my head is spinning

I found my lump through self exam on 1/5/17. Got in to see the Dr. on 1/10. Mammogram, ultrasound, and core needle biopsy on 1/11. Got the call that it was cancer on 1/12. Met with surgeon on 1/17. Lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection scheduled for 1/24. They said it's IDC, 1.4 cm, ER+/PR+, HER2+. I'm fill pretty good that we have caught it early but it's the HER2+ part that is freaking me out. (well it's all freaking me out, but that one more so). Does HER2+ pretty much mean I will need to do chemo?

Hi!

Doctors typically recommend chemo to their HER2+ patients because they initially give Herceptin (targeted treatment for HER2+ cancer) with a taxane chemo (Taxol or Taxotere). As you can see from my signature, I had Adriamycin + Cytoxan and then Taxol + Herceptin + Perjeta. Then, I had Herceptin alone, every three weeks, for a year. Before Herceptin, breast cancer patients with HER2+ BC had some of the worst outcomes. Today, thanks to targeted therapies like Herceptin and Perjeta, HER2+ patients do just as well as their HER2- counterparts.

Best wishes!

Hi DaniCalifornia,

I am also HER2+, Stage1a. Prior to surgery, diagnosis was DCIS, hence no chemo was discussed. I am participating in the ATEMPT trial for HER2+ patients (TDM1 is the drug ---- herceptin + 1 molecule of Emtanzine). You should ask your doctor if that is an option for you.

Wishing you the best!

I felt the same as you when I was diagnosed in October and would have done anything not to have chemo. However, I am on my 8th week of taxol/herceptin, with 4 more to go, and will continue the herceptin for the rest of the year every 3 weeks. Just know that if you are prescribed chemo - you are stronger than you think. This combination is not horrible -- I feel pretty good and haven't changed much in my life (I still exercise, work, go out with friends, etc) I am just more careful about not getting sick so I don't have to delay any treatments. Hang in there -- you will be fine. Consider yourself lucky there is such a targeted treatment for your type of cancer. Although there is no cure, her2+ has a definite antidote.

Hi Dani,


I am going through the same thing as a HER2 positive gal. Just finished 12 weeks of Chemo/Herceptin (my drug was Navelbeen as I had a reaction to Taxol). I was quite nauseous beginning after my fifth week of the Chemo, 25 pound weight loss!! Since finishing the Chemo in early December and only having my Herceptin infusions every 3 weeks, I feel great.
On my 15th day of Radiation out of 30..no problems there. Just a bit fatigued.
Although the doc said I would not lose my hair, it thinned considerably...least of my worries.

Good luck!
Linda

I am really amazed at how how fast things have moved along for you. It's obviously a ton to process. It was 4 years from my lump detection to cancer diagnosis; so for me, I have very little faith in the testing, whether they caught it all, or whether they will catch anything in the future. So, aside from having to have chemo for HER2+, I was leaning towards doing it anyway as a precaution.

ksolo11 and lannama - Do either of you know if you got steroids in your IV just prior to taxol to help with the nausea? I'm trying to figure out for myself the cost/benefit of steroids before instigating c conversation with my MO.

Hi Ksolo11 - I very much appreciate the direct and concise response. Yes, your answer makes a lot of sense - how an "upper" and a "downer" at the same time can have consequences. It makes me think of people drinking red bull and vodka, and I've never heard that was a good thing.

I would hope that the infusion nurses have some latitude in operating with their best judgement based on some common sense, and what's happening in front of them. But I don't know if that's the case, where I'll be seen, where they have to literally follow exactly what the doctor has instructed. The infusion center is operated in a separate building than the MO. I've been in a bind this weekend, contemplating switching my MO. I had a very positive impression of her, but on Fri night I learned something that has me questioning that.

I too am a Dani - short for Daniella! I too have just been diagnosed with IDC and ILC from tissue left over from my bilateral mastectomies and hyster/oopher in 2008. Diagnosed the first time Oct 2007 with DCIS high grade in two areas. They told me I was fine followed me 5 yrs. now this Dec 2016 I found a lump at my sternum and bam back in cancer world. Surgery was the 25th waitingvon final path and lymph node status.

I have this path from biopsy HER2+ grade 3 yikes, ER+ PR - ( they are re testing the PR - which would be done anyway, but tissue was too small from biopsy to be sure)

I am angry and sad and scared!

Thank you girls for helping like always! I thought I was good to go.....

Daniell