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Re: Stage 4, 4 1/2 year update - still stable/got divorced/dating with a port
Hi Tiffany, I am so glad for you that you can do most of what you did before  .
I am not saying that being in a relationship is better than not being in one, or that it's something people should so or whatever, but I just wanted to say that aside from the first two sentences I could have written your first paragraph myself at one point. I thought I had no business ruining some guy's life with the cancer, and I felt that meeting them would be like a "bait and switch" game, but now I see it completely different (with the help of a great therapist). Even with a chronic disease I still have a lot to bring to the table, but then it's really not even about that...I've only recently learned that good man delights in doing things for us to help us be happy and feel good (and vice versa of course!)
My girl friend also has stage 4 breast cancer and she is in worse shape than me cancer-wise. She has burned through several treatments and is running out of options. She was divorced with four kids and a completely absent ex when she got her dx. Anyway, she decided what the heck and met a great guy at a speed dating meeting and they are having a great relationship! I am so happy for them!
Rachael
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7/30/2012 Diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer
8/3/2012 CT scan mets to liver (major!!), lungs, spine, and skin
8/8/2012 Biopsy results: invasive ductal carcinoma
ER+/PR+/HER2+ amplification 4.8 (whatever that means)
8/13/2012 Brain MRI (clear); bone scan verified CT scan
8/14/12 started Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin, 2 rounds (added Neulasta after 9/4 treatment)
9/4/12 CA 15-3: >3000
9/15/12 CA 15-3: 840
9/15/12 started Taxotere/Perjeta/Herceptin, 4 rounds (no Neulasta)
10/29/12 CT scan showed dramatic improvement in all areas - largest liver met 2.5 cm, largest lung met 10 cm
12/17/12 Started Perjeta/Herceptin, 2 rounds
12/17/12 CA 15-3: 17 Yay!!!
1/21/13 CT scan showed improvement - largest liver met 1.9 cm, largest lung met 2 mm
1/29/13 CA 15-3: 12 Started Herceptin only
3/12/13 CA 15-3: still 12 yay!! Back to Perjeta/Herceptin
3/29/13 CT scan more improvement - largest liver met 1.2 cm, some lung mets disappeared!
3/7/14 started Tamoxifen
6/27/13 - 1/2015 CT scan stable
Began a diet of only single ingredient foods and went nearly NED excepts for some tiny lung spots - ask me if you want to know more...
1/2015 - 1/2017 CT scan stable
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