WHAT TYPE OF CHEMO? |
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JulesSmith 
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Joined: Dec 27 2010 Location: Katy, Tx Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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 Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 10:11am |
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Oh, and I wanted the cancer out of me immediately so I didnt wait. My path report made the decision for me.
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DX 11/2006, Stage 1 IDC/DCIS, 1.05cm, node neg, 6 rounds ACT (taxotere), 48 rads - 4 years ned and counting!
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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: Jun 15 2011 at 10:11am |
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Charlene and Lee,
I think you've both brought up some excellent points. The only thing neoadjuvant chemo will tell us if it worked to shrink the tumor. If it doesn't, then other chemos can be tried. There are no guarantees that it will get every little cell or if it has already broken away from the tumor. Unfortunately all we have is the waiting game to see if we have a recurrence. So frustrating for us, the fear of recurrence. Jules, I felt the same as you. The minute I was dx, all I wanted was it out of me. The sooner the better. Donna Edited by 123Donna - Jun 15 2011 at 10:12am |
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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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mainsailset
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Joined: Jul 27 2008 Location: Washington State Status: Offline Points: 5004 |
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Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 10:45am |
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Hopefully, as research hones in on the varying characteristics of TN types, the oncologists will finally have access to to both sides of the column...right now we have pages of various chemos on the treatment list but the column determining what matches with which TN is skimpy at best, leaving the oncs in the position of best educated guess.
Looking back, it seems like a cruel joke that when one is first dx'd and all you can think of is get this sucker outta me, that a medical team instead tells you that they want to leave the monster in because; as the old saying goes, keep your friends close and your enemies closer! It is at first incomprehensible to even think of and is certainly one of the hardest things during those first months that we are asked to do.
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dx 7/08 TN 14x6.5x5.5 cm tumor
3 Lymph nodes involved, Taxol/Sunitab+AC, 5/09 dbl masectomy, path 2mm tumor removed, lymphs all clear, RAD 32 finished 9/11/09. 9/28 CT clear 10/18/10 CT clear |
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Carol3
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Joined: Jun 08 2011 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 11:46am |
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Hello all,
I am in the middle of my chemo plan. 7 cycles done 9 to go!
First 12 weeks - weekly Paclitaxel with Charboplain added every third week.
Second 12 weeks - Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide every 2 weeks for 4 cycles
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DX 3/25/11 TNBC Stage IIa, grade 3, Tumor 2.3, chemo started 4/22/11. 12 Taxol/4 Charboplatin – 4 AC. iSpy2 Trial. Parp Inhibitor ABT-888. BRCA1/2 neg. 20 Rads. 0/2 nodes. Finished 11/23/2011
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denise07
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Joined: Jun 26 2010 Location: pa Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 4:45pm |
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Donna,
To answer your questions I feel a little better a little less anxious but when it comes time for checkups and scans I am not so calm. I have a onc. appt. on monday and I am not so calm now,just want the appt. to be over with.
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denise07
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Joined: Jun 26 2010 Location: pa Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 4:48pm |
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Carol3,
Great job half way through you will get there you will be fine!
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Carol3
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Joined: Jun 08 2011 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Posted: Jun 15 2011 at 5:40pm |
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Denise,
Will be thinking of you on Monday!! Best wishes.
Carol |
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DX 3/25/11 TNBC Stage IIa, grade 3, Tumor 2.3, chemo started 4/22/11. 12 Taxol/4 Charboplatin – 4 AC. iSpy2 Trial. Parp Inhibitor ABT-888. BRCA1/2 neg. 20 Rads. 0/2 nodes. Finished 11/23/2011
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denise07
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Joined: Jun 26 2010 Location: pa Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Posted: Jun 16 2011 at 12:23pm |
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Carol,
Thankyou.
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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: Jun 16 2011 at 6:37pm |
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Denise,
I guess the anxiety and fear really never truly goes away. Hope Monday is a stress free day for you and you get good news (I'm sure you will!). 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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unklez
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Joined: Sep 05 2009 Location: New Jersey Status: Offline Points: 1000 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 12:03am |
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Dear Denise, good luck,
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Wife Dx: Jul/09. Age: 37. Size: 3cm. BRCA: -ve. Lumpectomy: Aug/09. Micromet 1/9 node. Chemo Start: Sep/09. E5103. DD ACB-> DD Abraxane (Taxol reaction). Zometa (S0307). Canadian Fraction Rads.
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denise07
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Joined: Jun 26 2010 Location: pa Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 10:37am |
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Donna,
Sorry to say I don't think the anxiety will ever go away it gets alittle better bit better but probably
will never leave with all these doctors appts scans etc...
unklez,
Thankyou
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kirby
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Joined: Oct 09 2007 Location: bay area,california Status: Offline Points: 1088 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 11:52am |
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maybe the anxiety, fear also have to do with personality. Being almost 11 years out I'd say it does get so much better but one is always aware that life can change in a moment.
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kirby
dx Feb. 2001. Age 44 Lumpectomy 2cm. no nodes stage 1 grade 3 4 rnds AC, 35 rads |
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denise07
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Joined: Jun 26 2010 Location: pa Status: Offline Points: 997 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 11:54am |
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Kirby,
I think you are right.
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Charlene
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Joined: Aug 14 2010 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Offline Points: 613 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 12:48pm |
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Kirby,
So true, so true. It applies to everyone, not just those of us facing cancer.
Charlene
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DX 3/10 @59 ILC/TNBC
Stage 1, Grade 2, Multifocal; Lumpectomy/re-excision SNB 0/4 nodes, BRCA-; Taxotere/Cytoxan X4, 30 rads 3/14:NED |
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dmwolf
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Joined: Jan 22 2009 Location: Berkeley, CA Status: Offline Points: 3619 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 1:39pm |
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Carol, how is the trial going for you? ISPY2 is the best of the best, in my opinion. How has the taxol/carbo/PARPi part of treatment been for you, in terms of side effects and response as far as you can tell? Have the extra biopsies and imaging studies been a nuisance, or not too annoying? In addition to getting the best possible care, your participation will help future BC patients get the drugs most likely to help them. I hope you feel really good about that, as you should.
Best, d |
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DX 2/08@43 stg II IDC; gr2,0 nodes. Neoadj chemo, first ACx2 (fail) then CarboTaxotereX6(better). Lump, Rads done 11/08; Clodronate. False alarm queen: PetCT lung & TM marker. NED. PBM w/recon 9/10.
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Courage Coach
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Joined: Jun 17 2011 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 9:45pm |
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Hi all,
I need some advice. I was diagnosed on April 8, 2011 - TNC tumor in my left breast. Had every scan and diagnostic test available, from the top of my head to my knees. Biopsies, MRIs, ultrasounds, bone scan, CT scans and PET scan. Had a simple mastectomy and sentinal node biopsy on May 31. Tumor was 1.8, no node involvement, clean margins. There was a suspicious spot on my liver shown to be nothing with a liver biopsy (don't ever sign up for one of those just for fun!). Basically, there is no other discernable cancer in my body. Met with my onco on Wednesday who laid out the chemo plan. I was still on pain meds from the liver biopsy and neglected to ask the very important question: why? If there's nothing in me, I've healed very quickly from the surgery and my reconstruction is humming along well, why the need for chemo? I sent her an email today with that question, but want to know others' opinions. Is it necessary because we have TNC? Or is it a CYA for the doctors? I love my docs and hospital, but don't want to put my body through more than it needs. Thanks much! |
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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: Jun 17 2011 at 9:53pm |
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Hi Courage Coach,
You ask some very good questions. If you look at my signature you can see that our tumor size was very similar. I also had a bilateral mastectomy, no lymph node involvement and clear margins. I was shocked when my onc said I needed chemo. With TNBC there is no other adjuvant therapy like our ER+ sisters who can take tamoxifen in the hopes of preventing a recurrence. TNBC is more likely to spread through the lymph or vascular system and chemo is used to try and catch any cells that may have gotten away. When I was diagnosed as Stage 1, I was told without chemo my chance of recurrence was 25%. With chemo it would be around 13%. So with TNBC, chemo is almost always recommended as treatment. Have you had a chance to look at the couple of brochures under the Resources tab at the top of the screen page? The Guide to Understanding TNBC and Guide to the New State of The Art Treatment for TNBC are good material to read. It will help you understand a little more about TNBC. This is a wonderful forum to ask questions or just vent. We understand what you're going through and will help you out. 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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Courage Coach
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Joined: Jun 17 2011 Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Posted: Jun 17 2011 at 10:02pm |
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Donna,
Thanks so much for the quick reply. I neglected to add that my cancer was also Stage 1. So as I understand your thoughts, even though my lymph nodes were clean, cells could still have traveled via my vascular system? And an adjunctive therapy is ALWAYS required in our case (TNC), even with all the positives you and I presented? Judy |
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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: Jun 17 2011 at 10:35pm |
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Judy,
Because TNBC is an aggressive cancer, chemo is pretty much always required, even in our case. As you may be able to tell from my signature, I've had a recurrence already and currently going through treatment again. TNBC is a tricky disease and doesn't play by the rules. 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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Carol3
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Joined: Jun 08 2011 Location: Colorado Status: Offline Points: 22 |
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Posted: Jun 18 2011 at 12:18am |
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dmwolf,
I went today for my 8th taxol weekly - also charboplatin every 3 weeks. I am told the charboplatin and the PARP are suppose to work well together. This puts me half way through chemo today! Great milestone. I have been taking the Parp twice a day oral. I will stop the PARP after 12 weeks when I start AC for 4 cycles every 2 weeks. VERY little side effects from it all. Little fatigued on Monday and Tuesday. No bone pain but was taking Claritin for sinus and then found the posts so just luck out. No mouth sores. Little chemo brain.
But VERY happy with the results. after 3 chemos and 3 weeks on Parp the tumor started shrinking. It went from 2.3 pre treatment to 1.3. At todays appointment the Onc could not feel the tumor at all externally. I have an MRI on July 22 and cautionly optimitic it will be even smaller.
The MRI scans, biopsies and blood samples are more but it actually is not to bad as I schedule them before or after my appointments with the Onc and chemo treatments. Before treatment included: MRI, Biopsy, blood work, MUGA and CT/PET Scan. Week 3 MRI, Biopsy, Blood work. Week 12 MRI, Blood. Post treatment week 21 MRI, Blood work, MUGA and CT/PET Scan. Tissue taken at surgury for analysis. I am tracked for 5 years. Additional testing paid for by the study. Extra study on Chemo Brain - answer questions Pre, mid and post to validate effects.
Thanks for asking and I feel blessed to be randomized and glad I went for a second opinion as the first hospital could not participate in this trail.
Thanks,
Carol |
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DX 3/25/11 TNBC Stage IIa, grade 3, Tumor 2.3, chemo started 4/22/11. 12 Taxol/4 Charboplatin – 4 AC. iSpy2 Trial. Parp Inhibitor ABT-888. BRCA1/2 neg. 20 Rads. 0/2 nodes. Finished 11/23/2011
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