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Re: How many progress to Stage IV?
VballMom and Debbie,
WELL SAID! V - I especially find #6 on your list to be infuriating! The mammogram I had 4 months prior to my finding a nearly 4 cm mass and a dozen "bad" nodes... found nothing! By contrast, a friend's mammogram found a tiny mass but sadly her BC had already spread to her bones.
I'm not saying early detection is bad...
but the message that it saves lives is overstated, at best.
Research is what will save lives!
Research, and new treatments for metastatic disease.
Nobody, absolutely NOBODY dies of breast cancer that's still in their breast. (see #1 above)
I absolutely believe that immunology is going to be key to curing metastatic disease...
but we're all but shut out of the research being done.
I sometimes feel like the "vaccine crowd" of researchers have abandoned all hope of helping those of us with metastatic disease.
I'm not saying they're wrong to do the research the way they are...
I'm just expressing sadness and frustration at being left out - written off even...
as though it's too late for me anyhow.
(NEWSFLASH!! No it isn't! I'm hoping to be here a long time yet!!)
Well... that turned into a bit of a tirade! Sorry 'bout that.
Love to all!
Denise
PS - sisters who are vaccine pioneers... THANKS for doing what I can't do, to help that research along!
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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