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NEDenise · 09-20-2011, 05:56 PM

Thank you all!
Your hope-filled stories were exactly what I needed!!
I had a particularly discouraging series of appointments with my various doctors today. They seemed to think that I should be very encouraged by the statistics they quoted: "your chances of 5 year survival are 50/50" ". That won't even get my boys out of high school! What about seeing them married? I want to be a grandmom!
All the joy was sucked out of me. I felt like I'd been hit by a ton of bricks. All this chemo, surgery, radiation...for a 50% chance at surviving 5 years?! I cried all the way home. My husband was pretty shaken up too.

Then, we got home...I logged in here...and my HER2 sisters gave me hope again!! So many success stories! 3 years, 5, 10 years! So much joy!!

And, Tricia K, when I read about you and your beautiful grand, and great-grandchildren...I cried again, but for a MUCH HAPPIER reason!! You are amazing!! Thank you, Thank you!!

I'll remember you all in prayer!
Stay strong!
Denise

09-20-2011, 05:56 PM	#116
NEDenise Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Philly Suburbs Posts: 1,709	Re: Calling all stage iv sisters Thank you all! Your hope-filled stories were exactly what I needed!! I had a particularly discouraging series of appointments with my various doctors today. They seemed to think that I should be very encouraged by the statistics they quoted: "your chances of 5 year survival are 50/50" ". That won't even get my boys out of high school! What about seeing them married? I want to be a grandmom! All the joy was sucked out of me. I felt like I'd been hit by a ton of bricks. All this chemo, surgery, radiation...for a 50% chance at surviving 5 years?! I cried all the way home. My husband was pretty shaken up too. Then, we got home...I logged in here...and my HER2 sisters gave me hope again!! So many success stories! 3 years, 5, 10 years! So much joy!! And, Tricia K, when I read about you and your beautiful grand, and great-grandchildren...I cried again, but for a MUCH HAPPIER reason!! You are amazing!! Thank you, Thank you!! I'll remember you all in prayer! Stay strong! Denise __________________ 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