TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

Roses ex - I didn't want anyone to be confused, trastazumab is Herceptin, the drug name for Perjeta is pertuzumab.

Tonlee - Perjeta is another targeted therapy that is showing dramatic effect when given neoadjuvently, which is the current FDA approval for early stage BC. Some oncs have been able to get it adjuvently, but is the exception so far. Here is a blurb from the maker, and the trial info. The other trial is the Aphinity trial but I couldn't get the link to work on my phone:

http://m.perjeta.com/patient/neoadjuvant

http://www.esmo.org/Conferences/Past-Conferences/E...

the acne is from the steroids. I went to my derm and got a script for retin a cream. Really helps. I got one period on taxol. Nothing since.

For those of you who are young like me and considering an oooph, my MO says ovaries do lots of good things in the body. She wants to do ovarian suppression with Lupron for me for two years, and then discuss. She strongly discouraged the oooph. I have an apt with my OB/gymn to discuss next week and get his opinion.

rosesrx - no worries, hope the glasses settle down soon! I tried progressives a few years ago and could not get used to them. I have stayed with single vision reading glasses and I slide them down my nose and look over the top - very old school

I was 100 on PR and ER. I did not realize so much about the different levels. These are just things you never expect to be educated about. I am not sure if these have any indication for recurrence or not. I have a bad feeling lately. I had a blood transfusion and my doctor had said I would feel better right away and that was 2 weeks ago...waiting still!

SK. I just returned my progressives!!! I felt nauseous when I was wearing them. So I do the same thing. The 'ol move your glasses right down your nose!!!!

my MO pays a lot of attention to my long term quality of life, and In particular for me because we caught my cancer soooooo early (yay!) she doesn't want to over treat. She's always worried about over treatment. She said that tamoxifan carries the same risk of stroke as birth control pills, and that since I was on the pill for over 20 years my risk was very low. So for me, so will try tamox instead of an AI. She said she thinks I am very far away from menopause. She thoughtsex might be less painful on tamox than an AI. I have been warned that sex will be painful. Unfortunately she also warned my husband who is now terrified of hurting me and we are trying to work through that. I'm so glad we have Been together so long and married so long that we can have those kind of discussions...but In the back of his mind there's a tape playing that says he's hurting me...how do you deal with THAT?

My appt with my OB is next wed. He delivered both my children and handled both of my misscarriages and has been in my life for 15 years. I very much want his perspective on the oooph and will share next week.

thanks TonLee for your honesty...that is exactly why I decided to "test drive" menopause with Lupron instead of an ooph. Plus even with the ovaries gone you still produce some estrogen(if very little) from the adrenal glands, fat etc? I think that's what I think I read anyway, someone correct me if Im wrong. I cant tolerate the AIs either, gave it my all but I was a wreck (vertigo/joint pain so bad I could barely walk) I know there is a slight statistical advantage but I cant live in extreme pain everyday. So I take my Tamox, stopped the shots and hopefully my ovaries have slowed down with age!

MMay, re: multi-vitamin . . . I'm a big fan of Garden of Life. I take the women's one-a-day, though there's also a three-a-day. Other good brands are New Chapter and MegaFood. They're all whole-food vitamins, so you're not mega-dosing yourself with things you might not need. . . with the added bonus that they're more digestible. (I was a vitamin/supplements buyer for a long time in another chapter of my life, but have no stake in one brand or another.)

Anyone have nosebleeds while on TCHP? Woke up this morning to a new surprise . . . Fortunately, it stopped after about five minutes, but MAN. Chemo is the gift that just keeps on giving.

BTW, you ladies are awesome. I love the frank discussions that occur here.

I too get them. They have so far never been more than frank blood when I wipe or gently blow my nose. I have been using saline a couple times a day and just purchase aquaphor yesterday to try as well. They do let up just in time for next big dose. The mo said if they get worse it or I can't stop the bleed go to ER. I also saw someone on here say that at about day 10 after her chemo she would start having some nose bleeds like clockwork. Youre right there is always something.

Nose bleeds became pretty regular for me. I used a saline to help keep my nose moist. They were the worst at night. Who wants to sit up at 2 in the morning to try and stop your bleeding nose!?!

Re ooph. OS and an ooph have the same effect on your bones and heart. The difference is that if you decide to stop OS down the road, things should get better. I'm interested to see some of the suggestions by Gyns. Mine said ooph and hyst. I decided that removing the uterus was not for me. Seems to have too many uses. I'm now 43. Unless they decide to change their mind on OS for premenopausal women, I'll remove ovaries and tubes. My MO said they don't like to do OS for a long period of time. The problem for me is that I don't know when I'll hit natural menopause. Could be in a couple years, five years or even ten years. Painful sex? I haven't had a problem with that. Sure, things have been dry on occasion. I use astroglide when needed. I adopted the "use it or lose it" mentality. Even during chemo. My MO said my body will provide natural lubrication if I have sex more often. Not sure if that's true but my DH certainly isn't going to complain! I would assume OS and an ooph would have the same effect on my sex life. Please let me know if that's not true. I'm scheduled for surgery September 25th. AIs or Tamox? I've read stuff about women not metabolizing Tamox very well or it not being good for Her2+. Again, not sure if that's true. I haven't have any problems with Anastrozole (knock on wood). Tamoxifen does have a risk of uterine cancer...Although is is low. That is the only reason I considered removing my uterus. If I started having problems with an AI, I would go back to Tamoxifen.

Honestly, all these options suck!

hercepton causes many things, rash for me at first, I am done chemo, but with each infusion I still get a slight rash on my face, almost a flush, like I was drinking. As for the nose bleeds had those, but of course no one mentioned the nose hair loss either, guess it wasn't important enough. I don't think it has grown back, but the runny nose is pretty much gone for now.

I chose doubl mastectomy to just get the mammary cells out of my body, didn't realize a second occurrence could come back on chest wall, so it's never out of your mind, just moves back a bit occasionally. No regrets on the mastectomy as I was rather large and couldn't lay on my tummy any longer, now I can, hubby was ok with it, whatever I wanted. As for er+ and pr+ I just learned from my surgeon the higher the numbers the better it is, except for her + that number is better lower. So I feel better, about the numbers but hate the whole Dx thing. Still get upset, even mad that this happened to me? Not good spiritually, guess I am a coward but it's something that will take me awhile to deal with, even though I don't get a choice, I have to remember that life is not fair, and this is my new life. Ok off the pity wagon, be well girls

Kate,

I had nosebleeds for the first time in my life on Taxol/ herceptin, they stopped after. About 2 wks PFC... But boy, I hated having that just happen

"The Surprising Reason Most People Get Cancer"

Part of the reason I don't drive myself crazy with diets, etc. I try to eat healthy but you have to live.