Wanna talk about how you're feeling?

[Paula O]

I did a quick search here on Courtney to see her picture and get to know her a bit as I don't know much about her, my fellow Her2 Positive "sista", going through such a terribly hard time. She looked healthy, pretty, and strong in her avitar, on a hike with her hair pulled back in a bandana. This is Courtney's sig line:

4/17/08: Dx Stage IV at age 30 - extensive mets to liver, lungs, and bones. Er/Pr-, Her2+++
April 08-Aug 08:Taxotere, Cytoxan, Herceptin, Zometa - complete response!
Sept 08-Dec 08: Herceptin +Zometa for maintenance.
Jan 09-April 09: Brain mets. Add Tykerb. Watch and wait.
April 09: Gamma Knife 10 brain mets, add Xeloda.
Sept 09: Gamma Knife to 1 brain met.
Nov 09- April 10: Lung progression, add Gemzar to Herceptin, Zometa.
May 10- Sept 10: HER2 Vaccine Trial
Sept 10: Add Tykerb for more brain mets.
Oct 10: Gamma Knife to 7 brain mets.
Dec 10: Switch from Zometa to Denosumab.
Jan 11: Gamma Knife to 3 brain mets.
March 11: Gemzar/Herceptin for lung/bone progression.
April 11: More brain mets - Intrathecal Herceptin
June 11: Ixempra/Herceptin for lung, soft tissue progression.
Aug 11: Gamma Knife
Sep 11: Abraxane/Herceptin
Future: NED

------------------------------
Look at her last line. Oh, how I wish the future of NED to her and to all of us! As we pray and cheer her on in the hospital, so sick right now with brain mets, we feel the added very personal sadness of those who share the Her2 positive diagnosis. As I read of Trish's recent passing and saw the list of others before her and Courtney in the ICU struggling for life now, I find myself wondering if in the future I'll be on the path of the long term stage 4 survivors here, with those who do not respond to treatment and soon die, or on the road with those who even have no evidence of disease for years and years or what. I know every human being in the entire world is going to die someday--it's the when and the how that are not certain. I know that I'm fighting hard against this disease and want to live my life like I'm living fully and not like I'm in the process of dying.

I appreciate this forum and having a safe place for us to share the highs and lows of fighting Her2 positive breast cancer.

You guys want to talk about how we are feeling as we hear sad news like what Courtney is going through?

Paula

[jra40]

After reading the post on Courtney then taking a look at her Caringbridge site it gave me so many emotions, sadness, fear, anxiety, etc. Although I am coming to the end of my treatment and everything has been successful for me, I look at stories like her and I am overwhelmed at what my future may hold. I know everyones cancer is different but I am in great fear on how this cancer can morph.

What we can take a way from Courtney's journey is her her example of courage, faith, strength and positive outlook. These are the best ways for us to combat this nasty disease and overcome our fears for the future.

Courtney is in my prayers along with everyone who is fighting today, tomorrow, and in the future.

Jessica

[KDR]

Let's focus on Christine, the founder of this site. Look at her history. She was so severely ill many times, but she made it, and not only did she make it, she is disease and drug free to the best of my knowledge. We have many, many long-term survivors and I believe as our drug arsenal gets better and better, we will have options and possibly even vaccines to eradicate the disease.
A few months ago, I posted a request to remember the lives of our lost and this is precisely why. Each one of us becomes important in some significant way here. This is evident by how rattled everyone feels right now by Courtney's plight. She has amazing doctors and something tells me she is going to pull through this. Still she is a piece of us, we know, we understand, we feel. She is us.
I don't know that life can ever be the same after a cancer diagnosis: not the carefree way we used to live.
Love & Light
Karen