I am Her2 positive.  Is your sister in treatment right now?
Suzanne

Hi I am the sister. bil. mastectomies and should start chemo next thursday as well as herceptin. also asked to be in clinical trial of drug Denosumab. any insights would be great.

Hi Chris,

Herceptin is easily manage, and I heard Denosunab is a good trial to be on.  Being on a trial is already a good thing, they follow you pretty close.

What does the pathology report says after your mastectomies?  Did they took out nodes? 

Hope everything will go well next Thursday.  Bring water and light snack, a book, music, sudoku or cross words, even your laptop if you have one, to watch a movie.  Time will go faster :)

Suzanne

Thanks for your response. My tumor was 3 cm, biopsy was 2 cm with all margins +ve. Final 3 cm ..margins were clear. Nodes 1 + ve of 9. Grade 3. I'm anxious to get started with treatment even though I know it will gave its difficulties. I worry about lack of energy...I have 7 year old twin boys. Also I'm not to work b/ c I work in large hospital and not a good idea with compromised immune system. I'm wondering about weight gain???

Once you started your treatement you will be able to work out the count to the last treatment day! ;)

About the energy level and weight gain, it depends of the treatment you will get, (other than Herceptin) and remember that we all react differently.  Sides effects are often cummulative so there is usually more fatigue toward the end of treatments.

Your immune system will go down with the treatment, I suggest if you can take a leave from your work to do so - it would also you to keep your energy level for you and your family.  If you prefer to work, the day your blood count will be down you'll have to highly protect yourself with mask and gloves.

You'll have to be carefull at home tooh, CCS has good pamphlet with the care you have to do at home (washing fruits, door knot, etc).  You can find them here on their website.

About your hair, I suggest you to see for the LGFB workshop, they are pretty good.

Hope this help.
Suzanne

Hi - I'm triple positive.  For my treatment of Stage 2, Grade 2 breast cancer, I had a bilateral mastectomy in June, no radiation.
I have had 6 cycles of chemo; then after a 6 week period to let me system recover a bit from the chemo, I started Herceptin. I have now had 3 threatments of that; those treatments will continue for one year, after which I'll be on Tamoxifen for 5 years.
 The chemo was hard, though I had little nausea. The biggest problem was guarding my immune system - for the 5th and 6th cycles of chemo, I had to self-inject Neupogen, as my white blood count was very low.  I also avoided crowded places, wore a mask when out, insisted that anyone with illness of any kind stay away from me.
The second issue during chemo was fatigue, which became progressively worse. The third was staying motivated to eat properly and to exercise.
For Herceptin, so far the only 'side effect' is frequent achy bones - The doctor told me to take tylenol for that, and that works.  As well, I have my heart output measured every 9 weeks.   So far so good.  I am gradually, slowly recovering my strength and beginning more serious exercise programs..
I hope your sister's journey with cancer will go well - One day at a time, and First Things First, it can be managed.

Did u have any +ve nodes.? I had one in nine. I start first of six runds of chemo j.26. Herceptin will be given at same time with 6 additional doses of herceptin after that and then the tamoxifen. did u gain weight with the drugs?
I hear the fatigue is overwhelming. not looking for to that.