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suzan w · 11-14-2015, 03:54 PM

Hi! like Tricia, I too celebrated 10 years NED in June 2015. She is a month behind me! There are several others in the 10 year club as well. I know, for me, Herceptin is my lifesaver. 10 years ago Herceptin was used mostly for metastases, and not for early stage BC. My oncologist prescribed it for me "off label" because it had not yet been approved by the FDC for use in early stage BC. Because it was "off label", my insurance company deemed it "experimental" and would not pay for it. Basically I went through almost every penny I had, and then some to pay for it myself. My success story sees me now, 10 years later, broke, but alive!! And very healthy for a 65 year old Grandmother with two 7 year old grandchildren, loving every minute of my most wonderful life!!! You have a great prognosis!!!

11-14-2015, 03:54 PM	#4
suzan w Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Naples FL Posts: 1,744	Re: Encouraging Survivor Stories Hi! like Tricia, I too celebrated 10 years NED in June 2015. She is a month behind me! There are several others in the 10 year club as well. I know, for me, Herceptin is my lifesaver. 10 years ago Herceptin was used mostly for metastases, and not for early stage BC. My oncologist prescribed it for me "off label" because it had not yet been approved by the FDC for use in early stage BC. Because it was "off label", my insurance company deemed it "experimental" and would not pay for it. Basically I went through almost every penny I had, and then some to pay for it myself. My success story sees me now, 10 years later, broke, but alive!! And very healthy for a 65 year old Grandmother with two 7 year old grandchildren, loving every minute of my most wonderful life!!! You have a great prognosis!!! __________________ Suzan W. age 54 at diagnosis 5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast 5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++ 6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg. Oncotype DX-high risk 8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C 10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin arimidex-5 years 2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis 7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE 8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy 10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis) 6/14/10 5 year cancerversary! 8/2010-18%increase in bone density! no further treatments Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance" I say,"What a long strange trip its been" 'One day at a time' 6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY! 7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use 6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! 7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis 2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL. 6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!! 6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!