2007 Her2/neu Diagnosis

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henny
henny Member Posts: 89
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
2007 Her2/neu Diagnosis
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  • henny
    henny Member Posts: 89
    edited March 2008

    Hello Everyone,

    Is there an ongoing conversation for those of us who were diagnosed in 2007?

    Thanks



    Henny

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  • bjn850
    bjn850 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2008

    Hi Henny,

    I was dx in January of 2007 and am still in treatment. I had surgery, three rounds of TC plus Herceptin, another surgery(for clear margins), Mammosite radiation, three more rounds of TC plus Herceptin and now Herceptin alone every three weeks. My third MUGA scan showed significant decrease in heart function in January so I took a break until early March.  I am now back to infusions of Herceptin. It was strange to feel glad to be back into the chemo suite. It all should be done by June. My oncologist did approve a total body bone scan for May since I did have nodes involved.  Thanks for starting this conversation.

    dx 1/07 2.5 cm Stage IIB, Grade 3, 2/6 nodes, Er/Pr -, Her2-3+  

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  • henny
    henny Member Posts: 89
    edited March 2008

    Hi BJN,

    My diagnosis was in March 2007. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction and also a lymph node dissection because my sentinal node was positive. After the first 2 surgeries I had A/C followed by Taxol and herceptin. now I'm just on the herceptin until this summer. I too am comforted by going to the chemo suite every 3 weeks.



    I had carefully avoided all support groups for the last year-just wanted to power through. Now I find this time more difficult-Like waiting for the other shoe to drop.



    I do feel really lucky in that I work a a clinic that has a PET/Nuclear Medicine department. As you can imagine I'm a big advocate of imaging and have seen PET scans show mets before people can feel them. I decided to have a yearly PET scan as a check up. This is controversial with some oncologists but my onc now agrees to support me in this. So.. PET scan this Tuesday-wish me luck.Maybe this will help with the "waiting for mets" anxiety



    Henny

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  • bjn850
    bjn850 Member Posts: 28
    edited March 2008

    Good luck with the PET scan.

    How is this different from a bone scan that I'm having?

    Dx 1/07 2.5 cm, stage IIb, Grade 3, 2/6 nodes, ER/PR-, Her2+++

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  • henny
    henny Member Posts: 89
    edited March 2008

    Both are really good tests but show different things.

    With a PET scan you get injected with a small amount of radioactive sugar. It goes to cells that are growing faster than other cells (ie tumors). It's good for looking at soft tissues (like lung & liver). The scan is from head to hips. PET scans aren't great for looking at bones.

    With a bone scan you get injected with a radioacvtive mineral that goes to the bones. If there is a problem in the bone (mets or a fracture) then more goes there.

    The amount of radioactivity is small and in I believe the benefit from the scans far outweighs the small amount of exposure from the agents.

    Well, after doing these scans for patients for 25 years it's now my turn to have them done myself. Who would know?

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  • KathyL
    KathyL Member Posts: 534
    edited March 2008

    I was dx in August 2007.  I had a lumpectomy, mastectomy, and started chemo+herceptin in January 2008 (they told me originally I wouldn't need it, then changed their minds after further testing).  I'll be done with chemo March 19, then continue herceptin for the year.  I stiil have some reconstruction to finish after chemo's done.  I haven't had any scan done, but I know I'll be getting another MUGA once chemo's done.  My baseline was good.

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  • Sig
    Sig Member Posts: 138
    edited March 2008

    I have also been dx in January 2007, had a mastectomy (right Breast) then 4 cycle of AC (every 3 wks) and 4 Cycle of Taxol (every 3 wks)  now I am still on Herceptin (every 3 wks) more likely till end of Jul 08. I also had 30 radiation sessions. I am also on Eligard shot (6 mths cycle to suppress my ovaries) and Femara. I get MUGA scan every 3 mths. I recently had another abdomen ultrasound, Chest xray, WB Bone-Scan and CT AB Scan (This Monday) to figure out the reason of my significant unusual weight loss as onc does not know the reason. Planning to have an hysterectomy after the end of my Herceptin then reconstruction in the fall.

    Sig

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