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Joyce (joyce)


February 19, 2008


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Scotland Neck, North Carolina


Breast Cancer


January 1994 & November 2005


Stage 2


03


Positive


Positive


Yes


Lymph Node Removal, Mastectomy


Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide (brand name: Cytoxan), Adriamycin (chemical name: doxorubicin)


Tamoxifen


Cancer Survivor


The Chemo


Be Thankful For Every Day You Have


Pray for me and donate to this site and to cancer research if you can.


I really had no symptoms that I noticed. I accidentally found the first lump in 1994 myself. The second one in 2005 was detected during my annual mammogram. I would never have found this one because it was in the center of the breast at the back wall.


January 1994 – Stage II - 2.4 cm lump… a second 0.3 cm lump found in breast after surgery. Left modified radical mastectomy with removal of 9 lymph nodes…1 (3cm) lymph node positive. ER/PR both positive.

November 2005 – Stage I – 1.6 cm lump. Right modified radical mastectomy with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. 2 lymph nodes removed…both clear of cancer. ER negative(1%) and PR positive(7%).


None either time.


6 treatments from March 3, 1994 to June 29, 1994. Started with Taxol Study. Received high-dose Cytoxan 3980 mg and Adriamycin 74.6 mg for 2 cycles. A blood transfusion was required after 2nd treatment due to low hemoglobin. I developed a blood clot in my right arm shortly after the transfusion and had to be hospitalized and put on coumadin for 3 months. Had to be taken off Taxol Study because I could not take high-dose Cytoxan/Adriamycin and Coumadin. I was given Cytoxan 995 mg, 5-FU 995 mg and Adriamycin 99.5 mg for the next 4 treatments. I also had to get blood transfusions for the next 3 treatments. Other side effects were nausea, some vomiting, sores in mouth, diarrhea, heartburn, fatigue and complete loss of all hair.

6 treatments from January 20, 2006, to June 2, 2006. I was given a CMF combination of 1200 mg of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), 80 mg of Methotrexate and 1200 mg of Fluorouracil (5-FU). This bout with chemo was much easier than the first. Only side effects were minor nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, minor diarrhea and only thinning of my hair.

The worst thing to happen was the death of my husband and my boston terrier dog in May during this bout of chemo.


Tamoxifen – July 1994 through July 1999
Hot flashes were the only side effect I remember.

Arimidex – June 2006 through January 2007
No side effects that I noticed.


None


Injections of G-CSF 10 mcg/kg until my ANC recovered. No side effects that I remember.

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User Information

Biography

I have been a widow since 2006. I have a deceased son (2003), a deceased son-in-law (2002) and a deceased 12 year old boston terrier dog (2006). I have twin daughters, 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. I live with one of my daughters, her husband and one of my grandsons in the northeastern part of North Carolina.
I had Breast Cancer in January 1994 at the age of 52 and then again November 2005 at the age of 64. I had a modified radical mastectomy both times and no reconstruction. I also had Chemo both times. One of the Chemo drugs in 1994 damaged my heart muscle. I went back to work but I had to file for disability after 11 months of trying to work. At that time in 1994, my husband was disabled because of a severe heart attack in 1988 and my twin daughters were juniors in high school. I didn’t know if I would ever see them graduate. However, THANK GOD, I made it for 14 years this January 2008.

Cancer Symptoms

I really had no symptoms that I noticed. I accidentally found the first lump in 1994 myself. The second one in 2005 was detected during my annual mammogram. I would never have found this one because it was in the center of the breast at the back wall.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects

January 1994 – Stage II - 2.4 cm lump… a second 0.3 cm lump found in breast after surgery. Left modified radical mastectomy with removal of 9 lymph nodes…1 (3cm) lymph node positive. ER/PR both positive.

November 2005 – Stage I – 1.6 cm lump. Right modified radical mastectomy with lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy. 2 lymph nodes removed…both clear of cancer. ER negative(1%) and PR positive(7%).

Radiation Description, Dates & Side Effects

None either time.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

6 treatments from March 3, 1994 to June 29, 1994. Started with Taxol Study. Received high-dose Cytoxan 3980 mg and Adriamycin 74.6 mg for 2 cycles. A blood transfusion was required after 2nd treatment due to low hemoglobin. I developed a blood clot in my right arm shortly after the transfusion and had to be hospitalized and put on coumadin for 3 months. Had to be taken off Taxol Study because I could not take high-dose Cytoxan/Adriamycin and Coumadin. I was given Cytoxan 995 mg, 5-FU 995 mg and Adriamycin 99.5 mg for the next 4 treatments. I also had to get blood transfusions for the next 3 treatments. Other side effects were nausea, some vomiting, sores in mouth, diarrhea, heartburn, fatigue and complete loss of all hair.

6 treatments from January 20, 2006, to June 2, 2006. I was given a CMF combination of 1200 mg of Cytoxan (Cyclophosphamide), 80 mg of Methotrexate and 1200 mg of Fluorouracil (5-FU). This bout with chemo was much easier than the first. Only side effects were minor nausea, fatigue, sore mouth, minor diarrhea and only thinning of my hair.

The worst thing to happen was the death of my husband and my boston terrier dog in May during this bout of chemo.

Hormone Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

Tamoxifen – July 1994 through July 1999
Hot flashes were the only side effect I remember.

Arimidex – June 2006 through January 2007
No side effects that I noticed.

Bone Marrow Transplant Description, Dates & Side Effects

None

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

Injections of G-CSF 10 mcg/kg until my ANC recovered. No side effects that I remember.


Joyce's Stats

Posts: 6
Photos: 14
Events: 0
My Supporters: 12
I Support: 25
Comments: 24
Views: 2752




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