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StephN · 09-10-2008, 11:00 AM

Dear Michele -
I know this is a VERY significant time for you to reach this milestone of 5 years NED.

Remember when we first met when you came to Seattle for the vaccine trial? That seems SO long ago, but you were very emotional then, and SO ready to fight any way you could.

Then each trip would go better for you as the trial progressed and you had more confidence that the cancer was under control.

For those who don't know, Michele was like a tiger with cubs about getting the Mercy flights from the mid-west to Seattle for this trial. Her determination to live and see her darling children grow up was just amazing.

And here, you are - 5 years later. Looking better than ever and so much wiser.

09-10-2008, 11:00 AM	#31
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Not without a few speed bumps ... Dear Michele - I know this is a VERY significant time for you to reach this milestone of 5 years NED. Remember when we first met when you came to Seattle for the vaccine trial? That seems SO long ago, but you were very emotional then, and SO ready to fight any way you could. Then each trip would go better for you as the trial progressed and you had more confidence that the cancer was under control. For those who don't know, Michele was like a tiger with cubs about getting the Mercy flights from the mid-west to Seattle for this trial. Her determination to live and see her darling children grow up was just amazing. And here, you are - 5 years later. Looking better than ever and so much wiser. __________________ "When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau Live in the moment. MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~ Found suspicious lump 9/2000 Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR - Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds 36 rads - very little burning 3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED! 2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18 All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?) 2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava 2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec. Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011 STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer 7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED 2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED. Same news for 2016 and all of 2017. Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.