Her2 and lump didn't shrink

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linn65
linn65 Member Posts: 24
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Just wondering if anyone knows this or experienced. I finished my 6th pre-adjunctive TCH chemo a week ago today. I went today for MRI with contrast, ultrasound and mammo to check on how my body or lump did with it. Anyway my biggest lump was and still is 5 cm per ultrasound. MRI results are not back. What doesn't make sense is if lump is the same why would I still need herceptin for a year???? Lump isn't bigger or smaller......

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  • Lauriesh
    Lauriesh Member Posts: 692
    edited December 2012

    While it may not have shrunk it, it did not grow. So, the meds kept it stable. I think it would be worthwhile to do a year of herceptin because it may keep any stray cells from growing and developing into mets.





    Laurie

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  • nickythebean
    nickythebean Member Posts: 50
    edited December 2012

    The same happened to me. My tumor was still measuring the same after 6 neo-adjuvant chemo infusions. BUT the MRI showed that it was thinning out, getting holes, like Swiss cheese. The MRI said there was a significant change in my tumor. Don't start worrying until you get the MRI results back. Hopefully you'll get the same report that I did!! Keep us posted.

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  • linn65
    linn65 Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2012

    I have my doctor appt 12/4 so I will soon find out my next step, and I am assuming surgery. One thing since chemo started is I cry weekly, I am very sentimental about the smallest of things. A happy memory can bring a flood of tears, and I think is this emotional overload ever going to stop? Sometimes I wonder who I am anymore.

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  • placid44
    placid44 Member Posts: 497
    edited December 2012

    Halfway through taxol (and after AC), my MRI showed that the tumor has only shrunk 40 percent, BUT there is very little cancer remaining. The radiologist said it's like an apple - the cancer is on the outside of the tumor, but the inside is all scar tissue from the chemo killing the cancer. So the size of the tumor can matter (I was feaking out about it not shrinking much), but also the "content" of the tumor. Dead tissue is as good as shrinkage.

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  • bluedasher
    bluedasher Member Posts: 1,203
    edited December 2012

    Linn, you don't mention how old you are. If you were pre-menopause when you started chemo, perhaps the hormone changes of chemopause are contributing to emotional symptoms.

    I hope that the MRI brings you good news. My ultrasound lump was about 3.5 cm but part of it was a benign cyst and part was DCIS. The invasive component turned out to be a bit under 1 cm.

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  • linn65
    linn65 Member Posts: 24
    edited December 2012

    I went to surgeon today. He said tumor has not changed. I am two weeks out of chemo and they are to call with surgery date tomorrow. He said no reconstruction for 6 months because body is weakened from chemo and worry about blood clots. So better to do reconstruction and remove other breast and reconstruct then. Next step remove left breast and lymph nodes on left side. And hopefully the miracle drug herceptin stops the spread. Only thing is time it's cancer no guarantees. And I am 47.......

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  • Fitz33
    Fitz33 Member Posts: 243
    edited December 2012

    linn65,  My tumor hadn't changed much either after neo-adjuvant chemo and was larger than they originally thought on surgery but I finished the surgery and axillary dissection, radiation, a year of Herceptin and have been on Arimidex for about 1-1/4 years already and doing fine.  Hang in there, it does get better. 

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