TRIPLE POSITIVE GROUP

I second the 90 minute infusion for Herceptin. I changed to that on #8 and it was a game changer. Natural Calm and Curcumin seem to help too.

Good morning all. With exception of minor shaky and red face from steroids and chemo so far ok. See urologist later today. When I got my schedule yesterday I noticed that now I have to have labs drawn day before chemo now. I didn't do that for the first three. Anyone else?

Elainetheresa I hope your results from MRI are good news.

Txmom I am hoping this is not some complication!

SpecialK thanks for info

Moomfiwr912 I took AZO with a last infection or stone or whatever this was and the pain and pressure were much relieved!

CassiCat thank you

anyone get 4 cycle of TCH instead of 6 cycle? I wonder if all Her2+ needs to go through 6 cycles.

Hello, so I am just looking for opinions.  My Mom will be 4 yrs stage 1 triple positive breast cancer survivor come January.  Back in July her liver enzymes were high and they did an ultrasound and all they found was a fatty liver.  She had her tumor marker test done the end of July and it was at 50.  6 months prior it was in the low 40s.  She had a repeat test of her liver enzymes just last week and that went down into the normal range.  She also had a repeat tumor marker test done on Tuesday and it went down to 49.  Her oncologist is still recommending she goes for a cat scan of her chest and abdomen.  Does anyone think this is a little aggressive??  He originally told her they don't start looking for cancer unless the number goes into the 80s or higher.  She has always been slightly elevated ever since they started testing her back in 2012.  I would also like to add that she was starting to have a lot of side effects from Arimidex, so she went off of it at the end of July right after she had the liver ultrasound.  All of her side effects have subsided.

I have also read that doctors usually look for jumps in the numbers, like more than 10 or 20 points at a time.

My Mom is thinking of not going for the cat scan and just asking to get the blood work repeated again in another month.  I think she is just tired of getting pricked and prodded.

Thanks in advance for reading my post!

laols9n, if my doc recommended a scan, I would go for it. They aren't invasive but if something is going on, the earlier it is found the better. Also peace of mind if nothing shows up. My opinion only, take or toss. Love, Jean

rhp268 - My Mom's diet has been better ever since they diagnosed her with the fatty liver, but I am sure she can make some more improvements.  I do have a call into the nurse at the oncologist's office.  I think if there was truly a concern from the results of her liver ultrasound back in July, they would of pursued something back then.  I do not understand why now they would want a catscan.  My Mom is almost 70 years old and would prefer not to be pricked and prodded everytime there is a slight blimp in her bloodwork.

I truly think the Arimidex caused her liver enzymes to rise.  Since now that she has been off the drug for a month, her numbers coincedentally come down.  She also experienced high blood pressure, stomach issues, and a persistent cough while on Arimidex.  All of these side effects have subsided.  Her blood pressure is now back down to 130/80.  It was as high as 160/90.  I want her to have the most protection from her cancer coming back, but at what cost?  She is planning to go back on Arimidex in another month.  We will see how long she lasts.  She has been on the Arimidex and Aromasin on and off for 3 years.  She was on Arimidex this past time for about 6 months.  I find it strange that her Oncologist never seems to correlate her side effects to the drug.  He would rather just order another test.

Laolson I would do the scan and keep,up the blood work as well. Scan won't hurt to do.

All went well at urologist! Ultrasound was clear best guess was I passed a stone last time. Really liked the doc. Praise God! I am shaky today. Third day out from third TCH maybe steroids are hanging out in my body today!

Have a great day ladies

KateB79 My first Herceptin I got a slow drip that they kept speeding up because I didn't have a reaction. After that it was always 30 minutes.

laolson18 my oncologist doesn't do tumor markers for early stage. She says they are unreliable. Scan might not be a bad idea due to fatty liver but I really don't know for sure. 70YO is not all that old.

thanks again for all the congrats!

NED YAY Elaine

Yay Elaine. By the way 70 certainly isn't that old. I was 72 last April and just limped through a senior Zumba class this morning. Getting old is not for wimps. Thank you God for your strength. Go seniors! Love Jean

I also agree that 70 yrs old is not that old.  Sorry if it came across wrong thru my post.  I was just trying to state some facts.  Anyways, brief update.  The oncologist agreed to repeat her blood work in a month to see if the trend of the numbers is still going down.  She is not going to get a catscan at this time.  I think it is a good compromise.  I really wish her oncologist didn't even do the blood markers. It causes way too much anxiety.  I did ask about why they wanted to start do scans when her marker is at 49, eventhough he had said they don't start looking for cancer until the number reaches 80.  The nurse stated that was the protocol a couple of years ago and unfortunately they have seen cancer recurrences at lower number ranges now.

Oh Well, not going to harp about it any longer.  Everyone have a nice long Labor day weekend!

Keep on dancing that dance with NED! Yippee ElaineThere!

yay Elaine great news and I would also get a dcan done if the dr suggests it to me I don't think there's over screening with this terrible disease

Lago-BIG congratulations! You have been one of my hero's since I joined.

Ashla,

I relate to your statement of breaking everything else. I have gone through the EBD and all the ESDs with the same and increased crappy SEs that get progressively worse. My belly looks like I am about 24 months pregnant with a medium size elephant. Joints and bones hurt. Bottom of feet throb. Hair thinning. The Big D. Alternating with the Big C. That may be IBS but I am now blaming the ESD.

Had labs again today to check my iron levels and more. Have been dropping again. Interviewed a GI doc but he is moving and he was rude. Would not answer my questions. Told me it was "a waste of his time to talk about a treatment I would not understand". Had he taken a minute to read my name on my lab coat... See my new MO in a month and my internal medicine doc about the same time.

I really thought I would feel so much better by now. Probably because I still do not have a pirate.