Tumor shrinkage during chemo |
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Gotawish 
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Joined: May 01 2013 Location: Long Island, ny Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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 Posted: May 02 2013 at 9:13am |
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Julie,
My tumor was 7.0 x 5.1 mass like with undefined margins. It went undected by routine mammography and ultrasound. I felt something near my nipple just 4 months after my yearly testing. Repeat testing revealed nothing. A biopsy resulted with TN invasive BC. I had 4 AC treatments and MRI testing showed some shrinkage and much clearer margins. No longer mass like. Then went on to Taxotere treatments weekly for 5 weeks. I had a severe cummulative reaction of a blistering rash on my knuckles and my throat became very irritated and almost completely lost my voice. Ultrasound at this time showed no more shrinkage, but it did show holes throughout the tumor. Kind of like that PacMan chewed it up. My doctor feels most of what is left probably is scar tissue or just fibrous tissue. Yippee.... I was initially scheduled for 12 Taxotere treatments but was switched to Taxol due to the reactions I had from Taxotere. I completed two rounds of higher dose Taxol and now completed my Chemo treatments. Woo hoo! I am scheduled for mastectomy on May 15. My MO felt any shrinkage at all was a wonderful thing! Always Smile ! It makes you feel better:) |
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debB
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Joined: Sep 14 2011 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 692 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 11:31am |
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You ladies are all describing what sounds like very good responses to chemo, which is wonderful!! We will all be hoping for great results from the final path report!
Deb |
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Dx 4/29/11, 46 yrs old, 3.9 cm tumor, Stg 2 Grade 3 chemo 4 rounds DD AC, 12 weekly taxol, finish. Lumpectomy, 2mm residual tumor. 37 rounds rads completed. Cisplatin/PARP trial
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MarissaK
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Joined: Jan 06 2013 Location: Northern Cali Status: Offline Points: 84 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 1:30pm |
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Yes, I agree that bilateral is the best way to go, to not have to worry about that tissue left behind. Dense tissue makes imaging harder. I too always had very dense breasts and lots of fibroadenomas. I had had a fibroadenoma removed in the past. My tumor was actually mistaken as another one and I went misdiagnosed for some time. I started to wonder about a link somehow between dense tissue and breast cancer or TNBC in particular. It seems so many women who have been diagnosed have commented that they have dense breasts. When I had the bilateral mastectomy the path report revealed that 60% of each breast was made up of fibroadenomas!!
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DX 5/18/12 at age 34. Stage IIIC IDC TNBC, grade 3, 3 cm (multiregional nodal involvement). DD ACT complete 9/5/12. BMX 10/15/12, ALND: 0/12 nodes. pCR. Rads x 25 + 3 boosts completed 2/6/13. BRCA neg
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annafriday
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Joined: Apr 25 2013 Location: Las Vegas Status: Offline Points: 49 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 8:12pm |
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Hi... I just started this triple negative journey also. I didn't have the option to get chemo prior to my surgery because I wasn't told I was triple negative until after I had a bilateral mastectomy. Wondering if the outcome is better? My tumor grew from 2.5cm to 6.2 cm after needle biopsy in one month. The problem is the doctors thought my larger mass and pain was due to a hematoma..boy were they wrong. Now I don't know if I want to do chemo or not. Everything I read says many of the chemos given do not stop a reoccurence or metastatic disease by much like 10%. I can't help but wonder if the chemo is more toxic then helpful. I also was wondering if anyone knows the chemo combunations with the best results?
Thanks!! Anna
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 8:54pm |
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Hi Annafriday,
Sorry you have a reason to be here, TNBC that is. Chemo, and possibly radiation, is almost always recommended for TNBC. It's all we have to fight this disease. Did you have any positive nodes? The most common chemo given is adriamycin, cytoxan and taxol, but you'll see other women who've gotten different chemo combinations. It might be helpful to get a second opinion regarding treatment. Are you close to an NCCN facility or teaching hospital? Also ask what clinical trials might be a good fit for you. Understanding your choices is the best way to know you are making the right decision. Chemo is definitely doable and there are many drugs to help with the side effects. Wishing you the best. Donna
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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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annafriday
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Joined: Apr 25 2013 Location: Las Vegas Status: Offline Points: 49 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 9:17pm |
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Donna,
Thanks for the information. I plan on asking to be in clinical trials. My first appointment with medical oncologist is this Friday. I had a total of 22 nodes removed. There was a micro-invasion of the sentinal node but axillary nodes were clear. Anna
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123Donna
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Joined: Aug 24 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Status: Offline Points: 13510 |
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Posted: May 02 2013 at 11:18pm |
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Anna,
Here are some good sources to review. You may have already read or reviewed them, but wanted to give you some additional resources. Have you had your Vitamin D level checked? Most of us diagnosed with breast cancer have extremely low levels. Getting your levels up will improve surgery, chemo and radiation therapy. |
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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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JulieKCA2013
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Joined: Mar 12 2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 217 |
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Posted: May 03 2013 at 8:11am |
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Anna chemo is highly effective on TNBC breast cancer as you can read by the many responses on here of how well the response was with shrinking the tumor. My mass grew also after the biopsy to 6cm, they also attributed to irritation/ hematoma due to the biopsy.
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Dx 3-7-13 TNBC, 5cm pT2N1M0
3-19-13 ACx4, 5-14-13 Taxolx4 7-17-13 BMX ypT1N2M0(.9mm) 4/24 nodes. 10-8-13 completed Rads x 30 12-3-13 completed Eribulin Trial 10-18-13, 3-19-14 Bone/Ct Scan Clear |
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MLindaG
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Joined: Feb 16 2013 Location: Pittsburgh PA Status: Offline Points: 380 |
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Posted: May 03 2013 at 9:31am |
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Julie, I had a 3.5 cm lump with three lymph nodes involvement. I had some shrinkage after the 4 A/C treatments but I did not have the oncologist say that he couldn't feel much until the 9th treatment of taxol. He too said that what could be left was fibrous tissue and possibly the cancer was gone. Then at my 12th treatment.........he couldn't feel any lump! My subsequent MRI showed nothing and after my surgery's path report I was given the CPR!!! So hang in there and don't get discouraged if it doesn't clear as fast as you want. It could still be melting away!!! Sending positive vibes! Keep imaging pac man!!!
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Dx TNBC 6/12; age 59; Stage 3, Grade 3; 3.5 cm, 3/10 nodes + chest wall nodes; A/C x4, T x 12 completed 12/12 with PCR, 2/13/13 lump; IMRT Rads x 33 completed 5/22/13 BRCA 1 negative.
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