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12-30-2007, 11:56 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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To All,
To All My Beautiful Sisters,
I don't recomend getting breast cancer in order to make new friends, but for me the diagnosis changed my world on many levels. I lost old friends, found new friends, I even found a new me! I realized how sweet and dear each and every day is and not to waste energy or time, or not to worry about the silly things in life. It is a bit difficult passing this on to those who have not had our experience. That is one of the many reasons this board is such a precious gift to us.
I recently returned from S.A. and finally met in person Joe and Christine! As you all know they are very special people! Joe and Christine have devoted their entire existence to Her2, never taking a break or rest from the site. They both think 24/7 about this board and the members, always working towards making it bigger and better, doing all this with a huge smile and grand sense of humor.
I was honored to have been invited to S.A. and meet Sheila, Chrissy, Brenda, Donna and her devoted husband Loren. I knew and met our beautiful and brilliant Becky prior to S.A. What an amazing group! I was so proud to be in their company. I have met the most remarkable people and have learned so much from them.
As I close on this passing year I 'm tremendously grateful for all I have learned on this wonderful site and for all the special friends I have been blessed to gain. I look forward to the New Year with hope, faith and appreciation. Wishing all of you peace and love.
A Very Happy & Healthy New Year,
Jean
<O  </O
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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12-30-2007, 12:30 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Jean
You couldn't have said it any better....my life has been enriched by the people I have met here on this board....whether in person in San Antonio or via emails and posts, I have grown from knowing them....I have laughted, cried, been educated and felt a true bond with some I will never meet in person, but feel as though I've known them all my life.
In this season of blessings, one of the biggest in my life has been to find this site. Without the vision of Joe and Christine, and many tireless hours, and the support and knowledge of the members on this site, I don't think I would have become the strong person I am after my diagnosis.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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12-30-2007, 01:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
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I was and am sincerely humbled by all of our group who I met in San Antonio. You are a brilliant group of people who I learned so much from. Thank you for taking me under your wings, all of you. If we are to be "the chosen ones" for this HER2 affliction, I am in awe of the the friendship that so naturally happens between us. Thank you Jean for your post. I wish us all good health, good wealth and all the joy in the world in the coming new year!
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
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12-30-2007, 03:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Thanks Jean for the post. This is a wonderful place to go when you need information or just feeling low. I will toast all of my Her2 group especially Christine and Joe on New Years Eve and say to all have a peaceful and blessed New Year.
patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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12-30-2007, 04:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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Thank you Jean. Thank you everyone! Happy New Year!!
__________________
 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!!
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12-30-2007, 05:45 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Thanks Jean, for the great post. This site helped inform Nikki and in so many ways helped keep her upbeat and positive. She considered you all family and was in awe of Joe and Christine for their tireless devotion to you all and the site. Happy New Year, Bill
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12-30-2007, 05:52 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Jean,
What a wonderful post. You spoke exactly what I feel in my heart also, Breast cancer has changed so much about my life too and mostly all of it is for the better. The only part that I don't like is the fretting I still do over recurrence but even that is something I'm learning (slowly - OH SO SLOWLY) to take one day at a time. God is in control and trusting Him is something that gets a bit easier as time goes on.
I, too, appreciate all of you. Unfortunately, I have not been privileaged to meet any of you in person but feel as if I know you in a small way personally and you know me as well. Through good times and bad we stick together as a family who loves one another warts and all. Thank you for that.
Love to you all,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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12-30-2007, 06:41 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Dear Jean,
First, thank you for your kind words. We were very privilege to be in such company in San Antonio. It was an honor to be there and to meet and work beside Joe, Christine and the crew . I will be eternally grateful to Joe and Christine and all they have done for each person on this board, dedicating their lives to us.
You said so much of what is in my heart. I finished my treatment this past Thursday. Over the past 16 months many of my friends have come forward to offer support or have dissapeared in the shadows, but not on this site. You are always here! I realized I could not have gotten through without you. Whatever came up I knew I could come to you for understanding, comfort, knowledge and support. I have gained so many sisters and yes, some brothers too, here.
I wish those in treatment will find comfort in knowing things really do get better. I rejoice in having hair again, but it is much bigger than that. Yes, my life has changed for the better because of cancer. Cherish each day and everyone who is important in your life. Tell them each day how much they mean to you.
Happy New Year to each of you.
Donna
__________________
Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
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12-30-2007, 07:29 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Thank you Jean for your wonderful post. Thank you to all my her2 sisters! May we all have renewed health in the new year!
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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12-30-2007, 08:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Hey, Mary Jo! When the day is done, and you think about it, God is the only certain and constant thing we have in our lives. Having said that, I should pay more attention to my own words, lol. Peace to you and yours, Bill
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12-30-2007, 08:32 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hi Bill - Amen to that! Yep, you are right, "He is our only certain and constant thing in our life" and I couldn't agree with you more - I TOO should pay attention to my own words.
Thanks Bill and Peace to you as well 
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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