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08-27-2006, 07:18 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
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Tomorrow is my day, and scared
WELL the day has finally come, tomorrow August 28, will be my last Herceptin treatment. I will finally be thru of going every week for the infusion.
While I am happy about it, I am also scared since being ER/PR -, I have nothing else to do. I know many of you have been thru this just recently, and now my day is here. I am hoping to see some inprovement in the side effects I have had from it, only time will tell.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
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08-27-2006, 08:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Will you do anything special? My day is a few months away. Best of luck in the future. BB
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08-27-2006, 09:13 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 59
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Dear Yorkie girl,
I took my last TX on July 18th and I notice that my joint and bone aches/pain have gotten better. I hope that you too start to feel better physically and mentally. I find its scary being without the "safety net" of Herceptin.
Best wishes,Marcia
Diagnosed Dec 2004 at 49 yoa,Stage IIB, t2n1,Her2neu3+++,ER/PR+
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08-28-2006, 05:32 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Yorkie Girl,
Congratulations! I can't wait to get to that day.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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08-28-2006, 05:40 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 503
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I think the mental challenge is more difficult than the physical challenge!
I finished my Herceptin at the end of July and really feel good. My rings are starting to fit! I still have a crusty nose, so I know I am still carrying the Herceptin in my system.
When I first was off the herceptin I too felt somewhat "lost". But now, I feel I have finally reached the point where I have done everything I possible could to rid my body of any cancer. It's almost like a re-birth... I know that sounds corny- but its as though the worst part is OVER and now its time to move on and live.
Hang in there!
Maria
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08-28-2006, 05:53 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Congratulations to you. What a happy day AND scary day as well. I can definitely relate. I have herceptin treatment today (Aug.28) and only have 2 more to go. I am anxious to be done BUT like you wonder "what next?" However, God knows our tomorrow's and I try to focus on only today. I have a little flip "thingy" with a daily saying on it. Yesterday's was "worry can not change our tomorrow but it can sap the joy out of our today!" How true is that!
So enjoy today! Leave tomorrow with God.
Love & hugs I send,
marejo
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08-28-2006, 06:38 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Congratulations Vicki!!!
I TOO just had my last one on 8/10/06 (I'm MORE nervous for this Thursday as this would be week 3...my normal time to get treatment) and to NOT go is eerie. We will be FINE...Take care and God bless.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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08-28-2006, 07:50 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 202
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Congratulations to All of YOU!
I am so happy for all of you to be getting to the end of a long road. It is scary, but as Maria said, you have done everything you can and now is the hard part of mind over matter. I have every faith that you will overcome that hurdle as well and that your treatments were a success. Congratulations!
__________________
Take care, k
DX: 10/29/03-Stage IIB, 3/12 nodes +, er/pr-,
Grade 3
MRM: 11/07/03
TX: TCH-BRICG Study-6 tx's; 12/15/03
Herceptin; til 12/14/04
Rads: 30 days
BRCA neg
S-Gap: 12/15/04
Oct 05: LAVH
NED
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08-28-2006, 01:19 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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I also am happy for you all that have reached this milestone. I finish my year in November and although I will be taking Arimidex I feel I can really start to go forward with my life again for the first time in 18months of treatment.Well done to you, now go celebrate!
Tricia
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08-28-2006, 04:01 PM
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#10
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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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I am so happy for you!! I'm just beginning this journey, get my first chemo tomorrow. Congratulations and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Hugs
Susan
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08-28-2006, 04:15 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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er/pr- too
I know just how you feel too Yorkiegirl. I am er/pr- also and I just started herceptin so I have a year to go but I know I will feel very insecure once all treatment has stopped because we aren't candidates for arimidex or tamoxifen. Nothing easy about this her2 b.c. that's for sure. I guess we just have to be patient and time will help ease our minds. Congrats on this milestone. Stay well and think positive.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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08-28-2006, 06:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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I'm thinking of you Vicki and everyone else who has finished. I'll be done too at the end of September. It is a nerve racking time but I will be very interested in how we all feel (physically, weight changes - other side effects) in about 6 months.
Most on Herceptin up to now have been women with metastatic disease. Being on chemo or zometa masks any other side effects so we are the ones to really say what happens to you when you are on Herceptin. I am sure all our Stage 4 sisters who are only on Herceptin can attest to side effects but may not have been taken as seriously by their oncs because of chemo and other factors.
We are in an interesting era, especially with Tykerb around the corner for metastatic disease. And you know there will be trial for early bc with Tykerb or Tykerb and Herceptin. It will be very interesting indeed.
I know your last Herceptin was today Vicki. Don't worry. Go out and live your life.
Hugs to you today
Becky
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08-28-2006, 06:39 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 64
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After being about 6 weeks out, all I can feel is relief that it's over and hopefully stays over. I feel like we've completed a long obstacle course and now we can get back to "normal" life. The next thing we have to conquer is the fear. I'm still working on that one. BERTA
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08-28-2006, 06:46 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Less sugar
Hey! And happy days that you and the others don't have to visit the cancer center, hospital, clinic or whereever you were being treated. There is a period of "sweet and sour" that hangs over us when the infusions are over (hopefully for good in your case).
I am also ER and PR-, but did not have the benefit of getting Herceptin with adjuvent treatment. So my last treatment was a chemo before my cancer reappeared. Being on Herceptin for life (unless something else as good for me comes along) I really have an umbillical cord to my cancer center. But, I have actually forgotten TWO times to go take my Herceptin as 3 weeks can slip by in a flash at times. I remembered in time to get it the next day so did not mess up my schedule.
My point here is that we learn to fit the cancer into our life and not our life into the cancer. It has been a long intense road, but you have reached a Stop Light. So, time to switch gears and do whatever you can with diet and exercise to keep yourself fit and healthy. This way if the cancer does come back, you are in a better position to fight back. Otherwise, you are in better shape to enjoy what life brings your way.
Just remember: Cancer feeds on simple sugars. Learn to limit those treats, read labels, and drink tea or coffee without sweetening. This rule is easy and if your apply it, you will feel like you are taking some control.
__________________
"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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