My story and questions - ver y long sorry

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 2003 and had a

mastectomy in October of 2003. My pathology report reads partially

as follows: " Only a solitary focus of invasive ductal carcinoma is

identified in the mastectomy specimen. It is associated with the

previous needle biopsy. It measures 0.7 cm in maximum dimension from

the microscopic slide. In this area there are also rare foci of

Grade II/III ductal carcinoma in-situ and focal atypical intraductal

hyperplasia. Additionally, a separate focus of low grade ductal

carcinoma in-situ is identified away from the invasive tumor in the

superior aspect of the mastectomy. In the previous needle biopsy

specimen, invasive tumor measured up to 0.9 cm in maximum dimension.

Therefore, with the residual tumor identified in the mastectomy, the

maximum dimension of the invasive tumor focus is estimated between

0.9 and 1.6 cm. Breast carcinoma prognostic studies performed on the

previous needle biopsy specimen shows 2+ER (30%), 0+PR (not

detected) and 1+HER2/neu (negative). " 13 Lymph nodes were removed

and all were clear. Summary TNM: T1, N0, MX

With the mastectomy my oncologist said that without chemo my chances

for the cancer coming back would around 75%, but with the chemo I

could up my chances by around 15 more percent so I opted for 6

months of chemo and was given CMF which ended in March of 2004. I

went back every three months for bloodwork. I thought I was cancer

free. Started feeling a lump in the incision site at the end of the

year and because I had just been to my surgeon for my yearly checkup

in September and had recently had bloodwork by oncologist done in

late August, I assumed that it was scar tissue. In January 2005,

tumor markers had jumped. Had a PET and it showed mets in the bones

and lung. All the internal mammary lymph nodes and basically the

left side of my chest lit up like a Christmas tree. I started

Taxotere in February and am still on a 3 week on 1 week off regime.

I also started out on Gemzar, but developed such an itchy rash that

it was discontinued and was put on Xeloda which I took for several

months until gastric problems were so severe that he took me off of

that too. I have been getting really good reports. Tumor markers

are now close to zero. CT scan of chest shows no more tumor in the

lung. Have been having achy bone pain in the pelvis, but bone scans

are now clear. Last Wednesday my oncologist said that they are

researching now on how reliable the PET is for bone cancer. He

talked like maybe I didn't really have mets in the bone since the

scan was clear and since my tumor markers and all my tests are good

that he was considering stopping the Taxotere at the end of January,

which thrills me to death, but scares me to death also. I sure

don't want to end the treatment too soon, but I do trust his

decision also. One of the things that worries me is that I had to

have a plural effusion drained in October and it came back positive

with cancer cells. I know the Taxotere makes you fell rotten. Some

of my problems are that I can eat a little and feel like I have

swallowed a basketball. I have shortness of breath on exertion so

basically can't do anything. Have achy bone pain which comes and

goes. I am also on Arimidex every day and Zolodex injection once a

month which my oncologist plans on continuing after stopping the

chemo. What kind of problems do ya'll have from those? Per my

request before stopping the chemo, I will have another PET. He said

that he would also order a CT of the addomen and pelvis. I think we

should also do a CT of the chest while we are at it. If all that is

clear and with my tumor markers low, do ya'll think it is now time

to end the treatment? What about the positive fluid from the plura

in October? What is making me fill like my abdomen is swollen? Do

ya'll have shortness of breath too? Do ya'll have achy bone pain? Do

I more than one type of breast cancer per patholgy report? Thanks

for reading this and for anyones imput.

Phyllis