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07-19-2009, 07:57 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 105
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I remember the early days post-diagnosis when I would see Esther's posts from this beach or that mountain and I would think that if she can do all that with breast cancer, then I can make it through this! She made me look to the future and be ready to take on bigger and tougher challenges than my lil ole breast cancer tumor. Between her adventures and SandyH and her edgy shoes, they really brightened my days. Thank you Esther! Love and prayers to your family, who will undoubtedly miss your presence so very much.
Steph
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07-20-2009, 03:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,843
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I too will miss her cheery accounts on her way to the mountains. We will miss her.
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07-20-2009, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 347
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My love and blessings to Esther's family...and to all of us. May her journey beyond be as joyous as her life here with us.
__________________
"Dancers Against Cancer" in the Eugene, OR Komen Race for the Cure 2010
Diagnosed 8/7/08 with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, micropapillary pattern, Her2 3+, ER+,PR-, grade II, positive lymph nodes.
Received 6doses of Taxotere, Carboplatin with Herceptin continuing for a year...DONE.
1/28/09 Left Modified Radical Mastectomy, Right Simple Mastectomy.
Surgery pathology: No invasive carcinoma present and 17 lymph nodes removed all negative! Only small amount of carcinoma in situ in left breast.
March/April '09, Radiation to left chest wall.
Currently involved in Neratinib clinical trial.
"Well being I won
and wisdom too,
I grew and joyed in my growth;
from a word to a word
I was led to a word
from a deed to another deed." (Odin)
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07-21-2009, 03:12 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW area (TX)
Posts: 431
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so mad/hurt....and then I remembered Esther's message
I was so devastated by Esther's passing, felt really, really sad, hurt, mad. Then I remembered how she never let it get the best of her and she kept on living life. Thought I'd repost one of my favorite of her posts. I believe this was posted within the last year...she truly lived the concept of joie de vivre!
From Esther:
Stage 4 and still living life!!!
I thought you might like to see a couple of pictures from our extreme jungle adventure in Puerto Vallarta a couple of weeks ago. Remember this is me 5 years into stage 4 B.C. with mets to bones, liver and brain.
The first picture is me rappeling 120 ft down a waterfall, the second we were crossing a river on a wire.
Attached Images  
__________________
Terri, spouse of Ruth, Dallas/Ft. Worth area
Ruth dx 05/01/07 (age 50) Filipino
multifocal, several tumors .5 -2.5 cm, large area
Breast MRI showed 2 enlarged nodes, not palpable
100%ER+, 95%PR+, HER2+++
6x pre-surgery TCH chemo finished 9/15/7 Dramatic tumor shrinkage
1 year Herceptin till 6/08
MRM 10/11/07, SNB: 0/4 nodes + Path: tumors reduced to only a few "scattered cells"
now 50% ER+, PR- ???
Rads finished 1/16/08
Added Tamoxifen,
Finished Herceptin 05/08
NOW is the time to appreciate life to the fullest.
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07-21-2009, 04:31 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Miss her, too ...
Dear Terri -
Thanks for the photos. I think that is how Esther wanted to be remembered. She was not "here" on her down days. She was gathering strength for her future plans. Her way was to rather share joy with the group.
Rendi - no one seems to have posted anything on a memorial or service for Esther. Would not surprise me if she wanted her ashes cast somewhere she loved in nature. Check your local papers?
__________________
"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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