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01-20-2009, 12:36 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 347
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It's a double!
Big thanks to everyone who's been sharing their advice and encouragement as I have been making decisions and navigating my emotions about my upcoming surgery.
After my checkup with my surgeon today, I am officially scheduled for bilateral mastectomy on Wed. January 28th at 7:30 AM PST. It will be a modified radical on left side with level one and two lymph nodes, and simple mastectomy on the right. I'm so confident in the decision and looking forward to getting it done.
I got to listen to the inauguration in the car on the way to my surgeon appt. I was sobbing the whole way there, not from fear for myself, but tears of joy and hope for a difficult but optimistic and improving future for all of us. Happy NEW President's Day!
Celeste
__________________
"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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01-20-2009, 01:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Prayers starting now. Great to hear the contentment and confidence in your voice. My you have come a long way and I am so happy to watch you grow. You are on the way to watching cancer getting kicked in the be-hind!! You go get 'em Celeste!! Hugs>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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01-20-2009, 03:23 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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It's a double
Good luck for your surgery and recovery.
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01-20-2009, 03:30 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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It's a double !!
I forgot to mention that I share your joy regarding the
inauguration. I am so grateful to be living during this time in history when hope for the future is so strong.
I have great hope too.
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01-20-2009, 05:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Best wishes on your upcoming surgery. I had double mastectomy, not done at the same time, about a year apart. I have never regretted my decision. I agree, today is a new beginnig for everyone. Never thought I would live to see such diversity. It is wonderful. I have renewed hope for our great nation.
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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01-20-2009, 08:03 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Celeste,
That's what I did, too, and no regrets. Prayers for the surgeon to be skillful and compassionate, and for an easy and quick recovery.
__________________
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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01-21-2009, 05:38 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Dear Celeste,
Glad you've come to a decision and you are at peace with it. Once you've reached that point, there's no looking back. We know our bodies best.
Love and continued peace,
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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01-21-2009, 09:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 110
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Celeste,
I made the same decision to have a double. I knew it was right for me because I didn't want to have to go through it again-I was so glad I did because I also had a dcis that no imaging found (and let me tell you I had every imaging modality known to man (well woman). The recovery from the surgery and chemo took time but I was able to get back to the gym and swimming as soon as I was healed enough.
I just had my nipples tattooed last week and am thrilled with having a nearly normal chest. The nurse who did the tattoos is also going to do eyeliner as my treat to myself for getting through everything.
I know you will do well and like so many on this site find yourself stronger in so many ways. Soon this part of your life will be behind you.
With best hopes and wishes for a speedy recovery
Henny
__________________
Henny
Dx 3/07 IDC and DCIS Her2+ ER- PR-
Stage IIb 1/15 nodes
A/C, Taxol, Herceptin
Bilateral mastectomies with recon
Zometa 2/yr for 3 yrs- finished 8/2011
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