Oncologist called with plan

Reikigemgirl
Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
As some of you know, I have been waiting for a long while to see what kind of breast cancer I have. The oncologist called and said after talking with the pathologist who did my specimans and the surgeon they have decided it is a very aggressive cancer and they want to start chemo next week. He said to call my surgeon and see if he can put a port in this week. I have a pet scan on Thursday to see if it has spread and then go in next Tuesday to see him, discuss the kind of chemo drugs he wants to use, etc. and the results of the pet scan. He said I will have 4 rounds of chemo, three weeks apart, then a masectomy. Following that, some more chemo. I also am having a blood test to find out my cancer markers. They want to do chemo first so that they get clear margins when they take my breast off, is how I understood it.

Is three weeks apart a pretty common schedule for chemo?

That's the update until Tuesday when I see the doctor again!!

Love and Light,
Vicki
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Comments

  • chickad52
    chickad52 Member Posts: 497
    #2
    Vicki
    Mine plan was 2 weeks apart, 4 treatments now I'll be starting every week for 12 weeks. Surgery to follow treatments.
    Good Luck with your treatments and your scans!! Diane :)
  • mlmjt1
    mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537
    #3
    Hi vicki
    I had aggressive cancer in my right breast as well and had bilateral mastectomy done in may. My chemo is every 2 wks which is good cuz it gives me time to regroup before getting nailed with another one.

    By the way, you will really be happy to have the port. Ask for a rx for emla cream. Put a glob of cream on the port covered by 2 bandaids to keep it off your clothes about 1 hour before the access it. It will numb the area and you wont feel it.

    Its good to have a plan...now you can go on the attack

    Let us know how you do

    Hugs
    Linda T
  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #4
    Vicki
    Thank you for posting the update. It has been a while for you to wait, which truly is the worst. Three week chemo schedules are very common. Mine was TAC every three weeks. I had 6 treatments for a total of 18 weeks of treatment. I had a mastectomy before chemo,but I was given the option of chemo to shrink the tumor first, as you are having.

    I will be hoping the best results for next Tuesday. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns about Thursday's PET scan, many of us have had at least one and would be glad to help you.
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #5
    Sorry
    Sorry to hear your cancer was found to be aggressive. We are hear to see you through it.

    My chemo schedule runs about every three weeks but this can very if you develop some complications or if you blood cells are low.

    Take care.

    P
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #6
    Hi Vicki
    I am glad your wait isfinaly coming to an end, as Moopy said that is the very worst. I also had a very aggressive cancer and did chemo 3 weeks apart, although I had my mastectomy first.
    I wish you all the best of luck on Tuesday. Keep us posted.
    BTW I love your picture you do look like love and light.
    hugs, jackie
  • tommaseena
    tommaseena Member Posts: 1,769
    #7
    rjjj said:

    Hi Vicki
    I am glad your wait isfinaly coming to an end, as Moopy said that is the very worst. I also had a very aggressive cancer and did chemo 3 weeks apart, although I had my mastectomy first.
    I wish you all the best of luck on Tuesday. Keep us posted.
    BTW I love your picture you do look like love and light.
    hugs, jackie

    Vicki
    Vicki,
    I had a double mastectomy and then found out I had an aggressive breast cancer--HER2+.
    I had A/C every two weeks for 4 treatments and then Taxol w/Herceptin once a week for 12 wks and will start Herceptin alone next week for a year every three wks.

    I wish you the best.

    Hugs,
    Margo
  • Kat11
    Kat11 Member Posts: 1,931 Member
    #8
    tommaseena said:

    Vicki
    Vicki,
    I had a double mastectomy and then found out I had an aggressive breast cancer--HER2+.
    I had A/C every two weeks for 4 treatments and then Taxol w/Herceptin once a week for 12 wks and will start Herceptin alone next week for a year every three wks.

    I wish you the best.

    Hugs,
    Margo

    Best luck to you Vicki, we
    Best luck to you Vicki, we will all be here for you
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #9
    Good to finally have a plan in place...
    Especially after a very long wait. Chemo varies; depends on diagnosis/final pathology, the combination of drugs, dosage, etc. ... I know it all sounds scary. But, it's good to get going - and finally feel like you're really taking action, fighting back.

    Keep us posted. We'll be here for you, each step of the way.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #10
    Kat11 said:

    Best luck to you Vicki, we
    Best luck to you Vicki, we will all be here for you

    I just want to let you know
    I just want to let you know Vicki that I will keep you in my prayers.

    Please keep us updated on how and what you are doing.

    Lots of hugs,

    Kylez
  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #11
    good luck vicki. u will love
    good luck vicki. u will love the port.
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #12
    rjjj said:

    Hi Vicki
    I am glad your wait isfinaly coming to an end, as Moopy said that is the very worst. I also had a very aggressive cancer and did chemo 3 weeks apart, although I had my mastectomy first.
    I wish you all the best of luck on Tuesday. Keep us posted.
    BTW I love your picture you do look like love and light.
    hugs, jackie

    Thanks for all the kind words......
    and letting me know your treatment plans. It is interesting to me to see if anyone else is on mine, like you are Jackie.

    Thanks for the compliment about my picture. I had just walked my daughter down the isle when she got married in April, this year. I was beaming with pride and happiness.

    I love this board. Everyone is so caring and understanding.

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #13
    ladybug22 said:

    good luck vicki. u will love
    good luck vicki. u will love the port.

    Ladybug22....
    I'm going to the doctor today and he is going to explain the port to me, then I am going to have in put in next Wednesday. I was trying not to have any appt. today because it is my fiance's birthday but this was the only day he could see me because he is going out of town until Tuesday and we are putting it in Wednesday. He said he doesn't mind.

    So they finally determined that my cancer isn't inflammatory breast cancer but it is aggressive. That is why I start chemo next week. But now that I won't have a port until Wednesday, I wonder if they have to wait a few days after that to start chemo or can you use it right away?

    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • lolad
    lolad Member Posts: 670
    #14
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Ladybug22....
    I'm going to the doctor today and he is going to explain the port to me, then I am going to have in put in next Wednesday. I was trying not to have any appt. today because it is my fiance's birthday but this was the only day he could see me because he is going out of town until Tuesday and we are putting it in Wednesday. He said he doesn't mind.

    So they finally determined that my cancer isn't inflammatory breast cancer but it is aggressive. That is why I start chemo next week. But now that I won't have a port until Wednesday, I wonder if they have to wait a few days after that to start chemo or can you use it right away?

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Good luck with your
    Good luck with your appointment and be glad that they are choosing to do a port. I got stuck six times yesterday when i went for my chemo. My treatments are also three weeks apart with AC. I also had an aggressive form of cancer, but they did my mastectomy first and thats when they found out it was aggressive. Hope you are doing ok. Sounds like its all getting started and sometimes after you have waited so long for things to get on a role and then suddenly it all hits at once, it can feel overwhelming. It did for me anyways. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    laura
  • rjjj
    rjjj Member Posts: 1,822 Member
    #15
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Ladybug22....
    I'm going to the doctor today and he is going to explain the port to me, then I am going to have in put in next Wednesday. I was trying not to have any appt. today because it is my fiance's birthday but this was the only day he could see me because he is going out of town until Tuesday and we are putting it in Wednesday. He said he doesn't mind.

    So they finally determined that my cancer isn't inflammatory breast cancer but it is aggressive. That is why I start chemo next week. But now that I won't have a port until Wednesday, I wonder if they have to wait a few days after that to start chemo or can you use it right away?

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Vicki
    They told me the port could be used right away. I was a little sore for a few days but I have never regretted that I have it. Good luck and I hope you and your fiance have a great birthday celebration.
    love, jackie
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #16
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Ladybug22....
    I'm going to the doctor today and he is going to explain the port to me, then I am going to have in put in next Wednesday. I was trying not to have any appt. today because it is my fiance's birthday but this was the only day he could see me because he is going out of town until Tuesday and we are putting it in Wednesday. He said he doesn't mind.

    So they finally determined that my cancer isn't inflammatory breast cancer but it is aggressive. That is why I start chemo next week. But now that I won't have a port until Wednesday, I wonder if they have to wait a few days after that to start chemo or can you use it right away?

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Wishing you good luck Vicki!
    Wishing you good luck Vicki!

    Lex
  • aztec45
    aztec45 Member Posts: 757
    #17
    Reikigemgirl said:

    Ladybug22....
    I'm going to the doctor today and he is going to explain the port to me, then I am going to have in put in next Wednesday. I was trying not to have any appt. today because it is my fiance's birthday but this was the only day he could see me because he is going out of town until Tuesday and we are putting it in Wednesday. He said he doesn't mind.

    So they finally determined that my cancer isn't inflammatory breast cancer but it is aggressive. That is why I start chemo next week. But now that I won't have a port until Wednesday, I wonder if they have to wait a few days after that to start chemo or can you use it right away?

    Love and Light,
    Vicki

    Happy B-Day
    Happy B-Day to your sweety. Glad you have a plan.

    You will be sore a couple of days after they put the port in. My surgeon put mine kind of close to the collar bone. Kind of uncomfortable. But as long as the port flushes well when they put the saline in it, you are good to go. Have the onc give you some cream to numb the site before they put the needle in to administer your chemo drugs.

    Good Luck,

    P
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    #18
    Plan
    Vicki,

    I'm very glad a plan is in place for you. Also very good that it is not imflammatory breast cancer. I had very aggressive cancer, too. The good thing is that the chemo works best for the aggressive ones. I believe you can start using the port right away, although mine was a little sore for a few days. Make sure to use the EMLA cream over your port an hour or so before infusion, so it doesn't hurt. Good luck, and I love your pictures.

    Mimi
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #19
    mimivac said:

    Plan
    Vicki,

    I'm very glad a plan is in place for you. Also very good that it is not imflammatory breast cancer. I had very aggressive cancer, too. The good thing is that the chemo works best for the aggressive ones. I believe you can start using the port right away, although mine was a little sore for a few days. Make sure to use the EMLA cream over your port an hour or so before infusion, so it doesn't hurt. Good luck, and I love your pictures.

    Mimi

    Good luck to you Vicki.
    Good luck to you Vicki. And, you have a plan now, hope that puts you at ease somewhat.
  • Reikigemgirl
    Reikigemgirl Member Posts: 278
    #20
    lolad said:

    Good luck with your
    Good luck with your appointment and be glad that they are choosing to do a port. I got stuck six times yesterday when i went for my chemo. My treatments are also three weeks apart with AC. I also had an aggressive form of cancer, but they did my mastectomy first and thats when they found out it was aggressive. Hope you are doing ok. Sounds like its all getting started and sometimes after you have waited so long for things to get on a role and then suddenly it all hits at once, it can feel overwhelming. It did for me anyways. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    laura

    Laura....
    you hit the nail right on the head. I am overwhelmed with it all today. Don't really want to lose my hair or my breast and I really don't want to have chemo. Although I am hopeful about it not being so bad after your experience. How is the nausea? I am so afraid of that part. Just a little sad but I am trying not to be because it is my fiance's birthday and I want it to be a happy day for him. He loves to play pool so a friend and him are going to do that this afternoon and then I am making him beef stroganoff (his favorite) for supper. Then we rented a couple of movies to watch. It will be a nice, quiet evening at home.

    You take it easy and take care of you.
    Love and Light,
    Vicki
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #21
    aztec45 said:

    Happy B-Day
    Happy B-Day to your sweety. Glad you have a plan.

    You will be sore a couple of days after they put the port in. My surgeon put mine kind of close to the collar bone. Kind of uncomfortable. But as long as the port flushes well when they put the saline in it, you are good to go. Have the onc give you some cream to numb the site before they put the needle in to administer your chemo drugs.

    Good Luck,

    P

    Hi Vicki! Glad everything
    Hi Vicki! Glad everything is moving forward for you.

    Hope you and your b/f have a nice evening tonight celebrating his birthday!

    Hugs,

    Noel

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