theresac's Cancer Blog

May 28, 2008

Here we go again

Views: 549

For those of you who are just now getting filled in -here we go
late in Nov. 11/07 I’m feeling a lump about 2-3inches below clavical, well above reconstruction area- same side as last time
Doctors think it is nothing but fatty tissue from surgeries. Ultra sound reveals suspicious tumor near implant. I see plastic surgeon who will remove it with local anesthetic (due to close proximity to implant). With the holidays and no particular panic by any Dr. That happens in January.
1/08 Unable to reach it under local, because the surprise is that it is between the pectoralis major and minor, and the procedure was starting to get a little uncomf. for me ( you can’t call me a wimp yet!)
1/08 Go under general anesthesia – they remove a 3cm tumor, we were only feeling the tip of the tumor prior to surgery.
2/08 path report shows IDC- same tumor markers as before. Local oncologist sends me for scans- another area shows up in axilla – probably a luymph node containing same cancerous cells. local oncologist recommends starting chemo again. I contact U of M Cancer Center to get another opinion. takes 2-3 weeks to get an appointment.
3/4/08- Initial consult at U of M. They recommend surgery to remove the two areas, and unfortunatley recommend removing all reconstruction.
3/21/08- I have repeat mastechtomy and rest of axiallry node disection.
4/08 – U of M team recommends trying radiation prior to chemo- I go for first simulation 4 weeks post op. Already they are picking up another tumor and now a spot has shown in my liver. Rest of April is complete restaging process with many scans, some of which I have never had before. So after a liver biopsy it is confirmed the same breast cancer cells have traveled- I am now stage IV metastatic breast cancer. there are several chemotherapy drugs to chose from. I decided to try to get chemo local the two oncologist communicate and I am a candidate for a new clinical trial in phase 2. using Gemzar ( previously approved by FDA for breast cancer and avastin -fairly new for breast cancer- the combo is what is important.

I’ll keep you updated on treatment- which starts 5/28/08

Posted on May 28, 2008 at 4:31:23 PM by theresac ( Here we go again, 2 comments)

Just wanted to say Hi,

And send a Big Hug,
Sherri

Posted on May 29, 2008 at 12:15:38 AM by karlak

Thanks Sheri- right back at ya’!

Posted on May 29, 2008 at 5:25:40 PM by theresac