believes she must have 1mounth radiation because of just one node.

    We don't know it would be better to start using Herceptin after Chemotherapy with Radioteraphy or after Radioteraphy and how long should use?

    what is the best way to check metastasis after finishing all ( chemo and radiotraphy)?

    I heard about a factor in blood that will check and if it is raising they will use extra medicine like herceptin. I think it's called tomour margin.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Hi Melani- Usually the oncologist wont order mri's or bone scans after finishing treatment unless she is stage 4 or has Side effects, like peristant bone pain, or pain elsewhere that would prompt them to do so.

    Some Dr wont order the tumor marker test because its not always accurent in determing cancer. but it is a uselful tool some womens TM sky rocket and some stay normal but it is just a blood test so its easy to ask for my Onco orders one every visit which is now at 6 months. 

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    I also was wondering like coolbreeze why so many nodes removed  with just one node involvement, she is at a higher risky for lympdema, do you have information on this?  (((Hugs))))

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    yes Debbie I know about Lympdema, you are right.

    I really wish to know more about methods of checking metastasis after chemoteraphy.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Melani- There is really no way of knowing who will get a recurrance and who wont, some women have early stage bc and goes on to be stage 4 some have an aggressive cacer and never get a recurrance. Even if she does get a recurrance dosnt mean its not treatable and dosnt mean there will be mets. She may of alrady had the scans which is nromal to order when first diagnosed. So instead of worring about a recurrance help her to focus on whats going on now and help her get through treatments, which im sure you are already doing.

    hugs

    Debbie

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    yes, I'm trying to do my best. she just has unbearable nausea while is using Emend and Kytril.

    She can not eat meat, chicken and liquids such as juice because those make her nausea much more. she is not worried about loss of hair, skin dryness and turning pale just nausea and body pain make her feeling bad. She does not like that others know about her cancer so she really wants to go her office :-( 

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Im sorry your sister is having a hard time with her treatments i did as well, here are a few things that might help if she hasnt already done this. I got the plastic utensils, because i had a metalic taste in my mouth when using regular silverware. Have her drink lots of water to flush out the toxins in her body. I couldnt drink citrus as it made my mouth sore worse. so i drank lots of water, but even water tasted yucky somtimes. Watermelon tasted especially good, and had ice pops and pudding. A lot of women said claritan helped there bone and body aches, this did not work for me, i had to take pain pills but most women swear by it. The emend didnt really help my nausea either, i started putting slices of ginger in my water and it seemed to help. I couldnt eat any of my favorite foods while going through chemo it tasted bad so she may want to avoid her favoite foods as she may not like them after chemo anymore. I hope this has helped somewhat. You are a great sister for advocating for her. Within about a week or two after her treatments she should start to feel better.

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    Dear Debbie

    Your useful information really help me to be hopeful. the second chemoteraphy by AC ( Adriomicine and Cyclophosphamid ) was done last wednesday. Taxol will be replaced after 4 sessions for the rest treatment. Doctor said Taxol will have less side effects. I hope he is right.

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2012

    Has she started losing her hair yet? I lost mine about 14 days after first chemo, so i had my husband shave my head. Also, if you hav an American Cancer Society near you, they will give her wigs, hats and breast forms or anything she needs free of charge.They also have a 1 or 2 hour class that is called " Look good feel good" they give you free make-up and show you how to use it too.

  • melani_k
    melani_k Member Posts: 13
    edited April 2012

    Yes, it started exactly 14 days after first chemo.Yesterday I shaved her hair while I was trying not cry :-(( it was really difficult but I was joking.

    After Mastectomy we bought external breast prostesis, it's bra and sleeve glove but she is not using glove at the present it's bothering for her. She has wigs and other cosmetics too. she does not let others know about her cancer so everything must be normal as before.I hope she is fine soon and doctors can do reconstruct surgery after 1 year.

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