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Ann
I was lucky to be diagnosed by a breast specialist only 3 weeks
after I got my first symptoms (I had heard of IBC and was pretty
sure it was what I had, with the redness, pain and swelling).
She did a mammogram, sonogram and core biopsy all in her office
when she suspected IBC. Within a week I was at the oncologist
and on Taxol and Herceptin. I turned out to be Her-2 negative so was
switched to Taxotere/Adriamycin/Cytoxan the very next week.
I am so lucky to have a wonderful and aggressive cancer team. After 3
tri-weekly treatments, my markers were still going up. I was
switched in February to Carboplatin with Navelbine in 2 weekly shots
alternating with Gemzar.
The markers began to come down, but he
added oral Xeloda. My oncologist went to bat to get me Avastin,
which still is not approved for bc, and I had 5 of those.
He decreased the interval to chemo to every 2 weeks. The marker spiked
about 6 weeks ago, but a ct scan showed no spread, and he
thought there was enough clear skin around to operate so I had
one Abraxane on May 31st, then double mastectomy on June 14th.
I had had 14! chemo treatments with 11 different drugs. My pathology
report came back ALL CLEAR on June 20, 2005!
The chemo had worked. 7 arm nodes were destroyed by the chemo.
I now have radiation scheduled for July 12th.
It's a tough road, but
please DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE! And ask for the most aggressive
treatment you can stand!
I was diagnosed at stage 4 in November!
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