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04-03-2008, 08:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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stopped treatment on my brother
As most of you know, my brother is in the final stages of melanoma. It has taken over his liver, bones and he has lumps popping out all over his body. He has been fighting this with everything he had. He has been going to MD Anderson in Houston where they were doing a last hope test drug on him. He was there yesterday and he called me to tell me that his doctor told him that the drug is not working on him, he was basically told to go home and live whatever days he had left. His doctor told him of a woman who after trying everything, went home..ate lots of dark chocolate and took tons of green tea, who then went into remission. He told my brother he might want to try a naturalistic approach. My brother is an auditor and much too logical to buy that, he told his doctor "what about an African Voodoo doctor, you think that might help"...lol. My brother has this cutting dry sense of humor and it was good to see he hadn't lost it. He so far, has not been in major pain but is so weak, he can't do much of anything. His hip has started hurting him where the cancer has set in. I told him I was going to come and see him when he got home and bring him a huge box of dark chocolate and a plane ticket to Africa..he laughed. I am so sad about this. I appreciate all the prayers that have been sent his and my way, it means so much to have a place to come and vent to people who understand. If God will not grant him a miracle, I just pray his last days are peaceful, with little pain and that he could have a few days where he felt good enough that we could take him bass fishing. That was what he wanted to do when he retired, buy a home on the lake and bass fish...sherryg683
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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04-03-2008, 10:37 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 232
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Sherry,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother. I will keep him in my prayers and hope for a miracle.
Hugs, prayers and healing strength being sent to you and your brother.
Karen
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04-04-2008, 05:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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I am so sorry to hear this - I hope he will find an alternative approach that will work for him.
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04-04-2008, 05:27 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Sherry, I'm so sad to hear of your bother's situation. I lost my brother to a massive stroke 12 years ago. I, of course, expected my hero to live forever. Sherry, your love for your brother has been so sweet through these last several months. My heart breaks for you as you deal with "just one more thing"! The champion comes out in you as you give your best to him when he needs you. I can see that line now being thrown out to snag that fish! I hope for a glorious time at the "ol fishin' hole"! God bless you, 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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04-04-2008, 05:47 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 589
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Sherry, I am soooo sorry to hear about your brother. I hope you're managing ok.
Eric
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04-04-2008, 06:12 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 292
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Sherry...sending HUGE virtual hugs to you, your brother and to your extended family and friends.
Take care,
__________________
Krista
Diagnosed 3/29/2007 @ age 34
Stage 1, Node Neg. (SNB), Grade 2, 1.4 cm. IDC
ER/PR 90%+ HER2 +
6 TCH started 5/25/2007, ended after #5 due to steroid "reactions" and neuropathy in feet and hands
BUT--#6 CH w/o Taxotere
Begin Herceptin alone 9/28/2007
30 rads completed 12/19/2007
Finish Herceptin 5/9/2008
Stopped Tamoxifen early--HATED it.
Married 17 years
13-year old son
3 embies on ice (from 1999)
GA, USA
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04-04-2008, 09:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Posts: 371
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Dear Sherry,
I am so sad to here about your brother, as always you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
__________________
Love and Hope
Karen
IDC
DX 1998 STAGE I ER+/ PR+
AC CHEMO TILL FEB 1999
Tamxofin till 2001
2001 exstensive liver mets and mets to lungs
Started weekly taxol
Jan 2002 found out I was strongly HER2POS+++ started herceptin continued with taxol and herceptin till June 2002 then from June 2002 till Jan 2005 just herceptin and Arimidex
2005 Navelbine herceptin had RFA Then back on taxol with herceptin
April 2006 progression again went on clinical trial with tykrerb/herceptin progressed on the started Xeloda/ herceptin
Feb 2007 started Doxil
August 2007 Taxotere,Carboplatin and Herceptin exstensive mets to liver and pancreas
October 2007 Had to stop Carboplatin due to sever allergic reaction
Jan 2008
Stopped Taxotere due to progression now on Gemzar and Herceptin
March 2008 Starting Carboplatin, Abraxane, and Herceptin.
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04-04-2008, 12:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Dear Sherry,
I, too, am very sad to hear of your news. I ask that God comfort you all as you walk this road together.
Love & Prayers,
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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04-04-2008, 12:40 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: PA
Posts: 188
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Sherry,
Keeping you and your brother in my prayers
__________________
Susan V - Pittsburgh PA
DX Age 37 on August 3, 2006
Stage 1 Grade 3
ER/PR + (Highly Positive)
Her 2 +++
1.3 & 1.2 tumors right breast
node negative
lumpectomy 8-15-06
A/C Began 9-5-06 Finished A/C 11/6/06
Port Placement 9-15-06
Negative Test for BRAC1 & BRAC2 10-25-06
Began Tamoxofin November 21, 2006
First Herceptin November 27, 2006 Continues every 3 Weeks
First Radiation Treatment December 11, 2006
35 Rads Completed
Final Herceptin Treatment November 12, 2007
Port Removal November 19, 2007
Living Life to the Fullest !!
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04-04-2008, 01:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I am sorry. I remember my sister in law's mom getting to the "popping out" stage of melanoma. But you know, it ain't over til it's over. If he won't eat chocolate, maybe he'll try beer and fishing. I hope you are using Hospice. I also hope he gets to do some fishing. Take care. THis is hard on a loving sister.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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04-04-2008, 05:21 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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So sorry to hear your news. Am sending lots of hugs your way!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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04-04-2008, 08:29 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Sherry,
I am sorry about your brother. Voodoo is something he might find on 24th and vine. Rememer....Love potion number 9? You are obviously sending him lots of love and support. So are the rest of us. Thanks for letting us know about your brother so we can keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
Hugs, Catherine
__________________
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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04-04-2008, 08:47 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Thank you all so much. I am always telling him of my friends here on the board and the good advice and encouragement I get from you all. Sherryg683
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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04-04-2008, 08:48 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Sherry, you and your brother and all of your family have been in my thoughts and prayers.
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04-05-2008, 01:58 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Sherry I'm so sorry for you and your brother and really hope he gets to fish!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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04-06-2008, 05:22 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Sherry,
I'm praying for your brother.
Joan
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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04-06-2008, 07:00 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Sherry, you're a good sister, and if you can keep your brother laughing that in itself is so healing. With the dark chocolate and "all", maybe he'll be able to go on that fishing trip with your help. I'll be keeping him in my thoughts and prayers.
<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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04-07-2008, 12:08 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Best wishes
Sherry,
You and your dear brother are in my heart and prayers tonight. I wish him peace and love.
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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