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Posted by Ana A. on October 19, 2009, 12:14 am
My pathology came back. Somehow they still didn't get enough tissue for all of the tests. I guess that is a good sign because it so small they can't get much of it. The sarcoma aspect of the tumor has been ruled out. Now it is a poorly differentiated carcinoma. It is now considered a Triple Negative Breast Cancer mets to the lungs. They were not able to test for the HER2 receptor because of the lack of tissue but the Doc believes strongly it would be negative. It is still very rare. Even though it is in the lungs now they still call it breast cancer but with metastasis to the lungs. The Doc gave me a few different options including a clinical trial in Birmingham (its all over the country but that's the closest.) 4 hour drive... If excepted, depending on the drug plan I would be put on, it would be a twice a week trip to B'Hama week or once a week. This trial includes a new drug that is in stage III testing called a PARP inhibitor. It shows a lot of promise when combined with gemzar and carboplatnum chemotherapy. What it does is that it inhibits the cancers ability to correct its DNA when it is damaged by the chemo therefore making it continue to die. Cancer is very smart and has mechanisms to protect and heal itself. The PARP inhibitor doesn't allow it to protect itself. I've also got my call into Sloan Kettering in NYC to see when I would get an appointment. I could start on the chemo plan that my doc would put me on asap but if I want to go to NY or B'Ham, I shouldn't go on any chemo just yet because they kinda frown on that. So, I have to wait and see when I get into Sloan or the B'ham trial, neither one will happen overnight. So more waiting.....
In the mean time I have requested a bone scan which my doc was not in agreement with but I told him I wasn't having any stones unturned this time. I also want another biopsy which he also disagreeed on, this one requires taking out a section of my lung with tumor. I want more information about my tumor type. I'm just not at peace with the information we have right now and to me that is a sign that more testing has to be done. So, we wait, some more...
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