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I am the mother of 4, youngest is 8 yrs. old. I was diagnosed on May 25, 2007. Grade 3 tumor in right breast. Invasive ductal/non-invasive ductal AND invasive lobular IS. Stage IIIC. Mastectomy & 17 positive nodes. ER-/PR- Her2 +. Had A/C over the summer. did 35 radiation treatments and Taxol for 8weeks... switched to Taxotere due to neuropathy for the last 4 weeks, now doing Herceptin every 3 weeks until December 2008.
I want to know that there are women who have survived this kind of cancer. Is anyone out there? I read survival rates and know that if I were ER+/PR+ I'd stand a MUCH better chance. My oncologist says I have a 54%% chance of survival. I know they're only numbers. But, I'm getting scared. So far scans have not shown anything (Doctors tell me that it has to be at least 0.8 cm in size to show up on the scan.)
Now we're talking genetic testing, prophylactic mastectomy of the other breast and removing my ovaries. I'm feeling overwhelmed for the first time since I heard the word, "CANCER"
Looking forward to hearing from you all,
Robin
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Want to leave a comment? Login or Register now!They paid.
No questions asked.
(My physician recommended it on my request.)Correction: They paid. No questions asked. (My physician recommended it on my request.)
I had bi-lateral mastectomies.
They paid.P.S. I am a Tricare patient (military)...about the same as Medicare. I had bi-lateral mastectomies. They paid.
I think that claim that your insurance company will not pay for removal of the contralateral needs to be re-evaluated.
You have a high risk of breast cancer...not because of genetic testing...but, because you have a personal history of breast cancer.
I think it is quite possible that your insurance will pay.
(Whoever talked to you on the phone was looking at rules for BRCA carriers, etc.)
It is quite possible for you to remove the contralateral when you do breast reconstruction.
Ask your doctor.
Tammy Lou
Robin, I think that claim that your insurance company will not pay for removal of the contralateral needs to be re-evaluated. You have a high risk of breast cancer...not because of genetic testing...but, because you have a personal history of breast cancer. I think it is quite possible that your insurance will pay. (Whoever talked to you on the phone was looking at rules for BRCA carriers, etc.) It is quite possible for you to remove the contralateral when you do breast reconstruction. Ask your doctor. Tammy Lou
I was 37 years old at the time and my only child Jill was 12. I had 36 radiation treatments and evevy 3rd week for 9 months I had my chemo treatments. After all of my treatments, I was put on Tamoxafin for 3 years. My tumor was 8 cm and I was told that this is the size of a small grapefruit. I had 12 positive nodes. I was the first on either side of my families to develop breast cancer.
I too was very scared Robin but, I surely was not going to let it get me. Like you, I had to much to live for, my child. You can survive this Robin I know you can because I did. On June 2 we will be celebrating my daughter Jill's 30 Birthday. HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just remeber Robin, EVERYTHING is possible in God's world, EVERYTHING! Think positive and move on.
To make yourself feel better and less sick, get on a regiment of Dandilion Root to cleanse your liver from all of the chemicals and take Sea Salt baths. It worked for me and Im sure it will for you. I still do these things because chemo is nothing more then liquid radiation and it stays in your system for a very long time.
I wish you the best of luck in your fight. I am here if you need to talk, and I will laugh and cry with you!! Like I said before, I know that you can survive this fight! Never give up, Never give in!!!!
Hi Robin, my name is Terry and I had the exact same breat cancer as you but, it was on my left side. This all happened 17 years ago. 2 years ago this month I lost my right breast due to a different strain of cancer. Thank God, this tumor was not positive. I was 37 years old at the time and my only child Jill was 12. I had 36 radiation treatments and evevy 3rd week for 9 months I had my chemo treatments. After all of my treatments, I was put on Tamoxafin for 3 years. My tumor was 8 cm and I was told that this is the size of a small grapefruit. I had 12 positive nodes. I was the first on either side of my families to develop breast cancer. I too was very scared Robin but, I surely was not going to let it get me. Like you, I had to much to live for, my child. You can survive this Robin I know you can because I did. On June 2 we will be celebrating my daughter Jill's 30 Birthday. HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just remeber Robin, EVERYTHING is possible in God's world, EVERYTHING! Think positive and move on. To make yourself feel better and less sick, get on a regiment of Dandilion Root to cleanse your liver from all of the chemicals and take Sea Salt baths. It worked for me and Im sure it will for you. I still do these things because chemo is nothing more then liquid radiation and it stays in your system for a very long time. I wish you the best of luck in your fight. I am here if you need to talk, and I will laugh and cry with you!! Like I said before, I know that you can survive this fight! Never give up, Never give in!!!!
Thank you for taking the time to help me understand this situation better. I am feeling as if I need to get another opinion and a lot of what you are saying confirms that. I like my oncologist and have a lot of faith in her. But I feel that each doctor has their preferred methods of treatment and I'd like to hear from another doctor who might have different ideas. I NEED to feel like I have CHOICES. I don't want to go through this being led by the nose and find out later there were other things that might have worked better for me. Does this make sense?Tammy Lou, Thank you for taking the time to help me understand this situation better. I am feeling as if I need to get another opinion and a lot of what you are saying confirms that. I like my oncologist and have a lot of faith in her. But I feel that each doctor has their preferred methods of treatment and I'd like to hear from another doctor who might have different ideas. I NEED to feel like I have CHOICES. I don't want to go through this being led by the nose and find out later there were other things that might have worked better for me. Does this make sense?
It is possible (but not remarkably probable) for us to generate an estrogen feeding tumor...in which case, our ovaries would not be our friends.
Ovarian removal is much less controversial in women who have estrogen feeding cancers.
It is also possible to suppress estrogen production using Lupron / aromatase inhibitors (drugs.)
My gut feeling (in my particular, and therefore, yours) is that it would be wise for us to consider hysterectomy...MAINLY, to reduce our risk of other "female" types of cancer.
Tammy Lou
p.s. Because you are (we both are) double negatives (ER PR negative), ovarian removal to prevent more breast cancer is "controversial" at best. It is possible (but not remarkably probable) for us to generate an estrogen feeding tumor...in which case, our ovaries would not be our friends. Ovarian removal is much less controversial in women who have estrogen feeding cancers. It is also possible to suppress estrogen production using Lupron / aromatase inhibitors (drugs.) My gut feeling (in my particular, and therefore, yours) is that it would be wise for us to consider hysterectomy...MAINLY, to reduce our risk of other "female" types of cancer. Tammy Lou
My cancer diagnosis (at age 40) followed an unusual path...so, it took some time to stage and properly diagnose me (about 3-4 months).
I started chemotherapy in April 2005. I am one of the few people who combined Herceptin with an anthracycline (FEC...similar to AC). I took 4 rounds of Taxotere with weekly concurrent Herceptin and then I took 4 rounds of FEC.
Because the cancer was inoperable at diagnosis, I took the chemo first.
In September 2005, I had bi-lateral mastectomies with delayed reconstruction.
If the cancer is advanced, it is considered to be better to delay reconstruction...it is much easier to radiate a flat chest wall.
Because of the size and nature of the cancer, I took about 10x the radiation that is generally recommended for "typical" cancers.
6 fields with 2 sets of boosts. Radiation kicked my butt...and it has taken a long time to recover.
I completed my 52nd week of herceptin in April 2006.
So far, so good.
I was recently reconstructed with muscle-sparing free trams.
About your situation...
You probably need to know and UNDERSTAND that only 12%% of YOUNG women (generally defined as under age 45) test positive for the BRCA genes. The older population of breast cancer patients...LESS THAN THAT.
It is highly unusual to be a young woman with breast cancer.
In my mind, it is much more likely that there are other factors (genetic, environmental or otherwise) that have caused most of the breast cancer in young women. (88%% of YOUNG women test negative for the genes.)
Also, it is worth considering that genes don't pass 100%%. What I mean is that it is possible for two brown eyed parents to have a blue eyed child. Just because you have breast cancer doesn't mean that your kids will.
NOW, as a point of order / caution....because you have a personal history of breast cancer, you are at higher risk for more breast cancer, and other "female" types of cancer...specifically, ovarian, endometrial, and cervical. There are also links to colon cancer as well (BRCA or NO BRCA.)
When my ovaries cease to function...when I get to age 50 or so...I personally intend to have a hysterectomy.
So, yes...that is worth considering.
IF you feel strongly about genetic testing...well, I think that you should do it...however, I don't think that it is really going to TELL you anything.
Your daughters, when they are older, need to inform their gynocologists about your cancer and they certainly need to exercise caution.
It is possible to monitor them closely and not amputate their breasts prematurely.
I didn't think I had a family history. After diagnosis, I found out that I do...on both sides.
I have not been genetically tested. Mainly because I think that "testing" does not account for the breast cancer in 88%% of my population...I think that we have a long way to go (research wise).
Tammy Lou
Yes, ma'm. I am finished with treatment. My cancer diagnosis (at age 40) followed an unusual path...so, it took some time to stage and properly diagnose me (about 3-4 months). I started chemotherapy in April 2005. I am one of the few people who combined Herceptin with an anthracycline (FEC...similar to AC). I took 4 rounds of Taxotere with weekly concurrent Herceptin and then I took 4 rounds of FEC. Because the cancer was inoperable at diagnosis, I took the chemo first. In September 2005, I had bi-lateral mastectomies with delayed reconstruction. If the cancer is advanced, it is considered to be better to delay reconstruction...it is much easier to radiate a flat chest wall. Because of the size and nature of the cancer, I took about 10x the radiation that is generally recommended for "typical" cancers. 6 fields with 2 sets of boosts. Radiation kicked my butt...and it has taken a long time to recover. I completed my 52nd week of herceptin in April 2006. So far, so good. I was recently reconstructed with muscle-sparing free trams. About your situation... You probably need to know and UNDERSTAND that only 12%% of YOUNG women (generally defined as under age 45) test positive for the BRCA genes. The older population of breast cancer patients...LESS THAN THAT. It is highly unusual to be a young woman with breast cancer. In my mind, it is much more likely that there are other factors (genetic, environmental or otherwise) that have caused most of the breast cancer in young women. (88%% of YOUNG women test negative for the genes.) Also, it is worth considering that genes don't pass 100%%. What I mean is that it is possible for two brown eyed parents to have a blue eyed child. Just because you have breast cancer doesn't mean that your kids will. NOW, as a point of order / caution....because you have a personal history of breast cancer, you are at higher risk for more breast cancer, and other "female" types of cancer...specifically, ovarian, endometrial, and cervical. There are also links to colon cancer as well (BRCA or NO BRCA.) When my ovaries cease to function...when I get to age 50 or so...I personally intend to have a hysterectomy. So, yes...that is worth considering. IF you feel strongly about genetic testing...well, I think that you should do it...however, I don't think that it is really going to TELL you anything. Your daughters, when they are older, need to inform their gynocologists about your cancer and they certainly need to exercise caution. It is possible to monitor them closely and not amputate their breasts prematurely. I didn't think I had a family history. After diagnosis, I found out that I do...on both sides. I have not been genetically tested. Mainly because I think that "testing" does not account for the breast cancer in 88%% of my population...I think that we have a long way to go (research wise). Tammy Lou
Hang in there. I had the same diagnosis five years ago this June. I had stage III with 11 + nodes. I did do the prophylactic mastectomy on the second breast because I have a young daughter, now 10. My doctor is now suggesting the ovary removal to improve my chances. I do have to stop Tomaxifin next January so the ovary removal will give me more treatment options.
I want to encourage you to take steps to improve your chances. Take it one step at a time and get second opinions if you are not sure what to do.
Good luck
SarahRobin Hang in there. I had the same diagnosis five years ago this June. I had stage III with 11 + nodes. I did do the prophylactic mastectomy on the second breast because I have a young daughter, now 10. My doctor is now suggesting the ovary removal to improve my chances. I do have to stop Tomaxifin next January so the ovary removal will give me more treatment options. I want to encourage you to take steps to improve your chances. Take it one step at a time and get second opinions if you are not sure what to do. Good luck Sarah
TammyLou:
Well...there's at least ONE. (So far, so good.) Similar pathology...similar size (inoperable at diagnosis, so I had to have some chemo to shrink the tumors) similar treatment. Diagnosed January 2005...still kickin'. How old are you? Tammy Lou...another young survivor
TammyLou: Well...there's at least ONE. (So far, so good.) Similar pathology...similar size (inoperable at diagnosis, so I had to have some chemo to shrink the tumors) similar treatment. Diagnosed January 2005...still kickin'. How old are you? Tammy Lou...another young survivor
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Tammy Lou,
How are you feeling? Have you finished treatments? Did you get genetic testing? I have so many questions. I want to get a sense of what my future may hold. Did you have a family history? I did not. I have 4 sisters and 3 daughters, as well as a 69 year old mother that I worry about having to deal with this at some point.
I am 47... an older mother, but still too young to be going through this.
I was so naive... I felt I was at VERY low risk (no family history, multiple children, breastfed all four, no smoking, no drinking alcohol, no caffeine, no birth control pills or other hormonal devices, good health). My surgical oncologist set me straight when he told me, "The only risk factor for breast cancer is having breasts."
Thank you for your response. I hope you'll stay in touch and that I won't drive you nuts with questions.
Love and blessings,
Robin undefined: undefined Tammy Lou, How are you feeling? Have you finished treatments? Did you get genetic testing? I have so many questions. I want to get a sense of what my future may hold. Did you have a family history? I did not. I have 4 sisters and 3 daughters, as well as a 69 year old mother that I worry about having to deal with this at some point. I am 47... an older mother, but still too young to be going through this. I was so naive... I felt I was at VERY low risk (no family history, multiple children, breastfed all four, no smoking, no drinking alcohol, no caffeine, no birth control pills or other hormonal devices, good health). My surgical oncologist set me straight when he told me, "The only risk factor for breast cancer is having breasts." Thank you for your response. I hope you'll stay in touch and that I won't drive you nuts with questions. Love and blessings, Robin
You have time to research and understand your situation before making any decisions.
Tammy LouP.S. Please remember...you don't have to HURRY. You have time to research and understand your situation before making any decisions. Tammy Lou
(So far, so good.)
Similar pathology...similar size (inoperable at diagnosis, so I had to have some chemo to shrink the tumors) similar treatment.
Diagnosed January 2005...still kickin'.
How old are you?
Tammy Lou...another young survivorWell...there's at least ONE. (So far, so good.) Similar pathology...similar size (inoperable at diagnosis, so I had to have some chemo to shrink the tumors) similar treatment. Diagnosed January 2005...still kickin'. How old are you? Tammy Lou...another young survivor