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04-03-2009, 05:34 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Wishing you a better job will be in your doorsteps while you are enjoying your free time.
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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04-03-2009, 06:05 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Marie,
Make the most of the time you have now with Ed and MIL. Very soon you'll have a new job that will take your time! Look for all the possibilities!
Keeping you in my prayers as always,,
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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04-03-2009, 06:51 PM
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#3
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Marie,
If Ed is not collecting social security disability...Apply for it immediately. Your congressman will be of great help if you contact him.
If Marie needs a computer have her contact me.
Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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04-03-2009, 06:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 589
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Marie,
I'm sooo sorry for what you're going through. I don't know how, but things do seem to always work out and I only hope your struggle is minimal until that time.
In the meantime please utilize the people that you know and allow them to think about who they know. Jobs are in such great demand these days that networking becomes very important. Try and put your freinds, relatives and acquaintances to work for you. You're a good person and sometimes that comes back to help you in situations like this, but you need to set the wheels in motion.
Best of luck and know that you have a family here that will try and talk you through this as best we can.
Eric
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04-03-2009, 09:56 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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I just lost my job~~~~will be away for a little bit
Marie,
Like some of us say in Hawaii, "How rude" (of your employer) to let you go.
Can you apply for Cobra health insurance, which is good for 18 months after job loss? I am not sure where to apply, but your former employer or a state agency might know.
Take care. I hope you get a great new job.
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04-04-2009, 06:35 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: South Dakota.
Posts: 621
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No one knows why such heartache, trama, and sorrow has to happen to anyone. There is a silver lining in this somewhere. Praying for you and hoping that an answer will come to you very soon. Remember, you are never alone.
__________________
Blessings and Peace,
Barbara
DX Oct 02 @ age 52 Stage 2B Grade 3 Mastectomy
"at least" 4.5 cm IDC 1+node ER+61% /PR-
Assiciated Intraductual component with Comedo Necrosis
Her2+ FISH8.6 IHC 2+
5 1/2 CEF Arimidex
Celebrex 400mg daily for 13 months
Prophylactic mastectomy
Estradiol #: 13
PTEN positive, "late" Herceptin (26 months after chemo)
Oct 05: Actonel for osteopenia from Arimidex.
May 08: Replaced Actonel with Zometa . Taking every 6
months.
Accepting the gift of life, I give thanks for it and live it in fullness.
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04-05-2009, 08:43 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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Marie, I'm so sorry to hear of your job loss. It seems like when it rains, it pours. But we have to believe that when God closes one door, he opens another.
You know you and Ed are always in my thoughts and prayers. It's so sad, another case of bad things happening to such great people.
Keep your chin up and keep on BELIEVING.
extra big hugs to both of you.
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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04-05-2009, 08:44 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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Forgot to add, please take Joes advice and contact your congressman about disability. They can and do work wonders getting it speeded up.
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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04-06-2009, 05:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Does this one feel like the last straw? Sometimes things keep going downhill and you can't believe it. I've been there.
I also lost my job about 10 days ago, so know that you are not alone, and it is really not about you. Everything will be ok. You are so strong, this is just a tiny bump in the road for you.
Rebecca
__________________
Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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04-08-2009, 12:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I live in Christmas, MI - located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Posts: 606
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So sorry - it is hard to add more stress, hopefully in the long run it will mean something BETTER for you. I have seen it happen to people before, so that is what I am going to hope for you.
Regardless, please take care of yourself!
__________________
Barb
10/03 Radical Mastectomy 3 cm tumor - 1/17 Nodes Stage II B, Her 2 +++ ER-/PR- 11/03 4 AC 4 Taxol 12/05 Stage IV - Lung met , Bone mets - Carbo, Taxotere, Herceptin 9/06 - 2 cm brain tumor 10/06 - Tumor removal surgery - Herceptin Halted 12/06 gamma knife tumor base.1/07 Navelbine/Herceptin 4/07 Rads to R femur 5/07 Stereotactic - new 2 cm brain tumor 4/07 Start Xeloda 5/07 Tykerb added 7/07 Brain MRI clean 10/07 .055 cm brain met found. 12/07 Stereotactic -1 cm brain tumor Start Tykerb 11/07 Abraxane/Herceptin 5/08 Cisplatin, Gemcitabine/Herceptin 6/08 Stereotactic to 1cm 9/08 Stereotactic repeat (growth). 11/08 Pet Scan Good but new tiny met on L lung/dead Brain surgery (no cancer cells found/scar tissue) 1/09 Chemo restarted 2/09 Pet Scan Bad - R larger very active/active L active lymph nodes both sides of chest MRI- mets slight increase 2/09 Start Doxil/Tykerb Treatment
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04-09-2009, 10:31 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Marie, Very sorry to hear about your job loss. I like that someone mentioned that this could mean a little more time with Mighty Oak. I did just attend a meeting where our representative to Congress in DC spoke. He stated that there were opportunities in the stimulus package and that he had explanations on his website. When you recover from the shock and start to regroup, you might try your local reps and senators websites. Also our small county has job searching support for free. It is difficult to get thru the government maze, but it might be worth it. In the meantime.....I am so sorry about this news. I will be hoping and praying for that next window to open.
One of your cyberpals,
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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04-03-2009, 03:51 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Sweet Marie,
A window will open.
I started to write practical stuff about the 65% coverage of COBRA...but what I really feel is that a window will open, somehow.
Much love
Chris
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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04-03-2009, 05:08 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 492
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I am sorry too. Like you didn't have enough stress already. Please take care and may another opportunity come for you when you need it....
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
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04-03-2009, 05:30 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 508
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Hello Marie. I'm a real "newbie" but wanted to send along my best wishes too. I am praying for you and your husband. Hope you can find a way to come back to this board where you are so loved.
Barb
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04-03-2009, 06:23 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bayarea,CA
Posts: 679
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Dear Marie,
I am very sorry to hear about your job loss. God will find a way to help you. You are such a sweet soul with so much positive strength. Praying especially for you...and a great big hug for you!
love,
shobha
__________________
DX: 06-30-2007 - left breast -stage IIIB, Her2/Neu 3+++, ER weakly positive, PR-
Taxol+herceptin weekly for 3 months
FEC+herceptin every 3 weeks for 3 months
BRCA 1 and 2 - Negative
Jan 2008 - Bilateral mastectomy, prophylactic Rt. side.
Radiation for 5 weeks
Completed my yr of herceptin on 07-14-2008
Brain MRI - 3/2/09 Clean
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04-03-2009, 10:21 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
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Marie,
Just remember that when one door closes, another one opens. Things will be fine, I am sure. You are a real inspiration to me and to many others in this board, I am sure. God loves you and he has a reason for this turning point in your life.
All my love,
Paty
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
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04-04-2009, 02:49 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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I'm so sorry to hear this Marie and can understand your shock.
Job loss's are world wide right now and here in Ireland it's no different.
I can only echo what the other wonderful people have said, ask for help and apply for all your entitlements asap.
I hope Joe can help to get you back online with us asap!
You'll both be in my thoughts. ((((hugs))))
__________________
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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04-04-2009, 04:57 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Avilla, Indiana
Posts: 261
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Marie, this is awful and happening everyday here in northern Indiana. Give yourself a few days to re-group then you'll find the "open windows". Hang in there and know many are praying for you.
Hugs,
Dana
P.S. I have many friends out of work. It's this crappy economy.
__________________
-Dana-
]
Diagnosed - Nov. 2, 2007 at 45
Lumpectomy - Nov. 13, 2007
Tumor 1.2 cm
Stage 1 Grade 3
ER/PR - Her2 +++ (3.8)
Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin- 6 rounds
Neulasta
Radiation 33 treatments - will be done 6/6/08
Herceptin through 12/08
12/07 MUGA 61%, 4/08 MUGA 60%, 7/08 MUGA 64%
three wonderful daughters, a terrific husband,
Life is Good
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04-04-2009, 07:17 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Marie,
I'm very sorry about your job. Besides being in shock, you must be very angry. And I don't blame you.
The fear of losing a job is real. Two weeks ago my company let go three people in our group and is going to cut pay temporarily by 10% starting May 1.
I now wonder what's going to happen near the end of the second quarter. Will there be more layoffs so the company can meet its budget? My main concern is losing my health insurance.
I try to tell myself that God will take care of me no matter what happens, and there are plans in the works for you and Ed to come out stronger.
I'm praying for you dear sister.
Hugs,
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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04-04-2009, 08:25 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,150
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Oh, Marie and ed, I am so sorry you lost your job. It is like being in the twilight Zone all of a sudden.
There are still good jobs out there, and with your network of friends and family something good will happen. This is just one more path to travel, one you weren't expecting. I am praying that the answers will come soon and that you will be able to spend more time with Ed in the meantime.
I know what a loss you are feeling right now. Worry sets in and it seems that things are falling apart. But, dear sister, you will triumph as you have so many times before, the bulbs will bloom, the skies will turn blue, and you will find a better job than the one you just left. Everything happens for a reason and this, too, will pass.
I love you and send you many prayers and deep friendship today.
Love, vickie
__________________
Love and Hugs, Vickie
Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Feb 04 IBC IIIC/IV er-/pr- her2+++
3/04 TCH X4
7/ 04 MRM 9/04 Taxol/herceptin wkly 1 yr 33X rads
11/04 skin mets 33x rads,10/05 Avast/Herc. 11 mos.
8/ 06 PET mets lymphs, neck
9/ 06 Navelbine/herceptin
11/ 06 PET NED
2/ 07 skin mets, 4/07 Xeloda, 5/07 add Tykerb
2/ 08 Tykerb failed. Doxil /Herceptin 6 months
8/08 PET skin mets, 8/08 Abraxane/Avastin
11/ 08 PET prog., skin mets
1/09 PET/CT progress, 1/09 Ixempra, 2/09 add Xeloda and low dose Naltrexone
2/09 off Ixempra/Xeloda
3/09 navelbine/herc/cytoxin 4/09 PET shows regress.7/09 start Topotecan. Failed.
8/09 extensive mets rgt brst, back and torso. starting Pazopanib clinical trial.
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