Final Dx: Breast Mets to Pancreas
It is strange to be thrilled by this diagnosis, but the mood at my onc's office today was almost celebratory. I have to pass my Muga first, but then I start on kadcyla and my onc thinks I will do well. No more surgeries, I am healing and home, and there is a treatment for me. I am seriously ready to kick some cancer butt!!!
Comments
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Congratulations??
Well, we knew it was something and I guess this is the best something it could be. Right? I've never heard of kadcyta. What is it?
I hope you regain your strength now, no more vomiting, no more nausea, and are ready to get back in the fight.
Suzanne
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Happy that Your Happy!
I am so glad that they finally have some answers and have a treatment that can let you forge ahead! I know you will fight the fight as you always have and please know that you have tons of supporters right by your side cheering you on!! Know that I pray for you and check on you often.
MJ
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Suzanne, Kadcyla is aDouble Whammy said:Congratulations??
Well, we knew it was something and I guess this is the best something it could be. Right? I've never heard of kadcyta. What is it?
I hope you regain your strength now, no more vomiting, no more nausea, and are ready to get back in the fight.
Suzanne
Suzanne, Kadcyla is a targeted drug that is for her2 + patients who have previously been treated with herceptin and a taxane. Kadcyla actually contains herceptin, but it is linked to mertansine. In short, it is a drug that helps fight her2 + cancer cells that have developed resistance to therapy. The side effects are similar to herceptin or perjeta - which are much less toxic (or at least they have been so far) than docetaxel or some of the other treatments.
If I pass my Muga (I failed my last Muga with a 47%), I will be recieving the kadcyla every 21 days via my port.
I am still battling lots of nausea, but no vomiting since I arrived home and I am feeling a bit stronger each day. Trying hard to take more by mouth but I do have the TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and lipids which will help me get stronger even if I can't eat. I am still having quite a bit of pain and the fentanyl patch is helping. Thermacare (over the counter hot thingies) patches have helped too. Last night, I looked like a quilt of patches...lol.
I tried to talk about prognosis with my onc, but he didn't want to go there - he says I WILL respond. The man has kept me going for nearly 28 years, so I choose to believe him (although my affairs are in order). Lol, he is now officially one of my weird relatives.
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you will respondrutzetta said:Congrats
So happy for the good news. Enjoy the celebration- you and all your family deserve this.
Constance
Eileen,
I trust your oncologist, you will respond.
How little do we need to be happy and inspired? I am with you, we want disease be treatable despite how scary the name is. Good luck my fried, I hope you will improve after your first infusion. Insure Active has been very helpful for me for protein and vitamins My husband always thinks that radiology mixed up my scans or blood tests when they are not what everyone is expecting.
I have a allergic reaction to Afinitor - stomatitis, my tongue is a mess.
Sending positive thoughts for your quick recovery at home
Hugs
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Took long enough
well, it certainly took long enough to get you an answer, but so happy for you that it's something you can fight (you do that well) and that you're armed with a targeted med . You must be so relieved to hear no more surgeries for awhile. We're all there with you.
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... hopes for passing you Muga testPuffin2014 said:Took long enough
well, it certainly took long enough to get you an answer, but so happy for you that it's something you can fight (you do that well) and that you're armed with a targeted med . You must be so relieved to hear no more surgeries for awhile. We're all there with you.
medication, and a plan of action = good news...
You are a FIGHTER, a SURVIVOR in every way possible. Thank you for paving the way for many of us Sisters in PINK - on being proactive in our fight against the beast!!
Strength, prayers, and positive thoughts going your way.
Vicki Sam
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CypressCynthia said:
Suzanne, Kadcyla is a
Suzanne, Kadcyla is a targeted drug that is for her2 + patients who have previously been treated with herceptin and a taxane. Kadcyla actually contains herceptin, but it is linked to mertansine. In short, it is a drug that helps fight her2 + cancer cells that have developed resistance to therapy. The side effects are similar to herceptin or perjeta - which are much less toxic (or at least they have been so far) than docetaxel or some of the other treatments.
If I pass my Muga (I failed my last Muga with a 47%), I will be recieving the kadcyla every 21 days via my port.
I am still battling lots of nausea, but no vomiting since I arrived home and I am feeling a bit stronger each day. Trying hard to take more by mouth but I do have the TPN (total parenteral nutrition) and lipids which will help me get stronger even if I can't eat. I am still having quite a bit of pain and the fentanyl patch is helping. Thermacare (over the counter hot thingies) patches have helped too. Last night, I looked like a quilt of patches...lol.
I tried to talk about prognosis with my onc, but he didn't want to go there - he says I WILL respond. The man has kept me going for nearly 28 years, so I choose to believe him (although my affairs are in order). Lol, he is now officially one of my weird relatives.
I believe you will respond.
Hugs,
Doris
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I am so sorry that you areNew Flower said:you will respond
Eileen,
I trust your oncologist, you will respond.
How little do we need to be happy and inspired? I am with you, we want disease be treatable despite how scary the name is. Good luck my fried, I hope you will improve after your first infusion. Insure Active has been very helpful for me for protein and vitamins My husband always thinks that radiology mixed up my scans or blood tests when they are not what everyone is expecting.
I have a allergic reaction to Afinitor - stomatitis, my tongue is a mess.
Sending positive thoughts for your quick recovery at home
Hugs
I am so sorry that you are battling stomatitis. A med called MuGard (a rinse) helped me with that within a few days. It may not work for you, but you could ask. It is prescription and is supposed to be like a "liquid bandaid" - it just gives your mouth time to heal. Sending big hugs to a lovely, lovely lady, my dear Olga!
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The pancreas is tricky,Puffin2014 said:Took long enough
well, it certainly took long enough to get you an answer, but so happy for you that it's something you can fight (you do that well) and that you're armed with a targeted med . You must be so relieved to hear no more surgeries for awhile. We're all there with you.
The pancreas is tricky, difficult to access and this is probably why the diagnosis is rare. This article (2010) points out some of the difficulties involved. I feel blessed because 1) no one suggested surgery - which would not have been indicated and 2) we were finally able to get a large enough sample to get real results.
Note, at the time of this article, there were 11 known cases. I just had to make this an even dozen...lol.
Even though I went to hell and back to get my biopsy, I would do it again because I agree with my onc: we need to biopsy all new mets and treat accordingly. Each one of my mets has been a little different: my original tumor=ER+, PR+, her2 unknown; then rib biopsy=ER+, PR neg, Her2 neg; then my liver biopsy=ER neg, PR neg and Her2 +. If we had assumed the liver was the same old ER+, her2 neg, I probably wouldn't be here.
But I agree that getting these biopsies is often easier said than done. Every day away from the hospital is making me stronger - just in time for another fight!
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CC this is great news. I'm soCypressCynthia said:The pancreas is tricky,
The pancreas is tricky, difficult to access and this is probably why the diagnosis is rare. This article (2010) points out some of the difficulties involved. I feel blessed because 1) no one suggested surgery - which would not have been indicated and 2) we were finally able to get a large enough sample to get real results.
Note, at the time of this article, there were 11 known cases. I just had to make this an even dozen...lol.
Even though I went to hell and back to get my biopsy, I would do it again because I agree with my onc: we need to biopsy all new mets and treat accordingly. Each one of my mets has been a little different: my original tumor=ER+, PR+, her2 unknown; then rib biopsy=ER+, PR neg, Her2 neg; then my liver biopsy=ER neg, PR neg and Her2 +. If we had assumed the liver was the same old ER+, her2 neg, I probably wouldn't be here.
But I agree that getting these biopsies is often easier said than done. Every day away from the hospital is making me stronger - just in time for another fight!
CC this is great news. I'm so glad you have a treatment plan set up and I know you'll win this fight too. Your comments are so educational. As a fellow HER2 sufferer, it's great to know that there is more treatment out there after Herceptin, if I were to need it. Thanks for mentioning the importance of biopsies. I will always insist on that, if not for you, I wouldn't have known. I'm hoping the new target therapy will be as easy as Herceptin for you, and wonderful that you don't need surgery. Positive thoughts coming your way...Anna
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I forgot the link:CypressCynthia said:The pancreas is tricky,
The pancreas is tricky, difficult to access and this is probably why the diagnosis is rare. This article (2010) points out some of the difficulties involved. I feel blessed because 1) no one suggested surgery - which would not have been indicated and 2) we were finally able to get a large enough sample to get real results.
Note, at the time of this article, there were 11 known cases. I just had to make this an even dozen...lol.
Even though I went to hell and back to get my biopsy, I would do it again because I agree with my onc: we need to biopsy all new mets and treat accordingly. Each one of my mets has been a little different: my original tumor=ER+, PR+, her2 unknown; then rib biopsy=ER+, PR neg, Her2 neg; then my liver biopsy=ER neg, PR neg and Her2 +. If we had assumed the liver was the same old ER+, her2 neg, I probably wouldn't be here.
But I agree that getting these biopsies is often easier said than done. Every day away from the hospital is making me stronger - just in time for another fight!
I forgot the link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2931056/
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Thank you sweetie! I loveSIROD said:I believe you will respond.
Hugs,
Doris
Thank you sweetie! I love you!!!
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GLAD THAT YOU ARE HOMECypressCynthia said:The pancreas is tricky,
The pancreas is tricky, difficult to access and this is probably why the diagnosis is rare. This article (2010) points out some of the difficulties involved. I feel blessed because 1) no one suggested surgery - which would not have been indicated and 2) we were finally able to get a large enough sample to get real results.
Note, at the time of this article, there were 11 known cases. I just had to make this an even dozen...lol.
Even though I went to hell and back to get my biopsy, I would do it again because I agree with my onc: we need to biopsy all new mets and treat accordingly. Each one of my mets has been a little different: my original tumor=ER+, PR+, her2 unknown; then rib biopsy=ER+, PR neg, Her2 neg; then my liver biopsy=ER neg, PR neg and Her2 +. If we had assumed the liver was the same old ER+, her2 neg, I probably wouldn't be here.
But I agree that getting these biopsies is often easier said than done. Every day away from the hospital is making me stronger - just in time for another fight!
CC, glad that you are home.There is no place like home. Especially you being gone for so long and sick in the hospital. I surely hope you can build your strength up to fight this beast in its SSA. Sorry about the painful biospy that you had to go through but now its over with and ONC and you can get you on your treatment plan. Put on those boxing gloves girl and beat the lleh out of this beast. ((( HUGS ))) Pixie
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You know how the karate andPixie Dust said:GLAD THAT YOU ARE HOME
CC, glad that you are home.There is no place like home. Especially you being gone for so long and sick in the hospital. I surely hope you can build your strength up to fight this beast in its SSA. Sorry about the painful biospy that you had to go through but now its over with and ONC and you can get you on your treatment plan. Put on those boxing gloves girl and beat the lleh out of this beast. ((( HUGS ))) Pixie
You know how the karate and kung fu and other martial arts break those boards with a kick of their feet. Well, that's what I picture you doing to this met. Kick it and bust it into pieces. I think by now you are a 100 degree black belt in your fight. You can do it, CC.
Stef
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So glad you know what battlefauxma said:You know how the karate and
You know how the karate and kung fu and other martial arts break those boards with a kick of their feet. Well, that's what I picture you doing to this met. Kick it and bust it into pieces. I think by now you are a 100 degree black belt in your fight. You can do it, CC.
Stef
So glad you know what battle to fight. No doubt in my mind you can do this!!!!
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