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Re: A few words from the (not) heartless
Debbie - you have once again started a great thread. And having met you last December and hugged you, I know your heart shines through your eyes, and is easily felt in a sincere hug!
This is exactly the kind of exchange our founder Joe would have wanted. He and Christine created this site for any and all comers (except the you-know-whos). Created it as a place for sharing, exchanging, finding and taking away what we needed.
I am sure the proportions of members and posts now is even beyond Joe's expectation. Although the last redo was aimed at opening up more avenues for information coming in to the site as well as keeping up with the current science and how the members/guests here are able to access and use the results in new treatments.
So much has happened since his passing that maybe the site is not as well organized as could be, but as long as patients, caregivers, and oncology professionals keep using the site to suit their needs his intention is sustained.
Love you all whether you are strong, weakened, wordy or laconic.
__________________
"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.
Last edited by StephN; 10-02-2012 at 11:34 AM..
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