I have a Treatment Plan

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kmenurse
kmenurse Member Posts: 217
in Breast Cancer #1

I was told by oncologist that I will receive 6 treatments of Taxotere and Cytoxan Chemo each Tx will be 3 weeks apart so it will take 18 weeks to finish.  The finish of my breast reconstruction after Chemo.  

I also was told I could go into a clinical trial where one group would take Chemo and anti-hormone drugs ... And one group just anti-hormone drugs.  I would not know what group I would be in until they told me... So I still could end up with having Chemo.  My survival rate is good with just Anti hormones but better with both Chemo and anti hormone by only about 5% to 6% so,  after I thought about it, I think I'll do the Trial study...  

Does anyone know how they monitor you for the Anti-Hormone Drugs effect I forgot to ask....Blood levels?...  Kathy

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  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #2
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    Clues on Monitoring anti-hormone drugs...

    Dear Kathy,

    For some people those blood tests work to figure out where they are in the scheme of things.  For me they didn't work.  I was hormonal drug therapy for 18 years.  I always knew when a hormonal drug was failing through symptoms.  Since my 3rd recurrence after being NED for 8 years, the dry cough was my clue and a ct scan would be ordered.  

    I am sorry that this isn't all that helpful.   

    Wishing you the best of luck.

    Doris

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member
    #3
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    Hi Kathy

    Hi Kathy,

    Did you ask about the oncotype dx test?  As far as how they monitor you, I am assuming the CA 27.29 blood test.  I know that's what my onco ordered for me.  The last time I saw her last month was the first time in 4 and a half years that she did not order it. 

    i am glad you have your treatment plan now.

    Hugs to you, 

    Ginny

  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #4
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    After reading the consent

    After reading the consent form on the Clinical Trial I opted out of it.  I'm going for standard of care.  It will be Pink Hats and Bandanas for me!...lol 

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member
    #5
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    kmenurse said:

    After reading the consent

    After reading the consent form on the Clinical Trial I opted out of it.  I'm going for standard of care.  It will be Pink Hats and Bandanas for me!...lol 

    Hi

    Hi Kathy,

    To tell you the truth, even if you had a low oncotype score, with lymph node involvement I think I would do exactly what you are doing.  I know you don't want to do it, but I think you are making the right choice.  We will be here for you the whole way!

    Hugs,

    Ginny

  • Josie21
    Josie21 Member Posts: 382 Member
    #6
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    kmenurse said:

    After reading the consent

    After reading the consent form on the Clinical Trial I opted out of it.  I'm going for standard of care.  It will be Pink Hats and Bandanas for me!...lol 

    double post

    Hi Kathy,

     

  • Patti1967
    Patti1967 Member Posts: 186
    #7
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    Josie21 said:

    double post

    Hi Kathy,

     

    I agree, I too think you are

    I agree, I too think you are making the right choice:)  I have a breast cancer bandana on right now:)   You can do it Kathy, it sucks big time but doable:)  Hugs!!!!

    Patti

  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #8
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    kmenurse said:

    After reading the consent

    After reading the consent form on the Clinical Trial I opted out of it.  I'm going for standard of care.  It will be Pink Hats and Bandanas for me!...lol 

    I am glad you chose this route
    5 - 6 % overall does not sound like much, if you are buying a car, but it makes a huge differene if you are one of hose additional percentage points.
    I wish you the best!
    Hugs, Carol
  • hope67
    hope67 Member Posts: 181
    #9
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    Kathy, I too agree that you made a good choice

    On the beginning of this hard journey I've made a decision that if I'll have to make decisions about treatments, I will try to decide for overtreatment over undertreatment, even if that will be hard to coprehend at a time.

    Good luck, Carmen

  • Faith_In_God
    Faith_In_God Member Posts: 76
    #10
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    kmenurse said:

    After reading the consent

    After reading the consent form on the Clinical Trial I opted out of it.  I'm going for standard of care.  It will be Pink Hats and Bandanas for me!...lol 

    Hi Kathy

    I think you have made the right choice, chemo is not fun but doable. I just finished my 4 T/C rounds last week (I think you have the same combination). I had no lymph envolvment and was stage I but my aunt -the pathologist who examined the tumor and wrote my report- advised me strongly to take chemo to be on the safe side.  I will be around if you have any questions or need any support. God Bless you.

    Faith

     

  • Faith_In_God
    Faith_In_God Member Posts: 76
    #11
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    hope67 said:

    Kathy, I too agree that you made a good choice

    On the beginning of this hard journey I've made a decision that if I'll have to make decisions about treatments, I will try to decide for overtreatment over undertreatment, even if that will be hard to coprehend at a time.

    Good luck, Carmen

    To Patti and Carmen

    Are you ladies 1967 girls too, my birthday is in Feb. 

    Faith

  • Patti1967
    Patti1967 Member Posts: 186
    #12
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    Faith_In_God said:

    To Patti and Carmen

    Are you ladies 1967 girls too, my birthday is in Feb. 

    Faith

    Yep April for me:)

    Yep April for me:)  Stay strong Kathy, we are all here for you:)

  • JJDS
    JJDS Member Posts: 258
    #13
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    Patti1967 said:

    I agree, I too think you are

    I agree, I too think you are making the right choice:)  I have a breast cancer bandana on right now:)   You can do it Kathy, it sucks big time but doable:)  Hugs!!!!

    Patti

    I think having chemo is the

    I think having chemo is the right and best choice, especially since you had the 2 positive nodes. 

    Good luck!

  • kmenurse
    kmenurse Member Posts: 217
    #14
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    Yes Ginny, they were going to

    Yes Ginny, they were going to do the Oncotype Dx if I were going for the clinical trial, but because I turned it down they said it wasn't necessary.

    Thank you everyone for your input.  I greatly appreciate it.  And I'm sure that I will have lots of questions after the Chemo treatment starts.  God Bless!  Kathy

  • hope67
    hope67 Member Posts: 181
    #15
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    Faith_In_God said:

    To Patti and Carmen

    Are you ladies 1967 girls too, my birthday is in Feb. 

    Faith

    And mine in October

    Take care, Carmen

  • Kristin N
    Kristin N Member Posts: 1,968 Member
    #16
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    kmenurse said:

    Yes Ginny, they were going to

    Yes Ginny, they were going to do the Oncotype Dx if I were going for the clinical trial, but because I turned it down they said it wasn't necessary.

    Thank you everyone for your input.  I greatly appreciate it.  And I'm sure that I will have lots of questions after the Chemo treatment starts.  God Bless!  Kathy

    Wishing you good luck Kathy

    Wishing you good luck Kathy with chemo.  Praying for no side effects.

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