And now for some good news!

Good evening, one and all!

I got a phone call from my oncologist today. He had ordered another test on my tumor, just to verify that I was, in fact, HER2 positive. The results came back negative!! The first results were obtained from the needle biopsy and a “stain” test. The second test, a “fish” was done with a slide from the actual tumor.

Therefore,I will not need to be on a Herceptin regimen for a full year. That is INCREDIBLE news for me because my family has a history of congestive heart issues(2 grandparents and my dad died from it).

My onc is sending some more slides to Ohio State, to see EXACTLY what we are dealing with in terms of the genetics of the tumor. I may, or may not, still have to have the other six treatments of chemo. We will know in two weeks. In either case, I will still need seven weeks of daily radiation and 5 years of hormone suppression therapy.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic! I know there is still a good chance of chemo, but knowing that I will not have to take herceptin is such a relief. I know my fears were irational. the heart issues that can come with herceptin stop after the medication stops, but I had a terrible foreboding of that drug. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and good thoughts. I KNOW they led to this happy turn of events.