November 18- 1st meeting with Oncologist

MET WITH THE RADIATION ONCOLOGIST TODAY. DR. MACK. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE CANCER IS HER2 POSTIVE WHICH TENDS TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN OTHER TYPES OF BREAST CANCER. HER2 IS TREATED WITH HERCEPTIN THROUGH IV WHICH KILLS HER2 CANCER CELLS AND PREVENTS RECURRENCE. 


 HERCEPTION IS DIFFERENT THAN CHEMOTHERAPY.

 BECAUSE HER2 IS AGGRESSIVE, I HAVE TO HAVE FURTHER TESTING TO SEE IF THE CANCER IS ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE BODY. I HAVE TO HAVE A CT SCAN OF THE CHEST, ABDOMEN AND THE PELVIS, A BONE SCAN OF THE BODY AND FINALLY A BRAIN MRI. THESE TEST SHOULD BE FINISHED BY DEC 1. THE RESULTS OF THE TEST WILL DETERMINE THE CANCER STAGE AND TYPE OF CHEMO TO BE ADMINISTERED. CURRENTLY MY CANCER IS STAGE 2. IF CANCER IS FOUND ELSE WHERE, THE STAGE WILL BE

RE-DETERMINED. ABOUT 20 PERCENT OF WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER ARE HER2-POSITIVE.

GENETIC MARKER TEST

 BECAUSE I HAVE 3 AUNTS ON MY MOMS SIDE OF THE FAMILY THAT HAD BREAST CANCER, THE DOCTOR DREW BLOOD TODAY TO DO A GENETIC MARKER TEST. HEREDITARY BREAST CANCER IS SUSPECTED WHEN THERE IS A STRONG FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST CANCER IN AT LEAST THREE FIRST OR SECOND-DEGREE RELATIVES (SISTERS, MOTHERS, AUNTS). THE TEST DETERMINES WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IN A HIGH-RISK FAMILY HAS A GENETIC MUTATION IN THE BRCA1 OR BRCA2 GENES. WOMEN THAT CARRY THE MUTATION HAVE A 52% RISK OF BREAST CANCER BEFORE THE AGE OF 50 AND 82% RISK OF BREAST CANCER BY THE AGE OF 70. OFTEN THESE PATIENTS WILL BE AFFLICTED WITH CANCER BEFORE THE AGE OF 40. IF THE TEST REVEALS THE GENE A DECISION IS MADE TO DO A PROPHYLACTIC MASECTOMY WHICH IS SURGERY TO REMOVE BOTH BREASTS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER.

 CHEMO THERAPY

 ONCE THE TEST ARE ALL BACK I WILL MEET WITH THE CHEMOTHERAPY ONCOLOGIST (DR SOBLE). SHE WILL DETERMINE THE TYPE OF CHEMO I SHOULD RECEIVE BASED ON THE TEST FINDINGS. . THE CHEMO WILL LAST FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS STARTING IN DEC. I HAVE A FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT WITH THE LUMPECTOMY SURGEON TODAY AND HE WILL SCHEDULE ANOTHER SURGERY TO PUT A CHEMO PORT UNDER THE SKIN AROUND THE CHEST AREA. THIS IS SO I DON’T HAVE TO HAVE AN IV NEEDLE EVERY TIME I HAVE A CHEMO OR HERCEPTIN TREATMENT.

RADIATION- RADIATION WILL NOT START UNTIL AROUND MARCH. TREATMENTS WILL BE 5 DAYS A WEEK MONDAY THRU FRIDAY FOR AROUND 6 WEEKS.

AS FOR ME, I AM FINE. STAYING INFORMED. KEEPING BUSY AND STAYING POSITIVE! THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. KEEP IT COMING!