HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post

Andrea Barnett Budin · 10-10-2007, 10:26 PM

Thanks for jogging my memory, Pinkie! You are absolutely correct. It all began with Joanne S.'s post -- HERCEPTIN DID YOU KNOW -- it is derived from Chinese Hamster Ovaries... Then, you leapt right in, followed by many of us, who wanted to join in the fun. We just kept coming up w/funny lines. It became a thread of truth with humor and even some music from Shiela thrown in, to amuse and entertain us all... A break from the tough realities of living w/bc.

We began thinking we would adopt and nurture this tiny creature and make her our mascot, passing her along from Sister to Sister. But, what we give is returned to us tenfold! So now each of us is blessed by taking part in this great venture in so many ways. We are all even more bonded. Pinkie and I have met this precious Wise One who is quick to exchange her powers of healing and granting inner peace for some hospitality and affection. And many more will know this gift, as their turn comes around. It's a win/win situation. Each of plays a role, and in the end joy and peace and extraordinary compassion will fill our Spirits and our homes. Dancing to the Hamster Song and dancing with NED...

With loving energy, Andi

10-10-2007, 10:26 PM	#97
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Sorry About That... It All Began W/joanne S. Thanks for jogging my memory, Pinkie! You are absolutely correct. It all began with Joanne S.'s post -- HERCEPTIN DID YOU KNOW -- it is derived from Chinese Hamster Ovaries... Then, you leapt right in, followed by many of us, who wanted to join in the fun. We just kept coming up w/funny lines. It became a thread of truth with humor and even some music from Shiela thrown in, to amuse and entertain us all... A break from the tough realities of living w/bc. We began thinking we would adopt and nurture this tiny creature and make her our mascot, passing her along from Sister to Sister. But, what we give is returned to us tenfold! So now each of us is blessed by taking part in this great venture in so many ways. We are all even more bonded. Pinkie and I have met this precious Wise One who is quick to exchange her powers of healing and granting inner peace for some hospitality and affection. And many more will know this gift, as their turn comes around. It's a win/win situation. Each of plays a role, and in the end joy and peace and extraordinary compassion will fill our Spirits and our homes. Dancing to the Hamster Song and dancing with NED... With loving energy, Andi __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...