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viking1's avatar
viking1
Member
9 years ago

Post lumpectomy two week visit with surgeon to discuss chemo, rad and hormone treatment

Hi, I am not sure if I should go in with a pile of questions or just sit and listen and then go home and do some research? Was there anything in particular people thought was an important question to ask? 3am googling is doing my head in! The surgeon originally said my treatment would be lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and hormone treatment as I have the HER2 positive 'thing'. The sentinel node and one other was removed during surgery and cancer free. At present my prior to surgery 5x core biopsy report was 'infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast, Grad 3, (T3, P3, M2), arising in association with a component of high grade intraduct carcinoma'. There was 'focal positive staining for ER (80%, 1-2+), negative staining for PR, and strong positive staining for HER2 (3+). Hopefully whatever results they have from the lumpectomy will be explained as I only understand from the above that Grad3 is the highest Grade wise (and not good!) and HER2 positive requires hormone treatment - which can cause menopause symptoms. (Thought that was over!)The surgeon also sad the chemo would lat a year, but the full treatment was equivalent to a double mastectomy. I think he said double. Thank you for any advice!xx

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  • viking1's avatar
    viking1
    Member
    9 years ago
    Thank you! Yes, I will break it down into the steps. @Afraser, you may have just solved something for me! I got a phone call from the hospital today and they said could I come in tomorrow for a CT scan. I said I hadn't yet had my appointment on Friday for the two week followup to discuss options. I was pretty shocked because I thought we were focussing on my breast! They suggested phoning my breast nurse and she said they just like to cover all bases, not to panic. She then said I was also supposed to have a bone scan too. She's gone to find out if they can do both on same day. Meanwhile my calm after the lumpectomy has done a 'oh no...they've found something else'. But maybe they are looking at whether my bones are okay for a particular chemo? That would be a better alternative! Sheesh ... I am wishing I could get frequent flyer miles to hospital! Actually, I might just write to Qantas ... why not???
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    9 years ago
    Your diagnosis is much tbe same as mine. It is the ER + that requires the hormone treatment wjich you start after chemo. The common treatment is gor ACT-H  regime. AC first for 4 rounds then taxol for 12 weekly  and herceptin. Every 3 weeks for 12 months. The hercepton blocks the her2 part. Just remember grade 3 responds really well to chemo.  But they weigh ip you as an individual before determining the exact regime. Just listen, ask why the chemo that is vhosen has been chosen etc. You will have many more appointments to ask further questions later. Kath x
  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    9 years ago
    Investigate one step at a time. When it was chemo time I focused on that and left the hormone therapy questions until the time I was finished with the chemo. Break it all down in to stages or it gets overwhelming. <3
  • fairydust's avatar
    fairydust
    Member
    9 years ago
    @viking1 basically just sat and listened. It is hard to ask questions until you have the whole program explained to you. I take the viewpoint that the medical peoples   have your best interests at heart.. 
    It is a lot to take in. Basically it just comes down to this you have cancer and the doctors are doing everything to cure you.  I googled like mad after the facts and went to the library and got as many books I could. I also rang the cancer council for advice at times.
    In my case I was happy with the treatment plan but not my surgeon. 
    I changed surgeons within three weeks of diagnosis. 


  • Afraser's avatar
    Afraser
    Member
    9 years ago
    Can't help much with some of your diagnosis but I had a year of Herceptin (HER2 positive) and am in my 5th year of Femara, hormonal therapy preferred for those who are post menopausal. I had no side effects from Herceptin, and the only side effects I have had from Femara is a reduction in bone density. Luckily mine was very good to begin with and I should see 5 years through with no serious damage. No joint pain, flushes etc. Like chemo, side effects can be very variable.