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03-09-2007, 09:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 131
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Dream approaching reality...
After all my meetings and all of the paperwork I signed today, I feel that we have approached our "reality" enough to share our dream. I have spent all day in meetings with our attorney (wonderful firm), our awesome family (enough said - they are Lisa's kin), our CPA, and a financial planner and, well here goes:
On March 19, 2007 (what would have been Lisa's 49th birthday) the Lisa K. Lowe Memorial Foundation will incorporate. Our initial Board of Directors is in place (all volunteers), our corporate officers are assigned, and after final apporval of all of our 501-3c IRS paperwork (and all the other red tape such wonderful people like Joe and Christine have had to wade through) we will officially open business as a chairitable foundation.
Our goal is multi-fold, but the bottom line is raising funds for the treatment and support of this insidious disease, (we feel there are enough "awareness organizations" out there God Bless them...). We will sponsor an annual bike race from "Lisa's chemo center" to the park by our home (to honor the travel that Lisa performed weekly) and follow that up with and outdoor music festival called "The Gooseberry Jam" (another dream of Lisa's fulfilled - another topic sometime if you are interested). We will also sponsor an annual Little League Baseball tournament in Lafayette, our home town. We strive for 100% of donations to go into the hands of those in need and/or those that make a REAL difference in this war against b/c. (Currently the board is planning on paying 100% of the cost of doing business - wish us and my bank account luck)!
Our goal is to raise enough funds to "sponsor" a chemo chair at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center in Boulder Colorado. If a patient with breast cancer is provided with chemo (or adjuvant therapy) in this chair their visit that day is paid for - NO MORE OUT OF POCKET or Co-Pays. Sorry insurance companies - we grass rooters are gonna fight on!!!! We will ask our oncologist to "try" to ensure those with the greatest financial need get the chair.
Additional funds raised through our foundation are ear-marked for (don't read this Joe we have not spoken yet  ) the HER2Support Organization. If/when (right away - please God please!) we have enough funding for this chair we will give 100% of additional gifts to THIS SITE.
Heck, I'll be honest, we might never raise a dime - but I dream of a day that money is never an issue for treatment and ANY family member can reach out to resources like this site for love and support. I dream of a day to NO-ONE has to go through the trial and tribulations that Chelee has faced recently. I want to wholeheartedly say "If you need help - WE ARE HERE!"
My first personal goal is to get "big" enough to attract Sara Hickman to sing "Best of Times" in Lisa's honor at the Gooseberry Jam (and have her come back EVERY year) - and my second personal goal is to get Willie Nelson (Lisa's ALL time favorite) to sing "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground". Then maybe one day actually win the bike race we are sponsoring - probably not - have YOU SEEN the hard bodies in Boulder Colorado -  .
Pray for us - we'll need it. We're just a bunch of people that the Love and Light of Lisa Lowe has made such a profound impact upon we cannot sit quietly by and not assist in the fight. WE WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT - we have been touched by breast cancer and refuse to stand idly by! If we make a difference in ONE life, we will have been successful - if we can alleviate financial pressure in ONE household, Lisa will smile upon our efforts - if a patient can have that ONE more treatment that saves their lives - we will humbly PRAISE GOD.
Look for more news in the near future.
Love and Light
Mel
__________________
Mel Gordon, Husband of Lisa Lowe - Queen of Love and Light and the bravest person I know!
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03-09-2007, 10:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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All I can say is WOW! This news is incredible and I know everyone involved will help to make this endeavor extremely successful because you care. Lisa's light is shining down on you and this project. How proud she is of you and all involved. You truly are an amazing person. I can't think of a better way to honor Lisa. I can honestly say there are too few like you. Please keep us up to date on your progress and you have my prayers, but I honestly don't think you need any luck or prayers. I know this is going to happen and be successful. I am so choked up over your devotion and dedication. If there is anything I can do to help, it would be my pleasure.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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03-10-2007, 04:18 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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I'm on board with you Mel...
just keep us posted! Lisa's "angel" is right there with you/us.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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03-10-2007, 04:34 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 312
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Mel
What a wonderful way to honor Lisa and the love and respect you had for each other.
__________________
Janet
Endometrial Cancer 2002
Mammogram 11/2004
Lumpectomy 12/2004
Stage 1, 9mm DCIS, grade 2, Her2+++, ER/PR negative
Refused A/C as recommened by two oncs.
35 treatments of radiation that ended March 4, 2005
Changed oncologists and began
Taxotere/Herceptin August 2005. Finished Herceptin July 2006
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03-10-2007, 09:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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All I can say is "We need more Mels in this world"!
Jean
__________________
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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03-10-2007, 09:45 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 589
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Mel,
What a wonderful person to honor and what a great way to honor her. I am so impressed by people like you, Joe and Christine. I have to admit though, from a selfish standpoint, that I wish every possible sent went to producing a cure.
Eric
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03-10-2007, 11:43 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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This is fantastic. I am almost speachless. Keep us informed because if I can, I would love to be able to participate. I was lucky enough last February to meet Lisa in person (I will post the picture of us together - give me a day or two to find it). I was manning the Her2 booth at the Young Survivor Coliation conference. It was held in Denver last year (end of Feb 2006). I was with Maryanne White (also from this site). Joe did not ask Lisa (or Joy who is in Colorado) due to treatment and that they might not be up to it. Lisa would have been as she came down to the Adam's Mark to meet (and harass) us. What I mean by harass is that she "pretended" not to know about Her2 and asked us all these questions... etc, etc. We ended up harassing her right back because we recognized her from her picture on the site right away.
What a wonderful way to honor Lisa. She was a real fighter and a 100% woman all the way and it is obvious you were 100% her man. There still is love and light in this world as you have clearly shown.
Love,
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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03-10-2007, 12:31 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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Wow, Wow and Wow!
Wow, is right. I am so amazed, excited for you all in this endeavor! I know you will keep us posted. I never got the chance to meet Lisa but I can tell from what has been said here she was a wonderful person. I do miss her posts as I followed them closely. This board gets better and better the longer I am on it. Sending you a big hug, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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03-10-2007, 12:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Fund raisers
Dear Mel -
Congratulations on realizing this dream. Wait a sec while I pick my jaw up off the keyboard!!
You had hinted in an earlier post that something "big" was in the works and that Lisa's wishes would be carried on. Big? This is HUGE! An enormous amount of work for you and your crack team.
Let us know what ideas you have for fund raising. I am sure many of us would like to participate.
__________________
"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.
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03-10-2007, 04:23 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 758
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Mel,
This is a wonderful idea. And it truly does honor Lisa. I must share with you that I was born & raised in Boulder and I have a cousin who lives in Louisville. I had always hoped that I could get there to visit Lisa. Now I'll just have to come for the Little League Tournament.
And my A.A. group and I got a huge laugh out of your drinking 15 year old scotch at 4P.M. yesterday to honor my celebration. Scotch was my drug of choice. Been sober 26 years.
Love & Hugs,
Marlys
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03-10-2007, 06:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
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Congratulations
Hi Mel,
What you have done is incredible. I read one of your posts not long ago and I know you have been going through so much. The loss of Lisa, her mom's illness and the mounting bills. It is amazing that you were able to go ahead and do something so positive with all you have going on.
You are a very special person.
Wishing you all the best.
Sincerely,
Liz J.
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03-10-2007, 06:43 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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I'm typing this with a huge smile on my face  and tears in my eyes. You are doing Lisa proud.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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03-11-2007, 11:21 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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what to say?
Okay firstly, WOW! Secondly, how do you do it all? Thirdly, bike race schmike race! Mel you can do anything you set your mind to including the bike race! You have successfully fought the insurance companies (that is like modern day Tolkeinesque battling), you have begun a non-profit-those hoops are many! And, most imprtatnlty, you have fought breast cancer with Lisa!!! I'm letting your strength and perserverance rub off on me today-thank you!
By the way anything with the word 'jam' in it piques my interest!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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03-11-2007, 01:53 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Lisa's love and light continue to pour forth through all of you! Amen and amen. I can't wait to help! May God bless your efforts and comfort your soul. ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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03-11-2007, 06:05 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Mel - this is such a fantastic thing to do in honor of Lisa! I'm not a "biker babe" but when you get this thing going, I would love to contribute. Keep us informed!
__________________
Andi
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Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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03-11-2007, 07:48 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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What a wonderful act of love and compassion.
love
linda
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03-11-2007, 07:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Mel and Friends,
Congratulations and thanks for sharing the great news!!!! I am new to the site since November 06, so I am just catching on to some of the intertwining stories. But I have figured out that everyone loves and respects you and that they all miss your dear Lisa. Thanks for the inspiration and dedication to we little human beings. Love, Light and a Jam Session work for me.
Catherine in Oregon
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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03-12-2007, 03:01 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 329
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Mel,
What can I say? As someone else said, we need more Mel and Lisa in this world! Thank you for all your hard work and I'll do anything to help you.
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03-12-2007, 03:26 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Mel
LISA IS SMILING!!!! You have continued the legacy she shared with all of us...what a wonderful idea and tribute to a wonderful lady. OK, I'm getting out the SCHWINN, pumping the tires and starting to train for this....big decision on which flip flops to wear for the race and jam session.
Truly, I am more than happy to help in any way you can think of...it would be an honor.
__________________
"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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03-13-2007, 06:50 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 869
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Mel, the best of luck to you. You are so determined you will do your Lisa proud.Ceesun
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