doc told me plan on dying soon from Her-2 breast cancer help
sorry i keep posing in all sorts of different forums on here but i am scared so much right now i am 70, i just saw my doc and DOC told me start planning your death now, he said you would be lucky to be around in the next 6 months. to my knowledge herceptin, perjeta along with chemo will not help my doc told me. he said just live out your life now.
i dont know if i should seek another opinion i have GRADE 3, Level 1 to 2 , T2 , HER-2 Positive Breast Cancer. it has not spread that i know of due to many tests/scans i've had. so to me it makes me think i got no shot, im as good as dead.
PLEASE HELP i am about to die!
Comments
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Helen, Get another opinion. What kind of doc told you this? A general practitioner, an oncologist, someone old or younger? I can not imagine what kind of idiot doctor would tell someone with stage one (or two) BC that she is going to die in six months. That just boggles my mind.
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I second what ziggypop said—get a second opinion. I can't imagine why your doctor says herceptin will do no good, because it is a treatment that specifically targets HER2+ cancer. It's just my opinion, but you might want to consider switching to another doctor regardless of the second opinion. I've seen your multiple posts and you're obviously very upset. Cancer is stressful enough without also having to deal with "Doctor Downer" and his "expect the worst" attitude.
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I don't say this often but your doctor is an insensitive idiot !!! Yes go see another doctor / oncologist now !!!
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another thought: I looked in the search feature and I see you've asked almost the same question a number of times over the past week or so, and several people have suggested that you get a second opinion. Have you called another doctor and made an appointment for it yet? Don't take this wrong, but if you haven't, get off the board and on the phone to some other oncologist right away. Sitting there stewing is not going to help you at all. Getting a treatment plan in place will. So please, call another doctor and get an appointment as soon as you possibly can.
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I concur: get a second opinion NOW. Any doctor that is that insensitive and/or so ready to throw in the towel on you before you barely start treatment is, certainly, not a doctor that you want on your team. Nobody - I repeat NOBODY - has an expiry date stamped on them somewhere.
Call NOW.
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You have early breast cancer that hasn't spread (metastasized). Unless he knows something you don't, in no world does that translate to a 6 month death sentence.
In your many posts, I also see you stuck on the "GRADE 3" aspect of your breast cancer. While yes, Grade 1 and 2 are preferable, Grade 3 has advantages in that the cancer (tumor cells) are more susceptible to the effects of chemotherapy. Chemo drugs are designed to target and kill fast dividing/multiplying cells. Since Grade 3 cancers grow faster than lesser grades, chemotherapy is especially effective. It's just a way to look at the cup half full.
I'm definitely not a doctor or oncologist - only a master's degree in rehabilitation therapy, but since my wife was diagnosed I feel like I have become adequately knowledgeable about the topic of BC, and I can tell you with confidence herceptin, perjeta along with chemo WILL have a positive outcome on your future.
Definitely follow the advice of these smart ladies and seek a second opinion.
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It is mega-stressful at the start when you know little about cancer and all you can think of is IvegotcancerandI'mgoingtodie.
Intellectually you know that it probably isn't true but rational argument isn't always helpful when you feel like this. Do you have a breastcare nurse? Or someone close to you who can help you through the initial stress-storm?
It feels like you are facing the great all-powerful unknown, but you know cancer can be beaten.
Have you ever heard this quote?
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”If you are not religious, substitute "fate" or "hope" for "God"
Have courage and keep the faith.
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I had HER2+ IDC with spread to lymph nodes and a 4-5cm lump and grade 3 so how they can possibly tell you to prepare for your death is beyond me! Like the other ladies have advised you should definitely find a new doctor! When I was diagnosed and told what my treatment was going to be, my oncologist told me he considered the treatment to be curative treatment. I'm 6 1/2 years down the line.
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I was diagnosed with Her-2 breast cancer that HAD metastasized to my brain nearly 5 years ago and here I am now. My primary treatment has been Herceptin. It is good juice. Get another opinion!
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Hi Helen. We all know how devestating a cancer diagnosis is so we all feel for you. Did your doctor really say that? I think that's likely what went through your head but not what he actually said. If you had six months to live, it's doubtful they'd be bothering with treatment. Most oncologists are pretty good at not sugar-coating things and evaluating when treatment would no longer be effective. I think he probably said something more to the effect of the details of your diagnosis and you heard "you'll be dead in six months". Take some time to read around the boards and you'll see that there are many women, with a much more dire diagnosis, that are doing very well. I also noticed that in another post you are having trouble with the effects of chemo. There's no doubt it's not fun, certainly scary, but you can and will get through it. Good luck to you and take it one day at a time.
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Helen
Please do get another doctor.... immediately.
Let me tell you a story. At 41 years old I was diagnosed right from the start with stage IV HER2+ breast cancer. I had four tumors on my liver mearsuring around 4 cm, most all of my right ribs, left hip, chest nodes. My first oncologist upon discovering my mets right before starting chemo told me they would treat me for qualify of life and that on the good side my chemo would be easier. He said you have an 8 percent chance at a five year survival. I ran from his office and when I got my second opinion and my current oncologist she told me that I will live a long life. After three cycles of Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin, all of my mets had resolved ... all of them .. bones, liver, chest nodes, ... everything! I finished chemo and have taken Herceptin now for coming up on 6 years. guess what ... still my pet scans are clean and there is no cancer!!!
Get away from this doctor fast and go get a second opinion. Herceptin was my miracle drug and it is for so many. And if not, there are others too.
Once you get through chemo, life gets back to normal real quick. I have worked full time through it all and still do.
You can do it!!!
Jennifer
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