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Old 01-28-2013, 02:59 PM   #41
ammebarb
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Oh Denise, I'm glad you can recall your experience with some humor, but what a rough post-op time. They SHOULD have treated you like a princess after that. I'm glad your pain is better and hope that now it just gets less and less and less each day, until you are on your feet and pain free! You have been so much on my mind and in my prayers, Denise. Did you get to go home today? Sending gentle cyber hugs and the hope that you have access to lots of ice or cold beverage of your choice!

Barb A.
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Old 01-28-2013, 04:33 PM   #42
chekmark
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

So proud of you for speaking up. Not to mention your family was probably waiting to see you and the germs that were probably in that laundry room. So glad your pain is better. Hope u r home and resting comfortably now. Now lets try to stay out of the hospital, lol. I chuckled at your post and also was angry that they left you hanging like that. Take care my friend.
__________________
DX Sept 30 2010 at the age of 49. Oh crap! 1.5 cm idc, stage 1 grade 3 er/pr+, her2+ no lymph nodes, mastectomy Oct/10. Started 6 rounds of TCH Dec/10 and will continue herceptin until Nov /11 and just started femara.
Stray kitten found my lump while I was playing with it. It is now my pet and my dog is not real happy about that.
Mammo good
last herceptin 11/21/11 YAY
reconstruction 12/09/11
Chapter closed 12/10/11, hopefully, fingers crossed
Bone scan, chest xray, clear
04/27/12 Expander removed, implant put in, ahh sigh of relief, much more comfortable
Sept 30, 2014, 4 years NED
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Old 01-29-2013, 02:37 PM   #43
Mandamoo
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

I love that you always find a way to smile and laugh. I hope your recovery is speedy and pain free.
amanda
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Old 01-29-2013, 02:45 PM   #44
NanaJoni
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise - glad it turned out well in the end but sorry for you having to rattle their cages. You could always just say (in a most innocent and sweet way) - "my friend who's an attorney said, gosh, that sounds like medical malpractice"......it's fun to watch their faces and see what good care you get then. Hope you got to go home to recover completely and pain-freely.
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Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
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Old 01-29-2013, 05:32 PM   #45
mamacze
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Oh golly, I hate when I am away for a few days and miss a beat; and this event for you Denise was a huge beat. I was overwhelmed with sad when I read your first post about intractable pain - and horrified by your catch 22 options. Prayed under my breath all the way to the post op events and even more aghast at the treatment at UPenn. Still shaking my head. BUT you roll in with maybe a happy ending? Please tell us your pain is gone????
XOXO
Kim (from CT)
__________________
2001 - Stage 0, lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxifen

2004 - Stage 4, mets to 4 lobes of lungs and liver, lumpectomy, er/pr -, her2 neu+++, Herceptin and Navelbine then Herceptin only.

2005 - Breast Ca vaccinations with the Tumor Vaccine Group in Seattle

2011 - Still Herceptin only and NED


2011, June - STOPPED Herceptin and kicked up my heels!

2012, February - 1 small tumor came back to haunt me in my lungs - back on Herceptin only, tumor stable.


2015, November - tumor on lungs removed (Segmentectomy), back on Herceptin only
Received U of W vaccine clinical "booster" Vaccine


2022 On Herceptin and NED continues - WOOT WOOT!
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Old 01-29-2013, 11:15 PM   #46
Pray
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise, I'm so glad you are finally on the mend! You sure are a great writer! Have you started your book yet?
__________________
dx 11/12/09 IDCI
Stage 3a
ER 98% PR 80%
Her2 +3
4/12 nodes
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin 12 months 3weeks
Rad. 30 tx
Tamoxifin 6 months stopped
Arimedex stopped 9/12 (side effects)
Aromasin 10/12
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Old 01-30-2013, 01:00 AM   #47
KsGal
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Holy cow!!!! The way you write it is funny, but if I had been there I would have been fuming!!!! Not one of those people discussing pizza could go ahead and take you to your room???? Im surprised you didn't jump up, kick her in the shin, and start sucking her pop down the straw. ACK! What a rude, uneducated bunch of people..Im sorry.
Having said that, I am so very happy that the procedure went well, that you are in less pain, and that you are now on the recovery route. Big hugs to you, and I sure hope you are sitting pretty at home soon.
__________________
Diagnosed in October 2011 Stage IV with metastasis to liver.
January 2012 after double mastectomy, started taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin.
Clear.
December 2012 was diagnosed with five brain mets, and had whole brain radiation.
Around July 2014 two mets in brain, one a residual spot and one new one growing in size. Received Cyberknife on both areas
Clear/NED
April 2015 remain NED
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Old 01-30-2013, 08:59 AM   #48
BonnieR
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Oh Denise, what a bad experience. And potentially harmful. To you, not them! Although it sounds like they were heading for a thrashing from you!
Sadly I expect most of us have had similar experiences where we are treated as though we are not even there. I remember once being left on a stretcher in an empty corridor for ages. I felt so helpless and powerless. No one around to hear me call out. Once a pre-op room with blaring talk radio and staff laughing and talking while patients anxiously awaited surgery
The list goes on. A litany of small indignities that add to our feeling of vulnerability We become invisible to staff. They forget we can hear every word. Even dying we can hear every word. It's the last sense to go
This isn't life threading but once during a dental cleaning the hygienist said to me "I'm tired of you jumping so much" I told her I was tired of her causing me to jump so much!!!! How dare she blame the patient for the discomfort she caused!
Looks like you hit a nerve on me Denise( pun not intended!). Sorry for the rant but I feel very strongly about this. I think we all do now that we are in Cancerland and exposed to so many medical "professionals" with our life in their hands
Keep the faith
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Bonnie

Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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Old 01-30-2013, 03:19 PM   #49
ElaineM
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Wink Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

I am glad you are on your way to recovery. Heal well.
__________________
Peace,
ElaineM
12 years and counting
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=48247
Lucky 13 !! I hope so !!!!!!
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=52807
14 Year Survivor
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=57053
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." author unknown
Shared by a multiple myeloma survivor.
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Old 01-30-2013, 04:53 PM   #50
NEDenise
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

You guys are the best medicine in the world!
(Well, the best one that doesn't directly kick HER2 BC's a$$!)

I am so happy to be home! Sleeping in my own bed. Eating what I want, when I want. Cuddling my children, my husband and my dogs as much as they'll tolerate.

And, it's much, much better to be able to decide if I need pain medicine, and then to be able to decide which ones and how much. I hated having to take what the all-powerful pharmacy computer said I needed, or else have to wait for the next time it was due (sometimes several hours later). Plus, and this will shock you, I'm sure, I'm a bit of a control freak. I know, you'd never have guessed...but I like to be in charge of my own stuff.

So...the pain is still there. Not anywhere near what I was feeling before surgery...not even in the same league. You know how they ask you to assign a number to your pain? Before surgery, and I'm not exaggerating here, before surgery, the lowest number we were able to get to was 6 - and then only briefly. Most of that week was spent hovering in the crazy place between 8 and 9 - it makes me cringe just to think about it. So, let's not!

After the surgeon worked his magic (and some clever person reattached the pain med IV) I only hit 7 once.
And since then I haven't been above 4...
I can report happily to you that right now I am smiling, resting comfortably while I check in with all of you, and am at pain level 2...
mostly because of all the staples that are keeping everything closed up nice and tight.

The highlight of my evening (get the big L for my forehead ready) is going to be a shower...in my own bathroom, using my own soap, shampoo, and conditioner. mmmm

Then, using my own gel, and smoothing mousse, hairdryer, and curling iron...I will, for the first time in 2 weeks have a hair-do that looks like me. Heck! If I still have enough stamina left, I may even put on a little eyeliner and lipstick. aaahhhh

Then, just because I can,
I will use my own favorite lotions and perfumes,
dress myself in a nightgown that has never, ever, been worn by another living soul...
and which is not brutally, painfully ugly,
and sit curled on my couch to watch something so funny that all the laughing makes my stitches ache.


Naturally, with my current level of energy...this evening will be for me...what swimming kilometers in the ocean is to our beautiful Amanda! I may only be able to accomplish part of my goal...but tomorrow is another day!

Love and hugs to all!
Denise
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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Old 01-30-2013, 06:38 PM   #51
Soccermom
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise, I thought this webinar might be of interest to you..."Cancer in the Workplace" sponsored by the YSC. Thursday Jan 31 7:30-8:30 EST

For more info...
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/740114832

Last edited by Soccermom; 01-30-2013 at 06:43 PM..
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Old 01-30-2013, 10:56 PM   #52
Pamelamary
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise, I hope your evening was as good as it sounds in your description - and may there be many more such indulgences! Excellent medicine......
Best wishes..... Pam
__________________
Diagnosed 2004: Lumpectomy - 2 tumours, both grade 1 infiltrating duct carcinoma, about 12mm. ER+,
C-erbB-2 status 3+.
Clear margins, no nodal involvement.
Radiotherapy, i year Tamoxifen, 4 years Arimidex.
Rediagnosed 2012: Multiple bone metastases.
3/12: began on Marianne trial - T-DM1 + Pertuzamab/Placebo.
5/12:Unexpected development of numerous bilateral liver mets. Came off trial.
Started Docetaxol/ Herceptin + Zometa.
8/12:Bones stable +major regression in liver (!)
9/12:Can't take any more Docetaxol! Start on Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Cross fingers!
Changed to Denosumab.
11/12: Scan shows stable - yay!
11/13: Still stable :-) !!!
1/16: All stable, but lowered calcium, so switched to Zometa 3 monthly.
2/19: Happily still stable on Herceptin, Letrozole and 3 monthly Zometa.
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Old 01-31-2013, 05:44 PM   #53
ammebarb
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Thinking of you again, Miss Denise and hoping that the pain level is even lower than a two by now. Your plan to laugh until your stitches ache really inspires me....I called my Dr. and she has called in a prescrip for an antidepressant. The sensible advice my HER2 warriors gave helped me to make the decision to call. Maybe I will be able to laugh sometime soon too!

Zinging hugs across the state at you too!

Barb A.
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Old 01-31-2013, 08:35 PM   #54
mamacze
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

There is nothing like a curling iron, lipstick, our OWN nightgown and laughing at the TV that does a better job of shouting I AM ON THE MEND!! You go girl! Stretch out those toes and enjoy being home. It doesn't get much better than this. Your update made my whole day.
Hugs and Hugs,
Kim (from CT)
__________________
2001 - Stage 0, lumpectomy, radiation, tamoxifen

2004 - Stage 4, mets to 4 lobes of lungs and liver, lumpectomy, er/pr -, her2 neu+++, Herceptin and Navelbine then Herceptin only.

2005 - Breast Ca vaccinations with the Tumor Vaccine Group in Seattle

2011 - Still Herceptin only and NED


2011, June - STOPPED Herceptin and kicked up my heels!

2012, February - 1 small tumor came back to haunt me in my lungs - back on Herceptin only, tumor stable.


2015, November - tumor on lungs removed (Segmentectomy), back on Herceptin only
Received U of W vaccine clinical "booster" Vaccine


2022 On Herceptin and NED continues - WOOT WOOT!
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Old 01-31-2013, 08:46 PM   #55
NanaJoni
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise - you are the best medicine. And you deserve all the wonderful things you described in your post last night. I hope and pray it was as wonderful as it sounded.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
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Old 01-31-2013, 09:11 PM   #56
BonnieR
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

I hope you're eating chocolate too!
Keep the faith!
__________________
Bonnie

Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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Old 01-31-2013, 09:12 PM   #57
kk1
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Denise

Your plan for the night made me smile, made me laugh. I have so been there at times, oh the true joy of the 4s and m (shit,shower,shave, silky sleepware, and mascara ). Throw in a family cuddle and you know your on the upside!
__________________
KK1
April 2004 de novo metastatic left breast 1.5cm her2++,er+/pr+ with 2 small liver mets
weekly taxotere,herceptin, xeloda
Sept 2004 NED-3 herceptin, zoladex,aromasin
Dec 2006 recurrence in liver
Feb. 2007 liver resection left lobe removed-herceptin, zoladex, switch to Arimidex
NED 16 months added zometa
May 2008 new lesion in liver 15mm Tykerb/Xeloda/Herceptin
July 2008 stable...yeah!
Sept 2008 NED again !!!
Jan 2009 fell off the wagon again spot back in the liver and fell out of menopause.
Feb 2009 RFA and 2nd liver resection to remove spot ---back on the NED wagon again continue Tykerb, Herceptin.
March 2009- oophrectomy added Femara and bi-annual Zometa
May 2009- scans clear but suspect lung nodule
June 2009- Lung VAT wedge resection to remove nodule---fungus ball not cancer!! phew
Aug 2009- NED
Nov 2009-scans again clear YAHOO!
March 2010- scans clear continue Tykerb, Herceptin, Femara, Zometa Q6mo
Nov 2009-Nov 2019 scans clear done every 6 months


Feb 2020 - Fell out of the NED wagon hard! single liver lesions and large infect cyst. 3 weeks in ICU.
March 2021- 5 cycles perjeta, herceptin, navelbine. lesion stable.
June 2021 - 3rd liver resection to remove single liver lesion. Continued perjeta, herceptin.
Nov. 2021- PET scan show 5 hot nodes near liver. 9 cycles Kadcyla
June 2021- PET scan shows progression. nodes size unchanged but even more SUV uptake.

July 2021- start ENHERTU
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Old 02-01-2013, 06:55 AM   #58
rhondalea
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

To be honest, I'm a little relieved that I was able to read this all the way through rather than waiting on the edge of my seat to see how it would all turn out. (Thank you, Microsoft.) I am agape at what you've just been through, but I'm surely glad it's over. And I hope it means that there will be no more mishaps, and your recovery will proceed apace.

You have had a very difficult couple of years, but what makes it amazing is the grace and humor with which you've handled it all. I'm in awe.

Heal quickly.
__________________

2/6/09 Core needle biopsy: negative; Mammos through 2010: no change
3/30/11 Pea-sized lump in left breast at site of prior biopsy; mammo negative, sonogram not so much
4/14/11 Core needle biopsy: negative for cancer
5/18/11 Excisional biopsy 1.2 cm tumor, LVI, positive margin; ER+60%,PR+20%,HER2/CEP17 5
6/15/11 BMX: Left DCIS & LH; Right ADH; SNB: 2/3 nodes: 1.4 cm and 1 mm; ALND L1&2: 0/10; Stage IIa, Grade 3
7/14/11 CT/Bone scans NED; MUGA 66%
7/19/11 Biweekly dd AC w/Neulasta; done 8/30/11
9/13/11 Transfusion (Hemoglobin 8.6); MUGA 64%
9/20/11 Start Taxol + Herceptin; Taxol done 12/6/2011; continue Herceptin until 9/4/2012
12/27/11 Radiation - 6 weeks; 2/27/2012 - DONE! Yayyyy!
2/29/12 Start Tamoxifen 20 mg/day; continue until 2/28/17
5/16/12 Start five-years Metformin trial
6/19/12 MUGA 61%
8/21/12 Brain MRI NED (head still hurts, brain still fogged)
9/4/12 Herceptin done!
9/6/12 Port out!
7/11/13 Aricept 5mg for cognitive impairment; increased to 10mg as of 8/23/13; back to 5mg 12/2013
5/2014 Add Namenda 7mg
9/2014 Stop Aricept and Namenda; Neuropsychological evaluation
10/24/14 Start cognitive rehabilitation therapy
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Old 02-01-2013, 09:32 AM   #59
NEDenise
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Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

You guys make MY day...with some regularity!
You make me feel like what I'm thinking and feeling is important.
And the BEST feeling comes from when one of you says something I said or did made a difference for you. Wow!

I gotta tell you, sometimes when I'm sitting around, waiting for my malady du jour to resolve...and I'm starting to feel a little discouraged, even verging on sad...I actually sometimes find myself fondly remembering when cancer was all I had to keep track of and fight off.

Then...I pop in here, and one of you says exactly what I need to hear...not even knowing I need it...and my fighting spirit is renewed. I'm ready to take on whatever comes. I can see the funny side of my ridiculous situation, and I feel like I can handle whatever life throws at me.

I guess it boils down to the fact that I admire so many of you, so much...that your opinions mean more to me than I would ever have imagined. I think some of you even know me well enough by now, that you see the sadness seeping in before I do sometimes.

Anyway...bottom line...THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT!!

Now, on to the pampering. It took a LOT longer than I thought it would. It went something like this:
Shower
Toothbrushing
Rest
Dress
Nap
Re-wet hair
Blow dry
Rest
Make-up
Nap

So, what would normally take like maybe 30-40 minutes...took about 5-6 hours. But I felt like a new woman! A cleaner prettier, healthier woman!!

And, instead of TV, we ordered Chinese and played games. OMG did my muscles hurt from laughing. My little family could be a sit-com. Everyone goofs on everyone and everything. And the laughing sometimes gets to be the kind where you can't catch your breath. I'm pretty sure that's more core exercise than any PT would have me doing at this point!

Yesterday wore me out so much, it's only 11 am and I'm contemplating a nap!

Thanks for checking in on me friends!
Love and big hugs to all of you!
Denise
PS-Barb, I hope your Rx is exactly what you need! You, my friend, deserve every bit of joy life has to offer!
__________________
1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed
“ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ” – Cavett Robert
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Old 02-01-2013, 11:11 AM   #60
LoisLane
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Thornhill Ontario Canada
Posts: 266
Re: Pain? yes Appt? yes Relief? ????

Hey Denise you make MY day! You always make me smile. Hugs and lots of love to you. Lois
__________________
August 2008
Lumpectomy left breast
1 tumour 0.9 cm
Her2 negative
lymph nodes negative
venous/lymphatic invasion absent
ER+PR-
Stage I Grade 2
Radiation and Femara

November 2008
Lumpectomy right breast
2 tumours .03 cm and .05 cm and extensive DCIS
.05 tumour Her2+
lymph node negative
venous/lymphatic invasion "indeterminate"
ER+PR low postive
Stage 1 Grade 2

January 2009
bilateral mastectomy
chemotherapy taxotere
Herceptin one year
Femara
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