One decade...
 

Ten years...that's what today is.
Ten years ago, on this date I was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer at 33 years old, and life took a severe, mind-boggling turn.
Who would have ever guessed, especially after failing my first treatment combo.
So now, after 200+ infusions, 12 different combos of every available standard of care drugs, 3 clinicial trials, 2 encounters with brain mets, and countless scans over the past 10 years, bald 4 times, I am amazed by the resilience of this human body.
What these black & white details don't illustrate is the full life that I continue to lead, not without many challenges & compromises due to this disease, along with the typical bumps life offers.
Thank you for being a part of it all. Thank you for being among the better parts of it all.

Keep the Faith~

Jessica

Dx-5/17/02 - 33 yo; Stage IV - L IDC w/single liver met
1) Herceptin + Navelbine x 8 weeks - No response; progress to innumerable,immeasureable liver mets
2) ISIS 2504 + Herceptin - 6 mos, partial response
3) Taxol + Herceptin x 13 weeks to NED!
NED for 1 year
9/04 - Single liver lesion recurrence
Taxol + Herceptin - on/off to beat back lesion
12/05 - R Hepatectomy; Liver NED until 2009
3/06- Local recurrence - Left breast, IDC & DCIS, but holding treatment while continue to heal from Hepatectomy.
12/06 - L mastectomy + reconstruction through 8/07
10/07 - Recurrence - supraclav nodes
4) Gemzar + Herceptin - on/off controlling nodes thru
9/08 - 7wks Rads to supraclav nodes
10/08 - Acute Renal Failure - nodes in belly stricturing kidneys. placed permanent ureteral stents
Back on Gemzar + Herceptin, but no longer responding.
5) 05/09 - Tykerb + Xeloda - partial response x 5 mos
6) 10/09 - Xeloda + Herceptin - no response, disease progresses
7) 2/10- Ixempra + Herceptin - partial response x 12 wks.
Discovered single brain lesion x 4mm & liver lesions growing while screening for TDM1 + PI3Kinase study.
6/10 - Novalis to treat brain met - SUCCESSFUL!
8) 6/10 - Chemo-embo w/Adriamyacin to de-bulk liver lesion.
9) 8/10 - Screened & Started TDM1 EAP
Immediate response, disease in belly responds dramatically.
2/11- questionable progression of lung nodules
Discontinue TDM1
10) 3/11 - PI3Kinase + Herceptin - intial good response in 1st 6 weeks but LFT's elevated.
11) 7/11-Discontinue PI3Kinase + Herceptin study;
Disease progression - 2 small lesions in colon – docs have never seen this before in BC
11) 8/11 –Start new combo Halaven+Herceptin
10/14/11 -Completed 3 cycles (9 wks)Halaven+Herceptin...
10/18/11 - Scanxiety time -1st scans since starting this regimen
Good interval response, continue on H+H!
10/25/11 – new 2mm questionable spot in brain? Due to Novalis or new disease?
Re-scan in 8 weeks.
1/3/12- Disease progression; 50%increase size & SUV-R lung, middle lobe 6cm lesion.
R supraclav node multiple, miscellaneous nodes in belly. Colon lesions fired up.
12)Herceptin+ metronomic Cytoxan + Methotrexate.
…on a hope & a prayer. Only chemo I haven’t been on is Taxotere.
Hurry up Pertuzumab & TDM1!
Follow Up Brain Scan on 1/18/12…pleasepleaseplease be okay. I can’t take much more.
1/18/2012- 8 new spots in 8 weeks since last Brain MRI
one 2cm spot in brain stem, one 2cm spot in R temporal lobe.
No symptoms, THANK GOD!
1/25/12 – Start WBR x 15 rounds
2/10/12 – Oral Cytoxan WORKING! Melted supraclav node & undetectable by US!
2/14/12 – FINISH 15 rounds WBR;)

Re: One decade...
 

Congratulations! You are truly an inspiration and I am so VERY proud of you! :) GO GET EM'!

Re: One decade...
 

jessica, You give me hope. Once the brain buggers keep away, we have a good chance! Best wishes.

Re: One decade...
 

Congrats! Reading your treatment history gives me hope as a fellow stage IV patient. Here's to another 10~

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica - thank you and congratulations. You are a real warrior!

Re: One decade...
 

Well done Jessica.You bring much hope.
Ellie

Re: One decade...
 

Wow !! What a wonder woman you are !! Keep up the good work !!

Re: One decade...
 

jessica,
some mighty impressive stats my friend! Your post brought tears to my eyes. I didn't realize that in addition to all the other remarkable things about you, that you were psychic as well. How did you know I so needed to read this post today???

Thanks Jessica, keep the fire...

chris

Re: One decade...
 

You are amazing!

Re: One decade...
 

That is awesome. I love reading these stories :)

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica-

Congrats! I continue to be in awe and so uplifted by the sheer magnitude of what you have faced and conquered... 10 years- wow :)

Love and blessings to you...

Re: One decade...
 

You are my hero!

Re: One decade...
 

You are the true meaning of "Survivor"!!!!!

Re: One decade...
 

Big congrats to you Jessica!! Another Warrior Woman!

all the best
caya

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica,

Thanks for sharing! So thankful for the 10 years you have had and wishing you so many more, and great years at that!

Re: One decade...
 

Wow! Thank you and congratulations. You give so much hope to many of us!
Sending love.

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica,

Wow, what an amazing person you are! And what a roller coaster!

I especially appreciate you pointing out you've been living with it, not letting it define you.

Re: One decade...
 

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing! Love your inspiring story and spirit!

Re: One decade...
 

Thank you! As a newbie here, this is great news to hear.

Re: One decade...
 

Simply amazing!! Thank you got inspiring us. You will continue defying the odds. And here's to many decades more!

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica,

Thanks for sharing you life with us, giving hope and show how to "live", not despair with this disease.

You are light and love.

Re: One decade...
 

Congratulations Jessica!!! Way to go...you are amazing and inspirational. As a newbie in this whole journey, I hope to be anywhere near as courageous and determined as you have been over the last 10 years. I wish you many, many more years to come.

Re: One decade...
 

Thanks Jessica - I really needed to hear something so inspiring!
Best wishes for another decade..... Pam

Re: One decade...
 

Thank you Jessica! You are the image of HOPE!!! I so appreciate you sharing your life with us. You have helped me personally so much. You are truly a gift! God bless you Beautiful woman!

Re: One decade...
 

Seriously don't think I could ever last through a decade of cancer misadventures like you Jessica.

Congratulations on 10 years, may the next 10 be NED!

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica,
You are such an inspiration!! In addition to all of your support and knowledge sharing....I loved your reminder that we ARE more than stats and treatments.

Such encouragement that you have been able to live a life worth living (even with the usual non-cancer challenges....I always seem to forget about those and blame every challenge on cancer)

Cheers my friend...a sip of champagne in your honor...Lori

Re: One decade...
 

Congratulations Jessica...the 10 year club....I just became a member back in Feb....what a great accomplishment, and I know not without struggle an determination....but so well worth making this mark! Now, if they could just find a cure, that would be the ultimate gift.!!!

Re: One decade...
 

Jessica,

I really needed to see this post today. I found out Thursday I have some brain mets. You have offered me some hope this morning.

Amelia

Re: One decade...
 

I had tears reading your post, you are amazing and so spirited.indeed the human body is resilient.

Re: One decade...
 

Although it has been said several times already, it's worth saying again: you're amazing.

I wish you many more years, although I also hope that your future on the cancer front will be somewhat less eventful. You've been through a lot, and you have earned a break.