
Chemo and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
I posted a few weeks ago that I was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt (a form of shingles) that...
Posted by JLAMB26
I posted a few weeks ago that I was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt (a form of shingles) that caused significant nerve damage to my ear and facial region. I lost all hearing in one ear and have Bells Palsy and severe vertigo and tinnitus. I'm recovering VERY slowly. This diagnosis came between rounds 2 and 3 of chemo. It was just decided yesterday (after two tumor board meetings at my hospital) that I will not be able to complete my chemo treatments since it would further damage my affected nerves and do a lot of harm. My Ocologist said that by the time I am well enough to receive chemo it will be ineffective. I will start radiation treatments and herceptin next week. Since this is my 2nd go 'round with breast cancer, I'm terrified that radiation alone will not be enough to keep it from returning. I had a very agressive cancer - 9 out of 9 on the Nottingam scale. Fortunately, no node involvement this time. My tumor was between 2-3 cm, E&P negative-Her2 Positive. My Oncologist said that this would not be his choice of a treatment plan but his hands are tied. I'm youngish with two small children and want to do everything in my power to keep this cancer at bay. Anyone ever had to stop treatments because of other health issues? Any thoughts or suggestions?
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JenniferView Thread
Posted byJLAMB26
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Rough couple months - anyone else experience this?
I started chemo in January (2nd time around for me). Two days before my 3rd scheduled...
Posted by JLAMB26
I started chemo in January (2nd time around for me). Two days before my 3rd scheduled treatment I starting have severe ear pain. Went to the doctor and was told there was nothing wrong with me. Two days later, I was so sick (vertigo, nausau, severe ear pain) that I couldn't receive chemo. Was told to go home and rest - most likely labrynthitus. Two days later, I was in the ER, couldn't hold my head upright, such severe pain and vertigo I was fainting. I was sent home with an outer ear infection diagnosis. I continued to get worse over the next few days and was finally able to get in to see a ENT doc on day 10. I was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (a form or Shingles). I have severe nerve damage from the virus and have lost 100% of the hearing in the left ear. Nine weeks later still have very severe vertigo and loud tinnitus. The ENT doctor give me very little hope of regaining hearing in the ear. I can't drive, work and have a hard time taking care of my two kids (2 & 6 years old). They tell me to be patient and that I should see relief in 3-6 months. The original plan for me was chemo, surgery then radiation. I had to stop chemo because I am not well enough. I just had surgery last week and meet with the radiation oncologist next week to talk about doing that before finishing chemo. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I would take the side effects of chemo any day over what I'm going through. Does anyone know if receiving chemo made me more suseptable to the Ramsay Hunt virus. My oncologist told me he had never encountered it before and doesn't quite know how to proceed. Not very reassurring! I appreciate your feedback!View Thread
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Reply: Need good thoughts my way!
I got the results of the biopsy today. Good news and bad. The good, the area of my arm pit...
Posted by JLAMB26
I got the results of the biopsy today. Good news and bad. The good, the area of my arm pit in question was fine. The bad, cancer was found in the tissue where my breast was removed. They nurse said it was most likely in the scar tissue and was something that was not removed from my original cancer. I'm not quite sure if this is a localized reoccurance or if it has metastasized or something else. I meet the chief of surgery at the Breast Center at my hospital on Tuesday and I'm sure I'll discover more as we move forward. I'm surprisingly calm, maybe just waiting for it to sink in. I guess I know what to expect this time around so maybe I can better brace myself and better prepare. Trying to remain positive.....View Thread
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Reply: Need good thoughts my way!
I got the results of the biopsy today. Good news and bad. The good, the area of my arm pit...
Posted by JLAMB26
I got the results of the biopsy today. Good news and bad. The good, the area of my arm pit in question was fine. The bad, cancer was found in the tissue where my breast was removed. They nurse said it was most likely in the scar tissue and was something that was not removed from my original cancer. I'm not quite sure if this is a localized reoccurance or if it has metastasized or something else. I meet the chief of surgery at the Breast Center at my hospital on Tuesday and I'm sure I'll discover more as we move forward. I'm surprisingly calm, maybe just waiting for it to sink in. I guess I know what to expect this time around so maybe I can better brace myself and better prepare. Trying to remain positive.....View Thread
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Reply: MRI after treatment
Congratualation on being a three year survivor! I think I was the one who said I went in...
Posted by JLAMB26
Congratualation on being a three year survivor! I think I was the one who said I went in for my yearly MRI. I'm two years out from chemo and my oncologist schedules annual MRI's for the first three years after treatment. I had positive lymph nodes but I think everyone and every doctor is different. MRI's do give a good number of false positives and that can be very stressful too. I had one with the first follow-up MRI also.View Thread
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Reply: Need good thoughts my way!
Thanks everyone! I go in for a biopsy tomorrow. I just got a call that they want me in...
Posted by JLAMB26
Thanks everyone! I go in for a biopsy tomorrow. I just got a call that they want me in earlier for some additional imaging. My doctors are very thorough!View Thread
Posted byJLAMB26
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Need good thoughts my way!
I had my annual MRI Tuesday and they saw something suspicious in one of my nodes on the...
Posted by JLAMB26
I had my annual MRI Tuesday and they saw something suspicious in one of my nodes on the same side as my masectomy (2010). I go in for a biospsy next week. I need some positive energy and wishes my way. Until then, I'm trying to stay busy and positive myself. I'm feeling pretty anxious but trying not to....View Thread
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Breast cancer to ovarian cancer?
I've been a bit frazzled over the past week or so. After my "annual", my gynecologist sent...
Posted by JLAMB26
I've been a bit frazzled over the past week or so. After my "annual", my gynecologist sent me for a pelvic ultrasound. I'm 43 and I had been having irregular menstrual cycles since they returned after the end of chemo 1.5 years ago (HER+, hormone neg, Stage 2B single mastectomy). She then called and said she wants me to go in for a pelvic MRI because she found two medium size cysts, one with fluid. She also set up an appointment for me to talk to a gynecological oncologist to talk about "the future of my ovaries". As much as I pressed, she was reluctant to say that she thought that there was a possibility of cancer or to give me any specific reason why she felt I should have an MRI or a consult....I felt she was being very vague though so I'm a bit nervous. My MRI is scheduled for Wednesday of next week. Does anyone know if it is common for breast cancer to reoccur as ovarian cancer?View Thread
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Reply: advice on reconstruction???
I'm about your age and I just had the DIEP Flap done in December. I'm very happy with the...
Posted by JLAMB26
I'm about your age and I just had the DIEP Flap done in December. I'm very happy with the results. I talked to two different surgeons before I decided which route to go. I also talked to other women who have had the proceedure done by the PS I chose. It was very helpful. The upside of the DIEP Flap is that your breasts will look and feel more natural and you don't have a foreign object in your body so need to replace them in 10 or so years. You also get a "tummy tuck". The downside is that the recovery time is much longer. You will have two surgical sites and abdomen surgery. You also may not be a candidate if you don't have enough fat or tissue to spare...that wasn't the case for me:) I also have two small children so I had to consider if I would have help during recovery etc. The recovery time was actually much less than they warned me about but it was painful for a couple days. Good luck with your decision! JenniferView Thread
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Sensitive skin from chemo?
Has anyone experience more sensitive skin after receiving chemo? I finished my chemo 11...
Posted by JLAMB26
Has anyone experience more sensitive skin after receiving chemo? I finished my chemo 11 months ago and hercecptin 4 months ago. My skin seems to be extemely sensitive, especially in the trunk and chest areas, to everything. I have a constant rash and pimple like soars. I did not experience this prior to my diagnosis. I recently switched to sensitive skin soap and laundry detergent but I have seen much change yet. Any thoughts? Do you think this is related to chemo?
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