Imaging while on chemo
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Category: TNBC Forums
Forum Name: Let's Talk About Chemotherapy
Forum Description: A place to discuss Chemotherapy
URL: http://forum.tnbcfoundation.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=12878
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Topic: Imaging while on chemo
Posted By: GiselaH
Subject: Imaging while on chemo
Date Posted: May 25 2016 at 9:08pm
Hi beautiful warriors!
Today I had my second Taxol round. So far so good. Last week I got my first Taxol/Carbo. Will be getting Carbo every 3 weeks.
Since the first Taxol, I have been feeling pain where the tumor is.
I called my onco nurse and told her about it. Asked her if they were planning to do any imaging half way (12 weeks is a long time) to see if the is working....she said that I am getting the Cadillac of treatments due to my tumor size, 5 cms, no lymph involvement. She was not sure if doctor will order more imaging.
What has been everyone's experience with this? Did you get any imaging halfway through your treatment?
My fear is that what if it is not working and what I am feeling is the same sensation that made me go to the doctor in the first place and got diagnosed.
Thoughts?
Thank you!
Gisela
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Replies:
Posted By: gordon15
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 9:09am
Hi Gisela. My wife's tumor was 5 cm also. While on neoadjuvant chemo Carboplatin/Gemzar they did an ultrasound after 2 cycles (1/3)- she had to ask for it. The surgeon did say at the time they usually do it at halfway. Then they know if its shrinking ,staying the same or (it happens sometimes) is still growing. It became more cystic(soft) and the technician was excited,(usually they don't say anything... she asked, and it was clearly changing, in my wife's case. So they proceeded.
Unfortunately, it takes a pathology report to really know the "pCR" status after chemo, but at least they can rule out if not working, and sometimes they even switch drugs.
It reduced tumor by 75% (partial pCR) good luck, maybe some others will weigh-in.
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wife: IDC/Lobular Stage2B 2008 lumpectomy/TAC+rads
TNBC Stage 3A/w/metaplastic/squamous Nov2015 Carboplatin-Gemzar chemo/masectomy Taxolchemo+rads 4-16
PET scan stable 9-2016/ 1-2017
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Posted By: GiselaH
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 9:22am
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Gordon15 what additional treatment did she get after surgery? Did she do a mastectomy?
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Posted By: gordon15
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 9:46am
She had a 100% pCR in 4 lymph nodes and partial pCR (from 5cm > 1.2cm) in tumor, single mastectomy, Taxol chemo starting 30days after surgery, followed by 25 radiation.
PET/CT clear/NED this week.
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wife: IDC/Lobular Stage2B 2008 lumpectomy/TAC+rads
TNBC Stage 3A/w/metaplastic/squamous Nov2015 Carboplatin-Gemzar chemo/masectomy Taxolchemo+rads 4-16
PET scan stable 9-2016/ 1-2017
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Posted By: GiselaH
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 10:12am
Posted By: KristyLee
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 1:06pm
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Gisela,
I had that same pain all through chemo. It was the same pain that led me to find the lump. As you know, my tumor dissolved quickly and I got a PCR, so don't let that pain stress you out. I googled it extensively and found lots of other women who experienced the same pain while the tumor was dying. Don't fret about it! :)
I was in some study, so I got some extra scans. None in the middle of Taxol, though. I got a PET scan between AC and Taxol as part of the study.
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Dx 09/14 Stage 2 TNBC, Grade 3, 3cm, no nodes. BRCA1+ Neoadjuvant treatment: 4 AC/T, 12 Taxol, 4 Carboplatin. BMX Diep Flap Hyster 3/5/15. Path report PCR, no radiation advised.
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Posted By: KK1722
Date Posted: May 26 2016 at 11:25pm
Gisela and KristyLee,
Although I don't want to hear any of you are in pain, it's somewhat comforting to know others had tumor pain during chemo. I find it odd I had no tumor pain before diagnosis or throughout 4 rounds of A/C, but now that my tumor is smaller and I'm on Taxol, it really hurts. Imaging done today showed Taxol has barely shrunk it at all, so I'm not sure why it's hurting because I don't even think the Taxol is working.
Would be nice to have more conversations with MOs to discuss these issues, but since I can't call them all day long, it's nice to have all you educated patient/advocates to talk to!
Kelly
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Dx 1/16: IDC TNBC stage IIB, 5.1cm, 0/3 nodes, Gr3, Ki67- 99%.
37 years old. BRCA neg.
NAC - AC/T
Dbl MX June 2016. RCB II.
1.2cm residual high grade tumor.
RADs 9/16-11/16
Adj. Tx - Unknown
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