Update after my oncologist appointment.
I will be doing 4-6 chemotherapy treatments, 1 treatment every 3 weeks starting on June 11th. This is done via IV. Simultaneously, I will be starting 2 antibody medications (also via IV). The 2 antibody meds are also 1 treatment every 3 weeks but will continue for a year. Given this I will get a port put in before my first treatment next week (my veins have been iffy to find so this will make it easier). It only prevents half the needle jabbing as I also have to get bloodwork done the day before each treatment so they can check my levels before the next dose of medication. Although…now that I’m thinking about it, maybe they can use the port for that as well. Here’s hoping!
The combination of chemo with the 2 antibody medications is the best way to fight the HER2+ receptors I have between killing the cells and each of the antibodies attaching to a different receptor to stop the spread of these type of cells.
This is step one and is the systemic treatment for my body.
The localized treatment is the radiation, which will start after chemo is done to kill off any cells floating around my breast(s?) specifically to stop them from spreading out.
The endocrine treatment is also started after chemo and is in pill form to manage the estrogen receptor issue. This will be for about 5 years, I believe.
So, chemo and antibody treatments via IV for the next 12-18 weeks, once every 3 weeks. Then pills, radiation and IV for antibody treatment will all coincide after chemo is done for the length of radiation (which I think is more 5x/week for 2-4 weeks kind of a treatment). Then just pills and antibody treatment via IV for the remaining portion of the year of treatments. And THEN just pills for 4 more (ish) years.
So pretty much this summer could have moments of suckiness but then I should get better. The antibody treatment, though every 3 weeks, isn’t supposed to have any side effects, so lost hair should start growing back once chemo is done and energy levels should return after radiation is done. All in time for fall and winter’s return when it’s dark all the time and I want to sleep a lot instead of walking…hmmm…I’m going to pretend that I’ll have gotten so used to walking during summer to keep up my energy during treatments that it won’t matter (which we all know is a lie but at this moment in time I can still pretend!)
That’s my update for now. I’ll let you know how it’s going and any fascinating things I may learn during this experience!
My Journey 