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Old 05-01-2009, 05:07 PM   #12
alicem
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 430
You are so right Juanita, that is exactly what makes this group so great. I am feeling better this evening - partly due to the well wishes of all of you here. Thank you for all of your condolences, kind thoughts and prayers. I think Father's Day will be the hardest date coming up in the near future. Due to my Dad's Alzheimer's and general health, I never told him about the cancer that was found after the mastectomy. I believe that now I have an extra angel looking out for me from above!

I appreciate all of the suggestions for eye care. I have made a list of them and sent them on to Laura. Things are looking up a bit for Wojtek. Today he was able to distinguish between light and dark, meaning there is not a total loss to the eye yet, so there is still hope. He also misunderstood when the Dr. told him there was nothing more that she could do for him. Right now, his eye needs to heal so that they can determind IF anything more can be done. She knew that he would be returning to the U.S. before that time frame so that is what she meant - she won't do anything more for him but there is a chance someone in the U.S. can. He leaves the hospital in Krakow on Monday, they are keeping him to make sure there is no sign of infection and he will go to his parents home. On Thursday of next week, he will fly back to Pittsburgh. Laura has found a retinal specialist and has set up an appointment for Friday. The Dr. in Poland faxed her the medical report, she had it translated and has sent it on to the specialist. At this point, he is willing to see him so I interpret that as a good sign. So now we wait. Jacqueline, thanks for what you had to say about what life might be like if he does lose this eye. It is reassuring. IF that should happen, I know they will be able to handle it, but there will be a grief process to go through.

As for me, I have found out that Sarah, daughter #2 (in the middle of the picture) is taking a week of vacation this coming week so she can be here to take care of me (and give my husband a break from cooking). She has been working at her job for a little over a year, and has only 2 weeks of vacation so this is pretty special to me that she wants to do this. Just one more blessing to add to the positive column

I have known how important relationships are in our life here on earth, but over the last 8 months this has come into focus so much more for me now. Even though I have never met any of you in person, I feel that I know you as well as close friends by all of your heartfelt postings for one another. I know that you are all so caring and loving and would do just about anything for anyone. You are so special and I am honored to be among you. This family of women (and men) here are a true life force as you said , Believe51. I count this forum, and the people here among the blessings that have come out of this horrid disease.
__________________
9/15/08 (age 52) - Mammo: calcifications
9/22/08 - Biopsy: DCIS, grade 3. ER,PR status: Pos. in 75-90% of tumor cells.
10/01/08 - Ob/Gyn appt.: found complex, mostly cystic mass on right ovary - 11cmx12cmx 8cm
10/15/08 - Hysterectomy & Oophorectomy, Lumpectomy: Cyst on uterus, not ovary - all was benign. Breast - 5 of 6 bad margins. 2 Sentinel Lymph nodes removed, both negative. Stage 0, Tis, N0
12/11/08 - Mastectomy & DIEP reconstruction: Surprise! 2 cm Invasive DC, grade 2 found. One benign internal mammary lymph node. Stage 1, T1c, N0, all clean margins. ER+ (Proportion Score = 2/5, Intensity Score = 2/3) and PR+(Proportion Score = 3/5, Intensity Score = 2/3)
HER2 score = 3+
1/09/09 - Oncotype DX: Recurrence S/core of 60 !?!?! ER status is NEG!! PR staus is NEG! HER2 score = 12.2 (still positive, greater than 11.5 is positive).
1/20/09 - Started chemo: TCH
5/26/09 - FINISHED CHEMO!
1/05/10 - FINISHED HERCEPTIN!
1/22/10 - Port-a-catheter removed!
3/07/18 - Still NED
9/10/23 - Still NED
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