Patient: Vanessa Diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Er+ & Her2+, Stage 2b

We received news on June 26th that the Bone Scan & CT Scan did not show any further signs of a metastasized diseases (has not spread). This is GREAT NEWS! We met with the Radiologist. She stated that even though this has not spread in any way that we can see with our eyes, or testing, I will need radiation because the cancer has already spread from the lump to an auxiliary lymph node. She spent over an hour answering all of our questions, and is so knowledgeable. We feel Blessed to have the doctors we have. We also received word that I will be starting Chemo on July 2nd. My chemo will consist of 4 medications. 2 medications to stop, and destroy, the cancer cells. 2 medications to stop the cell growth of HER2. I will receive a total of 6 treatments.... 1 treatment session every 3 weeks. When this is finished we will discuss surgery & complete surgery. After Surgery I will begin Radiation. This will roughly be 4-6 weeks after surgery. Radiation schedule will be known more when we get closer.

First day of chemo treatment: Labs Oncologist Doctor Visit infusion of 2 - HER2 medications and 2 Chemo medications 1 infusion session of all 4 cocktail meds plus some additional meds for nausea, anxiety, and bone pain. All medications were taken pretty well. However I did experience nausea during the first medication for chemo treatment. Everyone was so Attentive to my needs and were able to stay on top of the nausea. I am tired, disoriented, and kinda like an emotional rollercoaster (steroids, anxiety meds to relax, sudden stop last week of all hormone supplements) . We also met with the dietitian and she suggests we eat white lean meat with few red meats . Also 5-9 servings a day of vegetable nd fruit. She does not count fruit sugar as bad sugar, and had mentioned that nutrition labels are being altered to show additional sugar (these are the sugars to watch as extra sugar). I think she recommends a Mediterranean Food Plan. Now I need to start my daily log on a calendar for daily : energy levels, sleep patterns, drinking & eating, bathroom patterns after meds, and how I am feeling along with any reactions. Thank you all for your sweet thoughts ! Vanessa

Today is first day after first treatment session. I have read it is a day of high energy, but today is not for me. Not a bad day by any means just not high energy. I am having a reaction to an IV steroid that was dropped in the middle of my treatment. The dr feels that I need the drip slower to stop the reaction next time. My chest, neck, ears, and face are red like a sunburn/hot/itch. It isn’t comfortable but it is bearable. I am taking 2 Benadryl as directed until gone or next 24hrs. Some of you knew I was wanting to try a process to save 70-80 % of my hair from falling out. It is called cold capping and I was really excited. Long story short it does work for some, but was not going to work in my journey it turns out. I gave it a try and realized no matter how much I wanted that to work, it was not in my control. I will loose all my hair and that is okay, because I am going to win everything else :-) I am doing well for Day 1 of first treatment and never being on these meds before. My taste buds hurt a little, I am drinking tons of water, and have been surrounded with family, friends, Blessings!

Today I am not nauseous. However, I am very tired and feel dizzy all the time. I am staying home so that I can rest frequently, and still have an appetite which is good. My taste buds on my tongue hurt and food has definitely started to have a different taste in my mouth. All in all, I am doing well. Just ready to be back to my normal energy level. Or, something close :-)

Sorry, I have not been on here lately. I have had a difficult time with some side effects from the drip steroid, and medications from my chemo injections. I have had one treatment and the nest is coming up very soon on July 24th. I now know that the side effects will last about a week and a half to two weeks. Just in time for a good week, and then the next treatment :-) I did meet with the plastic surgeon last week. I cannot say it enough ... I am blessed with an amazing team of doctors that specialize only in cancer treatment! I found out that my time with the plastic surgeon from initial surgery this fall/winter to reconstruction will be a 1-2yr process. It has not been 100% decided but there is a lot of talk around a double mastectomy. Mostly due to the fact that my genetic testing came back with a CHEK2 gene increasing my odds for this to come back even more. I am telling you that it is amazing the things doctors can do now to reconstruct the body. This is not specific but my plan of care so far: -6 treatments of Chemo & drip IV meds to block the HER2 (1 treatment every 3 weeks) -Testing/Scans after 6th treatment for results & Breast Surgeon/Plastic Surgeon visits prior to surgery (remove mass,lymph node, breast tissue) -4-6 weeks after surgery Radiation will start for 5-6weeks of daily treatment -4-6 weeks after Radiation the Reconstruction process will start. This may be multiple surgeries over a year. Thank you all for all of your support, prayers, & love!

This treatment was to go about 6 hours but it was much faster (about 4.5 hours). We gave the steroid slower to hopefully help with side effects. Also discussed some other options to help with my side effects hopefully. The lump has shrunk from just the first treatment and is hardly able to to be felt. The lymph node is still swollen but has gone down!

Today was my 3rd treatment (2 meds to block HER2 protein, 2 meds for chemo). I think it went very well. We were there all day, and now my brain is pretty loopy. The Oncologist states that today she still could not physically feel the lump in my breast, and now could not feel swelling in my lymph node!!! Hurray!!! The chemo and treatments are working! Thank you to everyone sending me cards, texts, email, and pictures! They keep my spirits up.