Forum Discussion
35 y/o and diagnosed with HER2 positive breast Cancer
Hello,
I am new on this online discussion thread but I find it very encouraging.
Here it goes.. Is anyone out there who is HER2 positive who is the same age range like me? I just got got diagnosed on the 25th of Nov and I just cried my hearts out because I cant believe that its me. But of course cancer doesnt choose right it just does what it does. The thing is I am a nurse by profession and to read my pathology report I cant believe that what I am reading is my own result not someone else which I am used to doing. Then I started blaming myself because I was not proactive on my health management when I went to GP. She told me its nothing and did not even perform a biopsy which I should have insisted. Backtracking I felt the lump 10weeks ago before I was officially diagnosed and everything was pretty full on after that in terms of the treatment. Right now, I am crying again because I am scared. You see I have two kids a 3y/o and a 1y/o. I cry for the future. I really wanted to beat this cancer. I want to build more memories with the bubs because you know they are still to young to remember me if God decided to take me...
I am new on this online discussion thread but I find it very encouraging.
Here it goes.. Is anyone out there who is HER2 positive who is the same age range like me? I just got got diagnosed on the 25th of Nov and I just cried my hearts out because I cant believe that its me. But of course cancer doesnt choose right it just does what it does. The thing is I am a nurse by profession and to read my pathology report I cant believe that what I am reading is my own result not someone else which I am used to doing. Then I started blaming myself because I was not proactive on my health management when I went to GP. She told me its nothing and did not even perform a biopsy which I should have insisted. Backtracking I felt the lump 10weeks ago before I was officially diagnosed and everything was pretty full on after that in terms of the treatment. Right now, I am crying again because I am scared. You see I have two kids a 3y/o and a 1y/o. I cry for the future. I really wanted to beat this cancer. I want to build more memories with the bubs because you know they are still to young to remember me if God decided to take me...
31 Replies
- ohhh ladies thank you so so much for all the encouragement.
At the moment, it feels a very long way to go in terms of treatment but of course one step at a time. The doctors always say its you this time but I really want to live long for my two little ones 😊
@shs14... i will read that post you have.
@PV123 i love that article that you said. - shs14 - I have been reading quite a few current articles and they talk about the outlook for HER2 improving immensely since Herceptin.
- @PV123 that is my favourite article! I read it when I get anxious.
I made the mistake when I was first diagnosed of reading an out of date article online which had the old prognosis for Her2 before Herceptin came along and changed things. I read that one next and it talked me off a cliff!
Lovely to hear from all the Her2 ladies working their way through treatment.
@ara if you are going on to Paclitaxel make sure you read the post I have on tests and treatments about cold therapy to help avoid neuropathy side effects. Many patients find it helps them with this.
Good luck with all your treatment and to everyone still going through it. I am just out the other side of chemo and radiation and half way through my year of Herceptin and starting to feel normal again and get hair. You will get there soon! xx - @mtansyz oh thats good to hear.. thank you for your time in responding to my questions 😊
I actually haven't returned to work as such...I was a stay at home Mum before this all started, and have kept doing that. Having said that, I have decided to go back to uni this year.ara said:@mtansyz sooo nice got to talk to you as you ease my anxiety with my second round of battle (i'd like to think). sorry to keep asking you lots of questions. when did you go back to work?
It took me almost all of 2018 to get through all the chemo, surgery and radiotherapy etc...then in 2019, our eldest started prep, our middle one was in three year old kinder, and the baby was busy being a baby ;)
So I guess, this year is the first time I've felt ready / able to do something 'normal' like work or study.
Having said that, I'm very privileged to have a husband that works full time, which has meant that I have been able to take my time...- @mtansyz sooo nice got to talk to you as you ease my anxiety with my second round of battle (i'd like to think). sorry to keep asking you lots of questions. when did you go back to work?
I'm having herceptin / perjeta indefinitely at this stage....no end date set...ara said:Hi @PV123 thank you so much for that article it brings me hope.
@mtansyz thank you thank you... until when are you having the herceptin and perjeta? im just worried about the paclataxel because I've heard that it causes neuropathy and the herceptin gives you palpitations. I just really pray that my body tolerates it.
(I have an ECHO every three months to check on my heart...I imagine you will too).
I ended up having neuropathy in my feet towards the end of the 12 cycles...so my Oncologist adjusted my dose down slightly for the last couple of weeks....I can't remember how long it took for the neuropathy to wear off, but I think it was a couple of weeks. I think that they can gently adjust the dose if things are getting a bit to full on! We are living a lot longer these days, so they want to make sure they can also give you a reasonable quality of life as well :) My oncologist also mentioned that its really common for people to not finish all 12 cycles...which made me feel a little better / like I hadn't 'failed' in some way.
Best of Luck!!!- Hi @PV123 thank you so much for that article it brings me hope.
@mtansyz thank you thank you... until when are you having the herceptin and perjeta? im just worried about the paclataxel because I've heard that it causes neuropathy and the herceptin gives you palpitations. I just really pray that my body tolerates it.
That's very kind of you...don't forget you are inspirational too!ara said:@mtansyz thank you.. i just finished my AC then will be doing paclataxel and herceptin. you inspire me. thank you so much
Good luck with the paclataxel (I don't remember much about mine...2018 was such a blur! ;)
I do remember that I found the chemo itself ok...but struggled with the weekly steroids...I spent a lot of time in my garden pulling weeds....luckily my garden had a LOT of weeds!!
I'm still having herceptin and perjeta....if you have any questions or ever want to chat feel free to contact me.- I have HER2 breast cancer - it appears that Herceptin has radically improved prognosis for HER2 breast cancer.
https://www.targetedonc.com/conference/lynn-sage-2017/trastuzumab-has-radically-improved-prognosis-for-her2-positive-breast-cancer
