New here from England

[Rugeleyjo]

Hi, I just thought I would introduce myself. My name is Joanne and I live in England in a little place called Rugeley, hence my name Rugeleyjo.

I am 44 years of age and was diagnosed with BC in March 2003, Grade 3 with 5 out of 15 lymph nodes affected. I was later diagnosed with mets in bones in 2006 after suffering with extreme pain in my leg for 2 months, which resulted in me falling at home and breaking my hip. My then (horrible) O/C had totally missed the cancer in my hip even after looking at my xrays before I fell and it was only after I had had my operation to mend my hip was the diagnosis made. I also have a small spot in my spine.

I am on Herceptin (one dose every three weeks) and Arimidex (I am Her2+ + Horomone positive) along with a bone strengthening medicine (one dose every 6 weeks).

I am married with a son who will be 13 on Monday.

I have now changed my O/C to a wonderful lady who has helped me no end.

Glad I have found this site and looking forward to chatting with people over the next (hopefully) few years.

Best Wishes to all
Rugeleyjo

[Lolly]

Hi Rugeleyjo! Welcome to our wonderful support group. I'm so glad you found us, and although you had a setback due to your old onc, looks like you're on the right track now with your new one. I have hormone negative Her2+++ bc; if one has to have this disease I think you are "lucky" to have hormone +, Her2+ disease as there are so many more options for treating recurrences.
I'm sure you'll get some responses from others who are also on Arimidex plus Herceptin, and here's to MANY MORE YEARS for all of us, especially with Tykerb approval on the horizen!!!

<3 Lolly

[Rugeleyjo]

Hi Lolly, nice to meet you and thanks for replying to my post.

Yes, I am glad I found this forum but I only found it by looking for information on Tykerb, although I hope I wont be needing it for a while yet. I know I am "lucky" to be both Her2 and hormone positive and I feel very much for people who are not as fortunate and are either Her2 neg or hormone neg or worse still negative on both accounts. I have a friend who lives just up the road from me and she is one of those unfortunate ladies and is both Her2 and hormone neg. However on the positive side, she caught her cancer early and it hadnt gone to her lymph glands. As to date, she has had no sign of re-currence!

What sort of treatments have you had Lolly? Did you have any side affects and if so, how did you cope? I can see from the picture with your profile that you look as if you have a very caring husband. I think that goes along way in helping us fight the horrible disease. Do you have any children and how old are they?

Anyway, I will sign off now and stop asking you so many questions. I tend to get carried away when I start!

Take care of yourself and hopefully I will "speak" to you soon.

Best wishes
Rugeleyjo.

[Lolly]

Hi, Have you found the main board yet? Although you're new the the HER2 Support Group, you're apparently an "old hand" at fighting cancer as am I....see my profile below my signature!
We had 2 kids, they're now both young adults thankfully, so are able to handle the facts of life regarding chronic cancer, so I feel very fortunate that way. I know that's got to be one of the hardest things about this disease, when your children are young.
But our future is much brighter than it was even when I was diagnosed in '99, we have much to be thankful for this holiday.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

<3 Lolly

[Caroline UK]

Dear Rugelelyjo

I've only just joined and felt very moved by your words. I'm off out shortly but wanted to just say that I feel I can relate to what you are saying and am sorry to hear about what you are going through; thank goodness you have changed oncologists and have found someone you're happy with and have faith in by the sounds of it. I changed oncologists half way through my chemo and it has made a massive difference to how I feel about the whole thing. It's still hard, but I now feel I have someone human alongside me!
I'm off to my final cycle of chemo in about an hour, beginning to allow myself to believe it, so I'll say goodbye for now.
By the way, I know your area a little as I went to the agricultural college near you way back in 1979 (I'm 47 and live in London now), to study and train as a veterinary nurse, so the Rugeley bit of your address caught my eye!

warmest wishes to you
Caroline