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hutchibk · 11-24-2009, 06:28 PM

Very poignant post Sheila. Somehow I pictured you driving a VW bug. I love them and almost bought a gently used one 2 years ago. One main reason we didn't was because of the problem with the headlights burning out regularly... don't know if that is still a problem with them, but it was in the earlier models.

I am so sad that your beloved onc is leaving... you and I can commiserate.

Mine is leaving too, and the day that I found out 6 weeks ago, I felt as though someone had punched me in the chest. I couldn't breathe for about 12 hours. He's not retiring, but is moving away, far away. He is moving his family to a "micropolis" and though I am really happy for them (5 small children and they want them to grow up away from "metropolis" distractions and crime), I am really sad for me. He will be taking a position as Head of Oncology at a regional cancer center, living in a small town of 30,000. He and his wife (who we have bonded with and become second family with) constantly try to sell us on the idea of moving with them, and I can't say that I haven't seriously considered it... We have until May before they leave, so he and I will work out a plan. He may not realize it, but he WILL continue to be my doctor, even if I go to someone else locally for infusions and clinical exams.

11-24-2009, 06:28 PM	#6
hutchibk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 3,519	Re: A Good Day but a Sad Day Very poignant post Sheila. Somehow I pictured you driving a VW bug. I love them and almost bought a gently used one 2 years ago. One main reason we didn't was because of the problem with the headlights burning out regularly... don't know if that is still a problem with them, but it was in the earlier models. I am so sad that your beloved onc is leaving... you and I can commiserate. Mine is leaving too, and the day that I found out 6 weeks ago, I felt as though someone had punched me in the chest. I couldn't breathe for about 12 hours. He's not retiring, but is moving away, far away. He is moving his family to a "micropolis" and though I am really happy for them (5 small children and they want them to grow up away from "metropolis" distractions and crime), I am really sad for me. He will be taking a position as Head of Oncology at a regional cancer center, living in a small town of 30,000. He and his wife (who we have bonded with and become second family with) constantly try to sell us on the idea of moving with them, and I can't say that I haven't seriously considered it... We have until May before they leave, so he and I will work out a plan. He may not realize it, but he WILL continue to be my doctor, even if I go to someone else locally for infusions and clinical exams. __________________ Brenda NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...) Nov'03~ dX stage 2B Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo. Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic! Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2 Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone) Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors. Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen. Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen. June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen. Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice. Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots. Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011. Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah. "I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."