Calling all Stage II Sisters!!!

I started chemotherapy seven weeks after my surgery.  Time to heal was the reason; I used the time to get myself physically- and emotionally ready for the onslaught.

I had MuGA before chemotherapy as Adriamycin was being recommended as part of my treatment plan.  Adriamycin can cause heart valve function issues and the MuGA is done to ensure that you don't already have function issues with your heart that may get worse.

That said, I have had no heart issues since completing treatment.  I've resumed my regular physical activities (weekly 20-mile hikes and bicycle rides) and have experienced no indication that my heart is anything, but strong and functioning well.

Hello all, I was dx Feb 2011 with invasive papillary carcinoma. Was told it is quite rare and usually found in older women, and usually non-invasive low grade....not much research out there. I am 48 years old and my cancer was grade 3, invasive. Had BMX last August (no recon). Am doing really well and feeling almost "normal" again. It is great to find a group for people with similar dx. I too worry about mets etc so is comforting to know I am not alone.

Chinainbk,

I tried to keep to a regular routine and work kept my mind occupied!  I also thought I would take time off of work if I needed to, but was able to get through it.  I had minor side effects  with the TC (more with the neulasta shot) but nothing that I couldn't handle.  Good luck and hugs to you!  Angie

Hi all!

I guess I belong here. I am presently undergoing chemo. Finished ac dd and now will have my second taxol on Thursday. After this is my surgery. Treatment seems endless.

I am currently reevaluating my recommendation for radiation. Anyone else opt out of rads who is stage 2b. I guess a lot depends on surgical pathology and whether I have lymph vascular invasion or if a lymph node has extracapsular extention. Is that prevalent in our stage????

Pam

Hi! I am totally having a bilateral mastectomy. So far, I have decided against implants. I may consider a Sgap procedure however my biggest priority right now is hopefully not needing radiation and completing treatment. It may sound weird but chemo has made me so bedridden, not as bad with taxol, that any day I can get out of bed and do stuff is good. I don't even care about boobs anymore but I know that may change... I started wondering what I want them for and the only thing I came up with was to look good in clothes!

They did not do a SNB before chemo. What I do know is during my diagnosis, they looked at my lymph nodes during ultrasound and the breast surgeon said it is trying to get to my sentinel node. My PET and MRI showed one node positive 1.5 cm. Because I had neoadjuvant chemo would it show if I had the extracapsular extention or lymph vascular invasion? I understand almost everything about bc now except the lymph nodes, they are confusing.

To help resolve this issue, I wrote a two page letter to my doctors, basically asking if radiation was something I absolutely need for survival.

Hope you are doing well! Pam

apamelahope -  I too had neoadjuvant chemotherapy and did not have SNB before surgery.  All my imaging studies showed no evidence of enlarged lymph nodes.  During my BMX, a SNB was performed and I had 3 sentinel nodes, 2 of which just crossed the threshold of being positive.   Because I had neoadjuvant chemo and still had positive lymph nodes, my surgeon did an ALND for a total of 20 removed.  The two sentinels were the only positive nodes.  My friend, who is a pathologist at the hospital where I had my surgery, said that pathologists often see "dead tissue" in the nodes of patient's who undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy, if those nodes were once positive.  They can often tell when nodes were positive before chemo as this particular necrotic tissue is present under the microscope.  I know at the hospital where I had my surgery, the pathologists often state that in the path report...."necrotic tissue found in nodes", or whatever.   

As far as radiation goes, having the 2 positive nodes put me in a "gray" area regarding radiation based on a few of the latest studies out there.   I had two consultations.  One RO said did recommend radiation for me because of the two nodes being positive, and the other said it he would not....that the risks outweighed the benefit for me, especially considering my pathology report with smallish tumors, no LVI, great margins, and ALND.  It took me a few weeks of research, communicating with women on these boards, and talking and e-mailing one of the ROs a few times to come to the decision that I would NOT do radiation.  

If you have any other questions, please feel free to private message me.......I can give you more details regarding my decision regarding radiation and my plastic surgery choice, etc..... 

Wildrumara, Thank you for the information regarding necrotic tissue and lymph nodes with respect to neoadjuvant therapy. That makes sense. I am thinking my pathology report will determine further the need for radiation. I am glad you got to avoid it.

You too Betsy! Hope I get to join that club....

Pam

Beaglesgirl, I love the name of your town! Thank you for your input. This is such a fear based disease now I am leaning toward doing it.

Did you have the supraclavicular area done too? How was that if you did?

Pam

Hi all,



I too am struggling with the radiation decision. I had a BMX and finished dd A/C and taxol a month ago, I've seen 2 ROs and my breast surgeon about radiation.



The first said absolutely I should do radiation. Said my age (40), the one positive node (2.5mm) and a very very small amount of LVI all add up to radiation. She apparently put in my chart that she thought the risk of a local recurrence was 25-30%.



The 2nd doc said I was smack in the middle of the grey zone and that it came down to my personality - am I the type that needs to know I've done everything absolutely possible to fight this in order to sleep. She put the odds of local recurrence at 10%, said radiation would bring it to 5%. After mtg her I decided I would do it but felt much more in control than I did after the 1st woman.



Then I saw my breast surgeon. She generally agreed with the 2nd opinion but felt that she would lean away from doing the radiation. She felt my risk of recurrence was 5% and that this might bring it to 3-4% but that it's not worth the Side effects. She thought that the LVI was not compelling - it was apparently so small and localized she thought they easily could have not seen it.



So now I really conflicted. I of course want to do everything but would rather not end up with lymphadema or worse and now that im recovering from my TE exchange which was Monday would rather not have gone through this only to screw it up if it's not necessary.



Would love anyone's thoughts! I see a UPenn doc in a week for a 3rd and last opinion.



Rose