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Ocologist Appointment
I had the oncologist appointment yesterday. He was very good. I am HER2+ He said that I would start chemo first before surgery to shrink it and kill off any cancers floating around. The way my husband explained it to me -he's really smart and reads alot about it- is if they take out the mass first all the other little cancers that could have escaped and are wandering around say "they took the mothership - attack!"
So the first round is AC once every 3 weeks 4 times. Then Taxotere every 3 weeks 4 times and at the end of that hercepton every 3 weeks for 1 year. Then mastectomy and radiation and then Tamoxifin for 5 years.
Before they start that I have to get an out patient node biopsy next week and heal for a week before chemo starts. Im supposed to start on the 16th of June.
I have to get bone scans, chest x ray and an mri too.
So much to do and think about. My head is still spinning. I am so scared still - I was a smoker not too long ago - what if this is in my lungs? I get myself worked up about it. I just feel horrible. I felt better yesterday until I thought about the lung x ray. I keep looking at my kids wondering if I'll see t hem grow up. I'm trying to be positive but I'm so worried. I hate this. I hate that I can't think about anything else. I can't concentrate on anything but bc. I am all alone with my kids and I try to be normal mom for them but my mind is so preoccupied I can't even enjoy them. Its hard to do my normal routine. I am a worrier.
Now I have another dilemma- my good friend has a connection with a top doc over at Penn. I called him yesterday and he contacted me later after I saw the oncologist. I told him what the oncologist told me. He wanted to know why not surgery first - then he told me to physically get all my info over to him in Philly by Thurs of this week so i can meet with him next Tues. If I cant get them to him by Thurs, then I cant see him til the following week - but I start chemo that week. So today I have to make alot of phone calls trying to get my reports and slides -which I tried to do last Monday and the records person thought it was very weird that a patient was trying to get my own records - they said normally a dr calls for that.
I just want this all to be started so I can see or feel some sort of peace. I can't stand all this wondering and waiting and running around and trying to figure out who will watch the kids and take me to appointments. Ahhhhhh! It makes me so frustrated I want to scream!
Jen
So the first round is AC once every 3 weeks 4 times. Then Taxotere every 3 weeks 4 times and at the end of that hercepton every 3 weeks for 1 year. Then mastectomy and radiation and then Tamoxifin for 5 years.
Before they start that I have to get an out patient node biopsy next week and heal for a week before chemo starts. Im supposed to start on the 16th of June.
I have to get bone scans, chest x ray and an mri too.
So much to do and think about. My head is still spinning. I am so scared still - I was a smoker not too long ago - what if this is in my lungs? I get myself worked up about it. I just feel horrible. I felt better yesterday until I thought about the lung x ray. I keep looking at my kids wondering if I'll see t hem grow up. I'm trying to be positive but I'm so worried. I hate this. I hate that I can't think about anything else. I can't concentrate on anything but bc. I am all alone with my kids and I try to be normal mom for them but my mind is so preoccupied I can't even enjoy them. Its hard to do my normal routine. I am a worrier.
Now I have another dilemma- my good friend has a connection with a top doc over at Penn. I called him yesterday and he contacted me later after I saw the oncologist. I told him what the oncologist told me. He wanted to know why not surgery first - then he told me to physically get all my info over to him in Philly by Thurs of this week so i can meet with him next Tues. If I cant get them to him by Thurs, then I cant see him til the following week - but I start chemo that week. So today I have to make alot of phone calls trying to get my reports and slides -which I tried to do last Monday and the records person thought it was very weird that a patient was trying to get my own records - they said normally a dr calls for that.
I just want this all to be started so I can see or feel some sort of peace. I can't stand all this wondering and waiting and running around and trying to figure out who will watch the kids and take me to appointments. Ahhhhhh! It makes me so frustrated I want to scream!
Jen
Hey - I took your advice and bought 2 wigs - online. I hope they are nice. I cant believe how much the human hair ones are! Uhg.
I am a hairy girl - I hope I dont grow a mustache! I have so much to pluck right now - I keep thinking that when my hair falls out that will be one less thing I have to do.
Im trying to see the humor! But I dont think I can yet.
Jen
I am a hairy girl - I hope I dont grow a mustache! I have so much to pluck right now - I keep thinking that when my hair falls out that will be one less thing I have to do.
Im trying to see the humor! But I dont think I can yet.
Jen
i am also on tamoxifen for the next five yrs....the ONLY side effect that ive noticed is ....ready???...........GASP........facial hair......yup, a nice peach fuzz on the sides of my face....do i wax it? or leave it alone??? i dont want it to grow any thicker OR longer...
ive been pretty body hairless my whole life....so this is a new and interesting development.....with my newly growing in SHORT GREY head hair and peach fuzzy facial hair, wonder what else is going to grow?? a male part??????? sigh...lol....laugh darcy laugh!
ive been pretty body hairless my whole life....so this is a new and interesting development.....with my newly growing in SHORT GREY head hair and peach fuzzy facial hair, wonder what else is going to grow?? a male part??????? sigh...lol....laugh darcy laugh!
i have never written you before but wanted to say so sorry to hear the bad news, hang in there, we are all praying for you. i can tell you from experience that a wonderful cancer center in philly is cancer treatment centers of america. you can even chat with them on-line live or, via email. they treat cancer, and cancer only. if you jump up in the middle of the night and have a question they will answer it live. i have attached their web address, check them out. i don't want to dole out advise, i'm not, i just know a couple people who lives were saved through them. i live in so jersey as well. hang in there jen!
http://www.cancercenter.com/
http://www.cancercenter.com/
A saga is right, poor you, I hope there is an end to it all soon. Biopsies are not nice but I guess it must be the constant worry that is the hardest. It must be hard not to get down. You sound like strong person, but I wish you got a break, you deserve it.
I can understand how it is not behind you, but hopefully some day it will be.
I started Tamoxifen in Nov 2007 after my radiation. So far no side effects of any significant, but afraid to say it too loudly in case I jinx myself.
Let us know how the biopsy goes.
I can understand how it is not behind you, but hopefully some day it will be.
I started Tamoxifen in Nov 2007 after my radiation. So far no side effects of any significant, but afraid to say it too loudly in case I jinx myself.
Let us know how the biopsy goes.
You are amazing, and I know you are gonna be fine. This is just a small bump in the road. But when it's all said and done I know that you WILL get this behind you.
And Jen, chin up kiddo this to shall pass.
Hang in there and I will be praying for you.
Tracey
One thing Im confused about - how long are you on tamoxifen if you were diagosed in 2007.
My story is a saga. In November 2001 I had 5 biopsies. One was cancer (a lump) the others were suspicious calcifications - turning out benign.
I had a second surgury for the sentinal node - all clear with lumptectomy. I went on to have 6 mos. of chemo (CMF) - not too bad. I then had my very first mammo after 6 mos. and they found another cluster of calcifications. Had another surgical biopsy. It was benign.
I then had 6 weeks of radiation. After about 1 yr. after radiation, I found a red lesion on my radiated breast. Had a biopsy. Had a misdiagnosis from the lab. They claimed I had an aggressive vascular tumor due to the radiation. I had to schedule cat scans. My dr. felt she wanted a second opinion due to the serious nature of this diagnosis. I thought at that time my life was over. She proceeded to have the lab send my biopsy speciman to NY Presbyterian Hospital. After much anguish, one week later she called with amazing news. She said the head of the breast cancer department and the head of the dermatology dept. concluded it was just a normal lesion - not life threatening. AFter that my dr. wanted a third opinion and sent it to a prominant retired dr. in Italy who used to head Mt Sinai. After 1 more long week, He too agreed it was fine.
About 2 yrs. after that my mammo once again showed a suspicious linear cluster of calcifications. Had a biopsy. It was benign.
This year, 6 mos ago after examining me, my dr. felt a lumpiness and took a needle biopsy. again, benign.
and Now, in 1 week, I have another biopsy scheduled for another cluster of calcifications. Apparently, I keep developing more calcifications. and because ive had breast cancer they would prefer to biopsy them instead of waiting and watching.
So, you see although this should be behind me, it unfortunately is not. If this or any future biopsy is not o.k., I will need a mastectomy.
Ive been on tamoxifen for 5 yrs. and now femara for 3 mos. so, hopefully, its doing something.
My story is a saga. In November 2001 I had 5 biopsies. One was cancer (a lump) the others were suspicious calcifications - turning out benign.
I had a second surgury for the sentinal node - all clear with lumptectomy. I went on to have 6 mos. of chemo (CMF) - not too bad. I then had my very first mammo after 6 mos. and they found another cluster of calcifications. Had another surgical biopsy. It was benign.
I then had 6 weeks of radiation. After about 1 yr. after radiation, I found a red lesion on my radiated breast. Had a biopsy. Had a misdiagnosis from the lab. They claimed I had an aggressive vascular tumor due to the radiation. I had to schedule cat scans. My dr. felt she wanted a second opinion due to the serious nature of this diagnosis. I thought at that time my life was over. She proceeded to have the lab send my biopsy speciman to NY Presbyterian Hospital. After much anguish, one week later she called with amazing news. She said the head of the breast cancer department and the head of the dermatology dept. concluded it was just a normal lesion - not life threatening. AFter that my dr. wanted a third opinion and sent it to a prominant retired dr. in Italy who used to head Mt Sinai. After 1 more long week, He too agreed it was fine.
About 2 yrs. after that my mammo once again showed a suspicious linear cluster of calcifications. Had a biopsy. It was benign.
This year, 6 mos ago after examining me, my dr. felt a lumpiness and took a needle biopsy. again, benign.
and Now, in 1 week, I have another biopsy scheduled for another cluster of calcifications. Apparently, I keep developing more calcifications. and because ive had breast cancer they would prefer to biopsy them instead of waiting and watching.
So, you see although this should be behind me, it unfortunately is not. If this or any future biopsy is not o.k., I will need a mastectomy.
Ive been on tamoxifen for 5 yrs. and now femara for 3 mos. so, hopefully, its doing something.
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