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Andrea Barnett Budin · 11-15-2015, 12:01 PM

You hang tough, Sister!

I am a 20 year survivor (or a 17 year survivor) depending on if you count from initial dx or recurrence. Either way, I'm still here. Read my tale in my signature and be inspired dear lady!

4th stage 9 cm invasive lobular bc, 2 out of 21 nodes. Mastectomy, tram flap reconstruction, Adriamycin and CMF for 9 mnths. Those were the days in 1995. Then only ev 3 mnth blood tests to go on.

1998, through very very slightly elevated liver enzymes, after 6 mnths I asked for a sonogram of the liver. SAVE YOUR EVERY REPORT. CHECK THE NORMAL RANGE. SEE HOW YOU TREND. I decided to speak up. Now you can't shut me up. Always like a lady, I ask questions allll the time. I apologize, the docs and nurses tell me, NO. YOU'RE DOING JUST WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. Mistakes happen. Things get missed. NO BODY LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU.

So be proactive. With recurrence throughout my liver (too many to count), I went on Taxotere for 2 mnths and continued for 9 mnths. We were able to add Herceptin (hot off the presses, FDA fast-tracked out of clinical trials for metastatic patients). That would be me! (I ASKED to be tested for HER2, having read up about all things bc from '95.) I was positive 80% which is how they calculated back then.

STAYED ON HERCEPTIN FOR 10 YEARS. '98 - '08. Been off now for 7 yrs. Doing well.

I wish you much success.

I have been taking supplements (dozens of them, to boost the immune system, bust up tumors, fight off free radicals, energize me, blah, blah (through my integrative oncologist who is well-informed about nutritional things and who teaches meditation and guided imagery).

Been doing this every day since 1998. Talk to my body every day. MINDBODY connection is real.

BE WELL!

Hope my story makes you smile.

Andi

11-15-2015, 12:01 PM	#7
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	Re: Encouraging Survivor Stories You hang tough, Sister! I am a 20 year survivor (or a 17 year survivor) depending on if you count from initial dx or recurrence. Either way, I'm still here. Read my tale in my signature and be inspired dear lady! 4th stage 9 cm invasive lobular bc, 2 out of 21 nodes. Mastectomy, tram flap reconstruction, Adriamycin and CMF for 9 mnths. Those were the days in 1995. Then only ev 3 mnth blood tests to go on. 1998, through very very slightly elevated liver enzymes, after 6 mnths I asked for a sonogram of the liver. SAVE YOUR EVERY REPORT. CHECK THE NORMAL RANGE. SEE HOW YOU TREND. I decided to speak up. Now you can't shut me up. Always like a lady, I ask questions allll the time. I apologize, the docs and nurses tell me, NO. YOU'RE DOING JUST WHAT YOU SHOULD DO. Mistakes happen. Things get missed. NO BODY LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU. So be proactive. With recurrence throughout my liver (too many to count), I went on Taxotere for 2 mnths and continued for 9 mnths. We were able to add Herceptin (hot off the presses, FDA fast-tracked out of clinical trials for metastatic patients). That would be me! (I ASKED to be tested for HER2, having read up about all things bc from '95.) I was positive 80% which is how they calculated back then. STAYED ON HERCEPTIN FOR 10 YEARS. '98 - '08. Been off now for 7 yrs. Doing well. I wish you much success. I have been taking supplements (dozens of them, to boost the immune system, bust up tumors, fight off free radicals, energize me, blah, blah (through my integrative oncologist who is well-informed about nutritional things and who teaches meditation and guided imagery). Been doing this every day since 1998. Talk to my body every day. MINDBODY connection is real. BE WELL! Hope my story makes you smile. 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...