TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Debiann, a coworker of mine who's about three years out from her diagnosis and had Herceptin said she thought her hair started growing faster once she was done with Herceptin. That gives me hope.

gee whiz glad you had a day too yourself with kids, if he loved his mom so much he would get someone else to deal, he is using you, as most men do, my dr finally reamed out my hubby cause he thought I was not sick enough to be fatigued, when I finally went off on him, the dr said its all true, plus each body handles different side effects differently. Don't be taken advantaged of, we are all pretty sick from this horrid disease. Feel better all!

Thanks - I should probably add, (so that I dont sound like a complete monster, just an exhausted mom) that other than her primary caretaker, I am the one who takes care of her the most. Her kids ignore her, or "can't handle the pain of not being recognized". I mean, wth? We had always been somewhat close, and she remembers my name. She seems to have forgotten most of her kids. But still, I have my own 2 parents to take care of, not to mention 3 kids. I am now very over my in-laws seeing me as nothing more than a sitting service. When they need me to take her for the week etc., they dont even bring her to me. I have to drive an hour, clean her up etc. And the cost of care would bankrupt her - its precarious. There is a lot of longevity in her blood (parents and most siblings live to 100 years old. Dad was 103, mom 101) and she is 88 and in good health OTHER than complete dementia.So a facility is 7k a month minimum and a nurse is $25 AN HOUR!!! So take that times another 10 years, and well...UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rant done -sorry : )

still sorry for your unshared responsibilities, I am really big on stress and cancer, and wholeheartedly agree that added stress does not help us recover as we might like to, or can! Please consider that her responsibility is NOT yours alone. Tough ! You have responsibility to your own children and self. Tell them they need to have a family meeting and make a decision, life is not fair, but you have your share already and if you want to get better, than you need to care for yourself, if you choose to care for her, I will pray for your complete peace of mind and health to do this job.

we all make choices in our life, we need to understand the choices we choose. Ignoring is not a choice by them, it's using you because they are probably selfish, I understand the part about not wanting to watch a parent drift away or forget them, yes it hurts, BUT. You have your own issues, and they won't go away magically either. Hugs to you and take care of you and your children and tell hubby to get a reality check, your doctor can intervene for you, mine did.

Hi FullerMomma!

"Triple positive" means that a cancer is fed by hormones (estrogen and progesterone) and that its growth is stimulated by the overproduction of a protein (HER2). That may or may not be what your Dad was referring to.

If your stepmother's cancer is triple positive, that doesn't mean that it can't be eliminated to the point that there is no evidence of disease. Indeed, many women diagnosed with triple positive cancer can be said to be "cured" if they never suffer from recurrence. But, such cancer is typically Stage I, II, or III.

Now, if your stepmother is Stage IV, that means that her cancer has metastasized. It has left the breast and near-lymph nodes and has made a home in her bones, liver, lungs, brain, or elsewhere. Stage IV cancer is typically treatable but not curable. Many women do live years with Stage IV cancer, but there's a good chance that they will succumb to the disease at some point.

Hope this helps!

geewhiz I do have long term care insurance. It just went up last year but still worth every penny. I got it when I was 49 under my dad's former employer's group plan so still pretty reasonable. I have no kids and I'm younger than my husband who smokes. Granted I'm the one who got cancer.

Your grand baby is beautiful Angie

congrats, she is beautiful, enjoy the endorphins.

Thank - you everyone .  Just thought I would share some good news .

that is indeed a beautiful baby! Congratulations!

Hugh congratulations to you Ang on the arrival of your grand-daughter, she is absolutely beautiful.

Ang - congrats on the beautiful Grandbaby. So happy for your blessings!

PMR53

Ang wow how cuuuuuute!

Hi all~ It's been a very long time since I've been on the boards & I'm seeking your expertise for a friend of mine just recently diagnosed. She has Stage 1 triple positive IDC, 0.7cm, 0 node involvement. Her MO is recommending 2 rounds of chemo + Herceptin, followed by radiation. I am confused about this as it appears the NCCN does not recommend chemo?

In addition, the MO quoted her a recent study that just came out that involved 1000 women over 10 years (started in 1990) BUT the women were ER/PR+ and HER2- AND had (+) node involvement. Are any of you familiar with this study? Can you help me understand why the MO is recommending chemo at such an early stage with no node involvement?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!