HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Cancer secret to success?! Finding your match!

Andrea Barnett Budin · 07-19-2013, 04:48 PM

Just wanted to bump this up. I truly believe it is so important. And little known.

When I had by abdominal biopsy laparoscopic surgery recently, I said to the surgeon, I THINK THERE'S LESS THAN 1% CHANCE I HAVE CANCER -- BUT SINCE YOU'RE GOING IN THERE, JUST IN CASE, COULD YOU TAKE SOME TISSUE FOR ME TO GIVE TO A LAB..........

He waved his hand, I am not taking any extra tissue out!

I wasn't happy. But -- I truly did not believe I had cancer, so it was sort of a non-issue.

The surgeon did say he liked my positive attitude. Amazed he noticed it, as he was always in such a hurry to get to his next patient, and the one after that, so he could go do surgery!

I hope never to have to see him again. I think he did a good job.

AND I GOT EXCELLENT RESULTS! BENIGN. NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE...

Ellie, I still go for a transvaginal pelvic sonogram every year. I want them to tell me I am boring, and my ovaries are beautiful. Couldn't get a better compliment!!!

ANDI

07-19-2013, 04:48 PM	#21
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: Cancer secret to success?! Finding your match! Just wanted to bump this up. I truly believe it is so important. And little known. When I had by abdominal biopsy laparoscopic surgery recently, I said to the surgeon, I THINK THERE'S LESS THAN 1% CHANCE I HAVE CANCER -- BUT SINCE YOU'RE GOING IN THERE, JUST IN CASE, COULD YOU TAKE SOME TISSUE FOR ME TO GIVE TO A LAB.......... He waved his hand, I am not taking any extra tissue out! I wasn't happy. But -- I truly did not believe I had cancer, so it was sort of a non-issue. The surgeon did say he liked my positive attitude. Amazed he noticed it, as he was always in such a hurry to get to his next patient, and the one after that, so he could go do surgery! I hope never to have to see him again. I think he did a good job. AND I GOT EXCELLENT RESULTS! BENIGN. NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE... Ellie, I still go for a transvaginal pelvic sonogram every year. I want them to tell me I am boring, and my ovaries are beautiful. Couldn't get a better compliment!!! 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...