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Smellycrackle's avatar
Smellycrackle
Member
8 years ago

Her2 diagnosis.

Diagnosed in Sept 2016, mastectomy and 4 rounds of chemotherapy every 3 weeks, followed by a further chemo every week for 12 weeks.  This was a 'nicer/kinder' dose with fewer side effects.  Although every week was pretty full on.  Found it hard to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel" when I started this.  Amongst that was 17 doses of Herceptin - these were 3 weeks apart.  After about 13 months it was finally all done.  I am feeling back to my normal self physically - doing lots of walking/jogging with a friend several times a week and this has been amazing.  Mentally pretty good but I do worry that being diagnosed with Her2 might be the undoing.  Anyone else out there with a similar diagnosis.  I am also on Letrozole as I'm oestrogen positive.  Tiniest bit in one lymph node - so I tell myself I am lymph node clear... ;)  Stage 3  - which I wonder is that because it was Her2  which makes the cells grow quickly?? I am 47.
her2
  • Smellycrackle's avatar
    Smellycrackle
    Member
    8 years ago
    That's interesting. I didn't realise it could be in nodes but not in tumour.. Mine was in the tumour. Yes , thanks for your advice - most days I am good and enjoy life - every now and then it creeps in. All the best to you too. Here's hoping for a long, happy & healthy future.
  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    8 years ago

    Hi there

    I am almost 5 and a half years post diagnosis - very similar, mastectomy, 3 months of A/C, 12 weekly does of taxol, 12 months of Herceptin. Have been on femara ( letrozole) for 5 years. I hope to go off femara soon, but will depend on discussions with my oncologist. I would want some very convincing stats of the benefits of another 5 years though, to offset the side effects. I am well, living a normal life, working, travelling etc. I was HER2 positive in one lymph node only too, not in the original tumour - cancer cells are very shifty. HER2 positive is generally thought to be more aggressive, but what that means for individual cases can be streets apart. We'd all like a clear outline of what we can expect but different people go different ways.  So live as healthily as you can and want, try not to worry ( if it helped we would all be well in a trice!) and think positive. Best wishes.