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General Question about Chemo
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overwhelmed View Drop Down
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    Posted: Jul 07 2015 at 3:02pm
I don't know that any of you will have the answer, but I thought I'd start here since there are so many on this site haveso much knowledge.  My friend was diagnosed recently with breast cancer.  I don't know the type and don't think it's triple negative.  The initial diagnosis is stage 4 with a met to her spine. The pain in her arm was what brought her to the doctor.  They discovered the breast cancer and tumor on her spine. She is getting radiation to reduce the size of the tumor.

I know that chemo starts soon.  Without knowing the subtype is there anyway to know what chemo she will get?  Is the chemo for a stage 4 diagnosis different than what we get for an earlier stage?  Will they do a mastectomy at some point? I thought I had learned so much about breast cancer over the past five years, but I realize I know so little about the treatment for mets, especially when the initial diagnosis is stage 4.  

I am so tired of this disease.  This is the sixth friend to get breast cancer since my diagnosis five years ago.  Most were very early stage and are doing well.  I am just sick.  Typically I have a grasp of what will happen, but this time I have just a glimpse about what treatment will be.  
DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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123Donna View Drop Down
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Hi Lori,  I'm so sorry about your friend.  It does seem like more and more people are being dx with cancer.  I know one lady who was dx with stage 4 ER+ bc that has not had chemo yet.  They treated her spine and nodes with radiation and I think she's getting tamoxifen or another estrogen bocker.  So far, her tumor markers are doing really well and they are holding off on the chemo.  I guess it really depends on the sub-type and if there is targeted treatment to halt or slow it down.

Here's a link to the NCCN Guidelines for Stage 4 BC:


Donna
DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09)
11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15
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overwhelmed View Drop Down
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Thanks, Donna, and thanks for the link.  I know she has already had a port put in, so she will be getting chemo.  I should know a bit more soon.  

I really am so tired of breast cancer!
DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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Donna, as I am reading this I am thinking that some of what we may refer to as chemo isn't actually chemo but is still administered the same way.  Does anyone know if a hormone therapy would be given through a port?  I always think of them in pill form.  I know a targeted therapy may be administered through a port, I'm just not sure of hormone therapy.
DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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Lillie View Drop Down
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Hi Lori,
I have learned a lot by working at the oncology center but things are changing all the time. There are so many different scenarios that there is not a 'one size fits all' treatment plan. Stage 4 can mean chemo, radiation, sometime surgery, sometimes not. The regimen for her-2+ and er+ pr+ is different from triple negative. I will add that stage 4 that is not triple negative has more options than WE do. Of course we already knew that. I've seen ladies start off with chemo that is not what we call 'standard of care' ACT.
Now that I have started this post it comes to mind that I shouldn't say a thing. It can be so diverse and different from what we TN know that it is hard to wrap the mind around it. I'm sure she will get one of the bone strengthening drugs for the spine mets. There are several.
I am so sorry about your friend and I know what you mean about being sick and tired of cancer.
Let us know when you find out what course of treatment she will get.

Loved your vacation pictures on Facebook.
God Bless,
Lillie
Dx 6/06 age 65,IDC-TNBC
Stage IIb,Gr3,2cm,BRCA-
6/06 L/Mast/w/SNB,1of3 Nodes+
6/06 Axl. 9 nodes-
8/8 thru 11/15 Chemo (Clin-Trial) DD A/Cx4 -- DD taxol+gemzar x4
No Rads.
No RECON - 11/2018-12 yrs NED
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Thanks. Lillie. Vacation was great. It was so good to see our family and friends.

I will know a bit more next week. In reality, my friend may not even have the specifics yet. It has just made me realize that there is so little I know about stage 4 bc. It's like learning about breast cancer all over again.

I hope you've had a nice summer. Let me know if you will be back in town again any time soon. It's my turn to buy lunch.
DX ILC TNBC 3/10 at 50, Stage IIb; Grade 3; 5.1 to 7 cm,SNB neg;TC-6 rnds, 30 rads, Avastin-18 rnds, BRAC 1&2-
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