Invasive DCI and Hers2+ - am a Ticking Time Bomb

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Suzieque121
Suzieque121 Member Posts: 1
edited January 2016 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

Just had surgery on Monday. Stage 1 for now. No lymph node involvement. Have menengioma in brain - they think benign. Am 55 and am fairly confident I won't life very long. Just read about the protocol - chemo + herceptin every week for 3 months, then herception for 40 more weeks - maybe I'll get 3-4 years. Am not sure how they monitor the body for distant recurrences as I have a higher recurrence risk. Keep reading how others got the return in liver, kidneys, brain, etc and how the recruuence is a higher stage - isn't the body supposed to be monitored to prevent recurrences from progressing too far along? Don't want pain, don't want to suffer. Am alone and terrified. Just join an in person support group. Too afraid of hearing the horror stories. Too afraid to hear about those who get this back again and again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited November 2015

    Suzie, it doesn't sound too bad. Being her2+ might be actually more treatable. Have you hired an oncologist yet? There are many on BCO that have not reoccured. Don't worry about what might happen in the future because you never know. It will get better with a little time.

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  • lauragirl
    lauragirl Member Posts: 20
    edited November 2015

    Hi Suzie,

    Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Keep your hopes up because there are so many people who it never comes back. Just because you have her2 does not mean its a total bad thing. These days with herceptin the survival rates are much higher. Stage 1 the prognosis is very much in your favour with over 90% odds of survival in over 5 years.

    Im 25 years old and have her 2 positive, er and pr +. Keep being positive, do the chemos and herceptin and pray for the best. Thats all we can do anyways. All the best to you.

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  • Suladog
    Suladog Member Posts: 952
    edited November 2015

    Suzie,

    I was dx'ed HER2+ last year... Stage 1 no nodes Er+ Pr+ . All of this of course for anyone is a crap shoot but this I do know. Herceptin has been a game changer for HER2+. My docs are at UCSF, and actually from what I've heard from them and what I've read it's one of the drugs that they really know does work. Beyond herceptin there are about 4 or more other drugs that also work for HER2 is it perfect no, but from what I've read it's a damn good drug. I have one more herceptin to go and I'm done I've had chemo twice and I must say the targeted biologics are great. I haven't had any side effects it's all individual but side effects with those drugs are generally minimal. I also have to say that I had triple negative breast cancer 25 yrs ago in my 30's. At the time I was given a poor prognosis so I'm not someone who is used to having smoke blown up my ass. I also am still here, and have had 25 yrs of great health since then.

    This is a scary time when one is first diagnosed but there are boards here filled with HER2 survivors they can give you insight and information. As a realist I also understand that there are no guarantees for any of us but herceptin gives us a damn good shot, especially since you are stage 1, but I also know HER2 women who were diagnosed Stage IV 9 or 10 yrs ago who are alive and doing great today thanks to Herceptin and all the other drugs that have been developed.

    Hang in there. This is a great site, you can always head over to the HER2 boards for starters, and if you get too crazy join us over at Crazy Town there's a great group of people always willing to listen.

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited November 2015

    Suzie,

    In 2014, I was diagnosed at Stage IIIA, with a 5 + cm. tumor and aggressive cancer (grade 3, HER2+). I had one lymph node test positive for cancer (fine needle biopsy).

    Am I a "ticking time bomb"? No, I don't think so. After five months of chemo, neither an MRI nor a PET scan could pick up active cancer in my breast or lymph nodes. My pathology report after my lumpectomy confirmed that chemo had wiped out the active cancer. Since then, an MRI and a PET scan have shown that I am NED (no evidence of disease). Best wishes to you!

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  • meganK
    meganK Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2016

    @lauragirl,

    ya you're right. positive attitude is key in such a case. I got diagnosed years ago in my 20s but live a normal happy life today with my hubby and 2 kids. truly found that a positive attitude without stress and anger is bliss. always took comfort from those around me; family and husband. it may seem unfair that you got it at your age but nothing can be done now except go through treatment, have a good attitude and be positive

    god bless

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