sharing good news

rinaina · 07-01-2007, 02:47 PM

I just wanted to share my good news with everyone. I only have two more hercepting treatments left. My last one is August 9. My how this year has flown and for the first time in my life I am happy about time moving so quickly. Now I will have to adjust to the fact that I will no longer be taking anything to fight off a recurrence or metastasis, but my onc says that with my stats, I have a greater then 85% chance of no recurrence or metastasis. I of course can't help but think of so many of you who were also node negative and stage 1 who did recur or have a metastasis. All I can do is be diligent of my care, go to all appointments and be on top of things along with my doctors. The rest is in G-d's hands. For now I am just looking forward to completing yet another part of this entire treatment plan. Hip hip hooray. I also was told the port will come out after my last treatment. I will miss my little under the skin alien, kind of got use to him!!!!! NOT!!!!

sassy · 07-01-2007, 03:53 PM

Wonderful place to be Ranaina! Thanks for sharing your joy with us.
________
YOSELIN cam

Sheila · 07-01-2007, 04:55 PM

Rina
Time to celebrate....with many years of NED to come....you are so lucky to have recieved the Herceptin as adjuvant....just 5 years ago when I was diagnosed, I couldn't get it until I was metastatic Stage IV.....I hope it keeps you NED forever!!!!!!!!

Mary Jo · 07-01-2007, 06:51 PM

Hello Rinaina,

Well, how happy you must be. I remember that day well also. It was a bittersweet day for me. Very happy, of course AND a bit scary to know that my security blanket was leaving me. BUT, I've also learned that our security blanket has nothing to do with medicinces etc. As you stated, our lives are in God's Hand. It's best if we take the Peace He offers and sit back and enjoy the ride. It can be a great ride, if we let it.

God's Peace to you and congratulations on finishing your herceptin. A blessing most definitely.

Mary Jo

Becky · 07-01-2007, 07:24 PM

When you find out you have to be on Herceptin a year, you think the time will never come and then it does and you're not sure what to do or to think. However, I didn't feel that bad about stopping (even though I got 16 months of Herceptin). I did think about it only once - when the first 3 weeks went by and it was the day I was "supposed" to be getting a dose.

After you stop, you really start to feel like a survivor even though you have been from the moment you first felt your lump or were told that you had one.

Congratulations on your emanicipation from your cancer center. You may not feel that way (exactly) at this moment but you will feel that way by the end of the summer.

Jean · 07-01-2007, 07:27 PM

Rinaina,
Can understand your joy and concern! That is only natural...
.... enjoy your accomplishment!

So very happy for you!
God Bless,
Jean

LAURIE · 07-01-2007, 07:44 PM

congrats, don't lose track of us here still getting treatment! It is always so nice to see your smiling face.

tousled1 · 07-01-2007, 08:17 PM

Congratulations! It's quite a milestone and one that in the beginning seems so far into the future. It's amazing how fast the year goes by. I just finished my Herceptin the end of May, had my port removed and now am beginning to feel like a real survivor.

Vanessa · 07-01-2007, 08:54 PM

Congratulations on your good news. I hope you remain NED indefinately. Best wishes!

Sheryl H · 07-02-2007, 07:44 AM

Congratulations!!! I just started my year of herceptin, and ending seems like a long ways away. Here is to your being NED forever.

suzan w · 07-02-2007, 08:50 AM

Congratulations on your upcoming celebration!!! It has been 9 months since my last herceptin treatment and life is good! I will admit to missing the every 3 week visits to the treatment center as I felt (feel!) that as long as I was in treatment that I was "fighting". At first I felt like I was skydiving without a parachute! Now I am just concentrating on making every day be the best day of my life!!!!

caya · 07-04-2007, 09:00 PM

Great news Rinaina - I am at the other end of the spectrum - You have 2 more to go, I have just had my first 2 - It's 2 down, 15 to go for me.

Glad to hear you are doing well. I am like you, stage 1, my onc. gave me a "well over 90% cure rate" - yes, he used the word cure. Like Sheila said, we are very lucky to have been able to receive our "Vitamin H" as early stagers.

Wishing you all the best,
Caya

Adriana Mangus · 07-05-2007, 10:17 AM

Dear Becky: I was reading your post in which you mentioned having had these infections, were you worry about ovarian cancer? I read about symptoms and it appears that these two go hand in hand prior to ovarian cancer dx. I have always been healty (most of my life, except bc,); but about three weeks ago I was put on CIPRO because of UTI. I'm worry to death!!. Onc. said that it's not likely to end up with ovarian cancer from bc. it's just not the way ovarian cancer develops. Any thoughts? I appreciate it immensely.

P.S. Did you have abdominal pain, bleeding, anything...Also did you have/ask for a transvaginal test ?. Not accurate testing uh?

Adriana Mangus · 07-05-2007, 10:19 AM

Rinaina: Glad to hear you are doing great. Time to celebrate...maybe an Alaskan cruise?? or perhaps Caribeean, Bahamas, anything just celebrate :-)

Odette · 07-05-2007, 10:50 AM

Dear Adriana,

I don't know if this is the advice you want to hear, but your oncologist is busy and he is right it is not likely (to end up as ovarian c), but it is possible.
When I had concerns similar to yours - traveling pain in the abdomen - I went to my ob/gyn she referred me to have an ultrasound of the ovaries. It turned out to be negative, I was still happy to have had it.

Good luck Adriana,

Odette

Adriana Mangus · 07-05-2007, 10:57 AM

Dear Odette: Thanks very much from the bottom of my heart; it did not occur to me to make an appointment to see the OBGYN, but guess what? that's what am doing right now!!! Thanks....

janet11 · 07-05-2007, 12:17 PM

Aug 9, what fun to look forward to the end! Congrats on getting through it. I had my last Herceptin on May 2 and am getting the port removal scheduled "as we speak" (*grin*). So I look forward to welcoming you into the "portless ladies society"!!!!.

Janet

Leslie's sister · 07-05-2007, 09:15 PM

Rinaina:
great news. my sister finished last month. Exciting and scary at the same time. It is wonderful to have finished up that first year. My prayer is that you have many, many long healthy years ahead. I still remember your kindness last summer when I posted on this board not knowing much about anything.Your words of support meant so much. You and many others continue to be wonderful friends to everyone reaching out here. Thank you.

rinaina · 07-12-2007, 02:15 PM

Thanks to everyone for sharing in my joy of reaching this milestone of ending herceptin on August 9 of this year. Thanks also for all the incredible support of so many. Without this site and the wonderful ladies on here, this past year would have been more difficult to say the least. Many thanks to Joe and Christine to for caring enough to provide us all with this informative forum. Your constant hard and dedicated work does not go unnoticed. I may not post that much anymore as this is a bittersweet time in our family. My daughter became engaged to a wonderful man and will be getting married next summer...that's the good news. My mother in law has alzheimers and is doing very poorly and has just had hip surgery due to a fall and I am spending a lot of time caring for her....that's the bad news. So as you see, times are bittersweet. I may not be physically participating a lot on here lately but as always you are all in my thoughts and prayers but be sure, I will be lurking when I can. Good health to all.