MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN 40-60ish

Kitty- you need to do something for you. Go shopping, get your hair done, or something just for you.

I went to see the RO this morning. The good news is I only need 28 rads instead of 33.

The bad news is I did my math wrong and it was 17 positive nodes out of 17 and he said that he was calling the PS to tell her not to give me any fills on the left side until after rads and to just fill the right side because he is afraid it would get in the way of radiation. I will be walking lop sided for months. Every time I go to any of these appointments it is always something else that is depressing. When I try to find a positive they snatch it up.

Hi guys, it's been awhile. Had to take a break for a bit. I was hoping it would help me move beyond cancer a bit...but the nasty thing has drug me back in.

Got a kind of different scenario and I would love to run it by you guys. After 4 seperate tests done on my originial biopsy, (3 of which came back as equivocal or unclear, 1 of which came back negative) it was decided I was Her-2 negative and triple negetive. I went to my new oncologist for the second time last Monday. He informs me that he had my internal node tested for Her-2 and it came back positive, so he wants to start Herceptin. Here's the catch...a note on the new pathology report says: node demonstrates a positive result for Her-2, however, it should be noted the fixation time is unknown and may not be between the recommended 6-48 hours. This has been known to lead to a false positive response.

So...I am torn between thinking, If there is something else that could work I should use it and the fact that since it has no effect at all on Triple Neg then if this is a false positive I am doing a year of Herceptin side effects for nothing! Doc said, "Her-2 stage III has a very negative prognosis without Herceptin, so I think we should assume the positive is correct and do it." IDK..second opinion maybe? request testing on other tissue samples removed? Just accept my fate and go with it? IDK...my head feels like it would explode.

What would you do if you thought you were done and then the docs said...maybe it's this other kind...let's do more? Thoughts?

Diana and Sherry: Thanks for the support, it does kind of suck.

Eli: That's a great idea about sending off multiple slices. I called the pathologist's office and evidently the fixation times (when they were put in the preservative) were not written on any of the samples. Only one slice was recorded and sent off for the final Her-2 (which came back equivocal). The issue he said is that the fixation time isn't known for any of the other samples. However, I think if they tested 5 or 6 and they all came back positive, I would feel better. I'll call the onc tomorrow and see if he will order them. If not, it might be second opinion time.

Kittygirl - love the pic! Show them what you got!

Sending warm wishes and ((hugs)) for a brighter day today.

Sherryc..

I went back to work last week.. only part time to start.. Feels great.. I am lucky to have good insurance and was covered for the full eleven months I was off.. My insurance company set up a back to work schedule for me slowly working back up to full time over five weeks.(3days 4 hours.. 4days 4 hours, 5 days four hours, 5 days six hours, 6 days 8 hours) . Was told if you go back at a gradual back to wok program you tend to do better..I was hoping to go back faster, but am now glad I am following this program.. Four hours is enough for now.. my job is fast paced days ..

Should have my recon about the time I am up to full time, so will be off again for a few weeks.. Glad I got a great boss and good insurance

Good luck going back to work.. remember to listen to your body

So I feel really bad. Karma has got me cuz I didn't have y'all in my pocket this morning. I had a blood draw and a abdominal CT with contrast. I warned them that I was a troublemaker--my vein on my non-radiated is shot due to my many years of generous, unselfish blood donations. Now they can't draw blood in either arm very easily. With this scan, they said the iv had to go in a central vein so the contrast would go directly to my heart instead of around my arm, shoulder and back. After 15 minutes of thumping, arranging and rearranging the tourniquet, he "thought" he had my vein. After verifiying with another nurse, they went ahead. After 30 years of blood donations, I had never felt such pain. They couldn't get the blood draw as the needle slipped and came out. Blood everywhere. They got me a bed, after some o.j. and making sure that I wasn't going to throw up and pass out.(I have never had that problem before, so I was a little freaked) They took me to a holding area for about 45 minutes until they could get a PICU nurse to come down and stick me. She was able to put the iv in my forearm, again, wussy me, almost passed out again. She couldn't get that to draw so she had to stick me AGAIN in the hand to actually get the draw. Talk about a pincushion. The poor rad tech was apologizing out his you know what. He had a nurse stay with me constantly to make sure I was ok (or not sue, complain??) They actually were so upset with themselves, I felt sorry for them. After I was done, the ct tech gave me a meal chit for the cafeteria because "the supervisor wanted to apologize for all I went thru." That was the best tasting hospital food I have ever had!!-----the funny thing is I am not at all ticked off about the whole thing. Didn't give them much to work with. and the one thing I have learned while going thru all this stuff is that you can't get yourself worked up about some things. If I had been nasty to them, they probably wouldn't have done their job any better. Kinda like the waiter spitting in your soup. It just doesn't pay to piss off the people that are there to help you. 

i'll be there claire

Lordy, Claire, what a day. Bet you were really glad to be done with all that! I'll definitely be in your pocket next time. 

Wow Claire!  I will be jumping in for sure!!

Count me in too Claire! And great attitude, you are a trooper!

Good to see you smiling Kitty! Glad you got a good report.

Claire - what a day! Yikes. Not sure I would have remained so composed. But you are right in that there is no sense getting angry or upset - it would just make everything worse.

Maybe I should be requesting a PP for today just to make sure everything runs smoothly. No blood draw - just CT scan @ 12PM - I know it's short notice but would love to have some company if anyone is able.

Hope everyone enjoys the day!

Jumping in your pockets barsco.  I hope I don't land in the sauce that claire is bringing.  It looks yummy!

Forgive me for barging in so abrubtly...I've finally been able to log in for the first time in a month!! Please let me know of any unusual news since March 25th. Otherwise, count me in for any necessary pocket parties. I'm ready!!