My oncologist called late last week to talk about a current Phase III clinical trial. This trial is for a specific subset of breast cancer patients. When I received my biopsy results, as well as the surgery pathology, it was determined I was HER2 negative. HER2 is a protein that attaches to the cancer cell and becomes part of the fuel for the cancer. This is considered to be a very aggressive type of cancer as this type typically grows very quickly because of the protein.
In all actuality my cancer is not a true HER2 negative, but rather a HER2 low. There isn't enough of the protein to consider it positive. The clinical trial the office called about is investigating whether or not HER2 low patients would benefit from the standard of care given to HER2 positive patients. There have been studies in England and Europe that have proven HER2 low patients to benefit from receiving the medicine Herceptin as part of their protocol. It cuts the recurrence rates in half.
It is a 50% chance I will be randomized into the group who receives the medicine. If not I will be in the control group for the study. The study will follow my treatment for 10 years. If the study reaches a Phase IV and eventually FDA approved then I would be one of the first people to receive this new protocol.
I have signed my consents to be a part of the study and now wait for randomization. I hope I get the Herceptin, but if not I know that I will be furthering the knowledge of breast cancer. And specifically breast cancer for women under 30. There aren't a lot of statistics or studies done on my group of women, but in my opinion we are the ones who need it. We have too many years to live and more research should be done on how to minimize recurrence and metastasizing cancers. This is just one way I will give back to the women who will follow me on this never ending bumpy path.
Showing posts with label Diagnoses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diagnoses. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Whirlwind
My instant reaction was to turn to Sam and say, "I am so sorry, I am so sorry." I felt in my heart like we did not deserve this and I had let him down. We cried, we hugged, and we cried some more. This is devastating. I was going to be starting nursing school on Monday, we were planning on another baby that I would breastfeed for a year.
Why was this happening to us and right now?
Midwife K helped us gather our things because she had already made an appointment with a breast surgeon and the appointment was in about 20 minutes.
Before we left the office I asked to talk to Midwife J--she saw us for the majority of our prenatal appointments and delivered Camden and she felt the lump. She was in tears and felt so badly that this was happening. She never thought the lump was cancer, but all I could say was thank you.
We got in the car together and drove down the road to the first of many appointments. Because I work with a doctor I was very familiar with the medical system on the west side of the metro. We entered a building that I go to twice a week; we headed to the same floor as my office but took a left instead of right off of the elevator.
I instantly felt the everyone in the office was staring at me. "There is the young girl with cancer," "why is she here to see the breast surgeon?" As we were standing in line to check in for my appointment a woman cut in front of us in line. I literally thought with tensions so high that Sam was going to grab her by the hair and pull her to the ground. I remind myself that she had no idea what news we had just been dealt and it was not her fault. She didn't give me cancer.
We were called back to the room--and here goes my nervous joking personality. The medical assistant who took us back to the room asked if she could get a weight. My response, "are you sure we have to do this, I've had a really crappy day already and we don't need to make it worse." With an uncomfortable look and a caring sigh she said, "yes, Nicole, we haven't seen you before." As I stepped up all I could think was, you're right you haven't seen me before and I was hoping we would never meet.
Enter the beautiful Dr. DJ. Calming face, with the fit body of a surgeon, and the most gorgeous hair!! She brought the "Understanding Breast Cancer" pamphlet and went through my surgical options page by page. The overwhelming reality was starting to sink in. I wanted to know if we could have another baby because my wanting to breastfeed ever again was out the door.
I cried as she started to explain the screening process to learn more about my cancer. She placed her hand on my leg and reminded me that I can do this. She told me my cancer care coordinator would be in to describe what appointments she was going to set up and to tell me where to go next.
Enter CCC--cancer care coordinator--M, who luckily enough also has gorgeous hair. CCC M was sending me down to the breast center to get a mammogram and she would be calling about the rest of the week's appointments. She assured me she would be there when I needed her and not to worry.
I don't know if we left feeling better or worse, but it was a whirlwind.
Why was this happening to us and right now?
Midwife K helped us gather our things because she had already made an appointment with a breast surgeon and the appointment was in about 20 minutes.
Before we left the office I asked to talk to Midwife J--she saw us for the majority of our prenatal appointments and delivered Camden and she felt the lump. She was in tears and felt so badly that this was happening. She never thought the lump was cancer, but all I could say was thank you.
We got in the car together and drove down the road to the first of many appointments. Because I work with a doctor I was very familiar with the medical system on the west side of the metro. We entered a building that I go to twice a week; we headed to the same floor as my office but took a left instead of right off of the elevator.
I instantly felt the everyone in the office was staring at me. "There is the young girl with cancer," "why is she here to see the breast surgeon?" As we were standing in line to check in for my appointment a woman cut in front of us in line. I literally thought with tensions so high that Sam was going to grab her by the hair and pull her to the ground. I remind myself that she had no idea what news we had just been dealt and it was not her fault. She didn't give me cancer.
We were called back to the room--and here goes my nervous joking personality. The medical assistant who took us back to the room asked if she could get a weight. My response, "are you sure we have to do this, I've had a really crappy day already and we don't need to make it worse." With an uncomfortable look and a caring sigh she said, "yes, Nicole, we haven't seen you before." As I stepped up all I could think was, you're right you haven't seen me before and I was hoping we would never meet.
Enter the beautiful Dr. DJ. Calming face, with the fit body of a surgeon, and the most gorgeous hair!! She brought the "Understanding Breast Cancer" pamphlet and went through my surgical options page by page. The overwhelming reality was starting to sink in. I wanted to know if we could have another baby because my wanting to breastfeed ever again was out the door.
I cried as she started to explain the screening process to learn more about my cancer. She placed her hand on my leg and reminded me that I can do this. She told me my cancer care coordinator would be in to describe what appointments she was going to set up and to tell me where to go next.
Enter CCC--cancer care coordinator--M, who luckily enough also has gorgeous hair. CCC M was sending me down to the breast center to get a mammogram and she would be calling about the rest of the week's appointments. She assured me she would be there when I needed her and not to worry.
I don't know if we left feeling better or worse, but it was a whirlwind.
The 2nd Worst Day of My Life
January 21~
After finding a lump in my breast in the shower, I made an appointment with the midwife who delivered Camden. She "felt me up" and said though she thought it was normal breast changes and normal breast tissue, she was going to send me for an ultrasound just to make sure. I left that appointment and went on my way.
On January 21 I entered the breast center. A place where no 28 year old should be anyway, but that was made apparent by the stares and whispers I got while waiting for my ultrasound. K, the radiologic technologist did my scan. About 2 minutes into the scan she asked if I could stay to do further testing, but the radiologist would determine for sure. With a quick touch of the probe, Dr. A determined I would need a biopsy.
Needle biopsy; needle my ass--we are calling that tool the boob harpoon. Five core samples were taken and sent to pathology and I should have my results by the next day.
The first time I cried through the whole process was when I went upstairs to see my coworker and confidant L. I was scared.
January 22~
Officially the 2nd worst day of my life. What's the first you ask? Getting the call from my dad telling me my brother Jason had died in a motor cycle accident. I thought my family had lived through enough hell, but I guess there was more in store for us.
About 10:00am, I received a call from the midwives. Midwife K said my results had come in, they were significant, and I needed to come to the office right now with my husband. I hung up the phone and immediately burst into the Oprah Ugly Cry. I called Sam and rushed out of work. I cried, I told him I was scared and pure Sam fashion he told me we would get through this.
We met at the midwife's office where we were immediately taken to an exam room. Midwife K held my hand and said "Your results have come back, and you have cancer."
Officially the 2nd worst day of my life.
After finding a lump in my breast in the shower, I made an appointment with the midwife who delivered Camden. She "felt me up" and said though she thought it was normal breast changes and normal breast tissue, she was going to send me for an ultrasound just to make sure. I left that appointment and went on my way.
On January 21 I entered the breast center. A place where no 28 year old should be anyway, but that was made apparent by the stares and whispers I got while waiting for my ultrasound. K, the radiologic technologist did my scan. About 2 minutes into the scan she asked if I could stay to do further testing, but the radiologist would determine for sure. With a quick touch of the probe, Dr. A determined I would need a biopsy.
Needle biopsy; needle my ass--we are calling that tool the boob harpoon. Five core samples were taken and sent to pathology and I should have my results by the next day.
The first time I cried through the whole process was when I went upstairs to see my coworker and confidant L. I was scared.
January 22~
Officially the 2nd worst day of my life. What's the first you ask? Getting the call from my dad telling me my brother Jason had died in a motor cycle accident. I thought my family had lived through enough hell, but I guess there was more in store for us.
About 10:00am, I received a call from the midwives. Midwife K said my results had come in, they were significant, and I needed to come to the office right now with my husband. I hung up the phone and immediately burst into the Oprah Ugly Cry. I called Sam and rushed out of work. I cried, I told him I was scared and pure Sam fashion he told me we would get through this.
We met at the midwife's office where we were immediately taken to an exam room. Midwife K held my hand and said "Your results have come back, and you have cancer."
Officially the 2nd worst day of my life.
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