Just diagnosed yesterday.

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chasityanne
chasityanne Member Posts: 3
edited January 2018 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Hello everyone. It really has been a whirlwind for me the last week. I went into the ER for kidney stones last Monday and after a week of going through a mountain of tests (that I honestly didn't understand WHY I was getting all the tests) I have now as of yesterday's breast biopsy results have Stage lV MBC. (Bones). Nasty disease has settled into my spine and pelvis. They want to start chemo in 7 days. Pertuzumab, Herceptin and taxotere. I don't know anything about any of this. I'm extremely scared right now. I think he said I am triple positive. I really don't know what it means! Please help. I have my pathology reports and info they gave me yesterday but I dont even know how to read it!

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  • HollyDollyD
    HollyDollyD Member Posts: 77
    edited January 2018

    Hi Chasityanne

    Welcome to the group. There's a guide here on how to read your pathology report that might help: www.breastcancer.org/cms.../Breastcancerorg_Pathol...

    However, if you don't understand anything, you can also ask your Dr. to explain it again in laymans terms, or call the American Cancer Society or Komen and have someone walk you through it. If you are triple positive, it means that your cancer is responsive to estrogen and progesterone (hormones), and that you are HER2/Neu positive. It's great if it is responsive to hormones, as that opens up treatment options. You are probably being given herceptin because HER2+ tumors are receptive to that.

    Keep coming back and asking questions here - there's a wealth of experience and support and just plain old love here.

    Hugs,

    Holly

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  • Larkspur
    Larkspur Member Posts: 88
    edited January 2018

    Chasityanne, very sorry for what you're going through, but it's good that you've found this invaluable site, which has helped so many of us through scary times.

    Others will be along to offer empathy, reassurance, and factual information, so I'll just limit myself to a couple of things. Here's the link to a document on this site to interpreting our pathology reports: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/pat...

    "Triple-positive" means that your cancer tested positive for the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and the gene HER2:
    http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/diagnosis/her...

    The meds you mention above have good success rates in treating your type of breast cancer.

    The worst and most frightening time in this process is where you are right now, with so many unknowns. But you have a treatment plan in place, so the way forward will soon become more clear. Spend a little time exploring this site, especially the community forums for Stage IV and HER2+ breast cancer, and you'll find a wealth of information and support. Hang in there, and please keep us posted on your situation.

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  • chasityanne
    chasityanne Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2018

    Thank you all so much. I'm about to head into town and buy some folders and such to start keeping my records and such in order. My mind is hazy and I've been mostly pacing. It's hard to focus in with all the info. Taking it slow and that seems to be the first thing I can concentrate on is getting a file folder started. Thank you so much for the links. And and ALL info that anyone shares is truly a gift to me right now. And when I get back I'm going to spend some time exploring the different threads. Thank you all so very much from the bottom of my heart.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited January 2018

    Chastityanne,

    We just wanted to chime in here to welcome you to Breastcancer.org. We are so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but we're really glad you found us. As you can already see, our Community is a wonderful source of support, advice, and encouragement. We're all here for you as you navigate your diagnosis and upcoming treatment. Any and all questions you have, please do not hesitate to ask. Someone is always willing to answer what we can, or point you in the right direction.

    We look forward to hearing more from you soon!

    --The Mods

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited January 2018

    Dear Chasity, so sorry to welcome you to our cyber home. There are few things about Taxotere that are good to know. Chewing ice during the infusion of that drug will help cut down on mouth sores. I could only tolerate bottled water and purchased ice due to the iron like taste from tap. Many women iced their hands and toes to help fight against neuropathy....I didn’t know about this and wish I had. As you read through these posts you will find many good tips to help you get through this. Check out what to take to first treatment etc.

    do you have your port in yet? All of this is certainly not what you expected when you went in for kidney stone.

    Feel free to PM me if there is anything I can help you with. I am only her2 positive...no hormone involved. Took the Taxotere Herceptin and Perjeta starting in August of 2014. I remain on Herceptin and Perjeta as long as it keeps workking

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited January 2018

    Chas, yes, you are getting a crash course on metastatic breast cancer. I'm glad you found us. Take some deep breaths. As you move forward, all the terminology will start falling into place and you wil grasp a better understanding. It was a lot of mumbo jumbo to me at first, too, and for a long time, I was even too scared to read my reports.

    Take this one step at a time and one day at a time and even one hour at a time. I found some relief from the fear with a non-addictive antianxiety medicine. I wish you all the best as you begin navigating these new waters. We are here for you.


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  • chasityanne
    chasityanne Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2018

    It is definatley a crash course for sure. My diet has already changed. Only veggies and fruit. No sugar. Lemon water. No milk or dairy. Most of the info came from google so I hope I'm on the ok track. I've always been slim naturally and at 115 5'4 now. My usual weight is at least 125. But with all the stress I've lost so much. I'm scared I'm not going to have the nutrition I need to get through the chemo. I don't have a few lbs to spare. Is there any dietary restrictions on what I should be eating or not be eating especially around chemo time? I don't feel juicing everything is enough. I'm also eating fish and chicken.

    Beatmon -My port is scheduled for the 15th. This is happening sooo fast.

    DivineMrsM - I def think I should be on some sort of antianxiety meds. All I could think about last night was about dying. Like, how will it feel, when will it come. How old my children will be and what phase in their life. etc. I've at least accepted the reality of this not being able to be cured or "fixed". And noone really knows how they will meet their end, but it kind of sucks having a sort of time frame. =/

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  • SavedbyGrace1972
    SavedbyGrace1972 Member Posts: 105
    edited January 2018

    ChasityAnne,

    Hello, welcome. Sounds as if you have been hit with a bunch of information all at once. So sorry that you have joined this club, but we are a bunch of fighters! Get ready to gear up girlfriend. Waiting is the worst part and keeping busy will help you. Great idea about the file folder. I am making a scrapbook of everything, writing in a journal and starting a caringbridge site. Have you shared your diagnosis with family and friends yet?

    Stay positive and I know its hard but try not to do so much internet research. All the information can be overwhelming and truly hard to understand. Everyone's cancer isn't the same. Everyone's treatment regimen isn't the same and everyone's side effects aren't the same. Just try to remain calm. Welcome to your new normal. Your life will forever be touched by cancer but it isn't the end, its the beginning.

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  • DivineMrsM
    DivineMrsM Member Posts: 9,620
    edited January 2018

    Chasity, all those thoughts on dying, that too is something most of us go through at first. In time, I learned to frame this as living with mbc and not dying from it.

    There is a great section on this forum for those going thru chemo. There is a ton of good information there. And just about every month, a thread is started for those beginning chemo that month. I joined the "March 2011 Chemo" thread, and a group of us shared our experiences with each other as we went along; very informative and supportive. You can see that its been seven years since chemo for stage iv from the start for me, and you would be surprised how much life I have experienced and packed in to that time. I don't want to have to be dealing with this disease, and I didnt need it as any kind of wake-up call,but I find that since the diagnosis, I take a more meaningful approach to life.

    Here is the chemo section: https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/69


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  • Groovywilma
    Groovywilma Member Posts: 450
    edited January 2018

    ChasityAnne--

    Sure wish I could kick you out of this club of ours! But you've found a great resource for information and support which will be so helpful during all this craziness. I'm wishing you all the best! I'm on taxotere (plus carboplatin) right now. When you get to it, I'm sure you'll find our thread where we talk about the side effects, etc. Take care!

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