 |
|
08-01-2007, 08:06 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posts: 365
|
Today We Celebrated our 26th Anniversary
My Husband Tom and I celebrated our 26th Wedding Anniversary. When I was diagnosed with mets to my skeleton February 6, 2004, I didn't think I would live another 6 months to celebrate our 23rd anniv. I'm still here and have completed many milestones.
I turned 50 last year. I won a makeover at my beauty shop, complete with highlight, haircut, pedicure, manicure, flowers, and a cake. My oldest daughter wrote a letter for a contest they had about someone who deserved a makeover and I won. The shop does allot of benefits to raise money for good causes.
My children and mother in-law had a party for 65 of our family and friends to celebrate our 25th anniv. last year
My 2 older daughters moved into their own homes. Things have become more peacefull here and we have become closer. When they still lived at home they could not be bothered much with me. My middle daughter would lock herself in her room and not speak to me much. Now she and her older sister both call me almost every day. She wants me to spend the night when her boyfriend goes out of town next week. It will be like a PJ party. My younger daughter, Julie, is trying hard to stay out of trouble. She is hanging around with good people.
Tom and I went on vacation for the first and only time without our children 2 years ago. Yeah they had parties here, but so did I when the cat was away. Like mother, like daughters.
Today I woke up at 4am, which is not unusuall for me. I don't have set sleeping hours. I spent from 7am til 12 noon re-potting some of my houseplants that I'm giving my daughter for her new home. It feels good to plan things out and keep busy. I think it's the decadron still speaking.
Tom and I went to a new resteraunt for a late lunch. They gave us a gift certificate for a free meal (up to 8.50) plus prices are cheaper at lunch time. I had 12 baby clams as an app. and veal parm., cavatelli and a salad. The lunch parm was 10.95 and the dinner would have been 18.95. With our coupon we paid 2.45. I love getting a bargain. I wanted cassada cake for dessert so I took half my veal parm home.
We were going to go to an early movie but we were too late so we did a little shopping. My legs were pretty tired at that point so I drove the cart. I had fun zooming up and down the eilses at Jo Ann Fabric and Walmart. Tom is such a good guy to go shopping.
Before we came home we visited my mother in-law. She passed out in church last week and spent 4 days in the hospital. She found out she has some serious heart problems that are going to be followed very close. She's not alloud to drive for the next 6 months. We are always depending on her and now the shoe is on the other foot. Please keep her in your prayers.
Tom is on vacation this week so we have more time to play. We are celebrating his mom's birthday here with our girls and their boyfriends. It will be fun.
I guess I've rambled on long enough. I just want to let everyone know that you can be happy and sick at the same time. We are all terminal and I can think of so many worse ways to die then cancer. I have been given hope and I also got to know and experience things and people that I never would had, if it not been for cancer.
I love all of you
Lu Ann
|
|
|
|
08-01-2007, 08:22 PM
|
#2
|
|
Guest
|
Dear Lu Ann,
That was a very nice post. I'm so happy for you and your family, and I hope you'll be here to celebrate many more occasions.
Happy Anniversary to you and Tom, and I hope you enjoy the sleep over.
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2007, 08:24 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
|
Happy Anniversary Lu Ann! Sounds like you're keeping busy. Would love to see the makeover photos. How fun.
Take care, Bev
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2007, 09:25 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
|
Luann, congatulations on celebrating another anniversary. And what a lovely post - you have a rich life indeed. Thanks for sharing.
__________________
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
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2007, 09:28 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
|
Happy Anniversary LuAnn! It sounds like you had a fabulous day! Life is GOOD!
Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi
|
|
|
|
|
08-01-2007, 11:22 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
|
Happy Anniversary LuAnn...thank you so much for sharing your wonderful news. I love your optimism!!! And your love of life!!!
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 02:25 AM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Norco, Southern California
Posts: 53
|
Happy Anniversary! And what a wonderful post! There are many things worse than cancer, we have so much to be thankful for! I'm so glad you had such a wonderful day and life truly is good when we take time to be thankful. God bless!
Beckie
__________________
Diagnosed 4/06, age 55
1.1 cm tumor
Pre-op x-ray caught lung nodules
6/06 - Stage 4, Her2+++, er/pr-
Mets to lungs(largest 3 cm), liver (largest 5.5 cm), and bones
Began taxotere, herceptin, & aredia
7/06 - radiation to lower spine & left shoulder for pain
8/06 - everything smaller
12/06 - stopped taxotere (toe infections)
5/07 - bone mets advancing
6/07 - add navelbine to herceptin & aredia
6/07 - discovered brain mets (3 in cerebellum, largest 2 cm.)
7/07 - WBR, change to Tykerb/Xeloda
9/07 - targeted radiation
10/08 - started navelbine/herceptin
2/09 - brain mets - targeted radiation
5/09 - mets in liver progressing, changed to Ixempra
7/09 - mets in liver still going, to the brain again, on gemzar now
9/09 - gemzar failed, started Doxil today
I know Who holds the future, and I know He holds my hand.
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 04:08 AM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
|
LuAnn,
Happy Anniversary. Sounds like you and your husband had a wonderful day. Wishing you many more anniversaries. Can you post the make over pictures?
__________________
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
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 04:13 AM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
|
LuAnn, Happy anniversary! You have given me hope that there is life during and after treatment. Keep on living the full life.
Debbie in North Carolina
__________________
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
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 05:05 AM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
|
LuAnn
Happy ANniversary to you both! Thank you also for your heartfelt post. You have many blessings in your life.....and many people who love you...just having a husband that would actually go shopping is a huge plus in my book! May you be blessed with many many mores years together as a family. Oh and by the way, our daughters seem to appreciate Moms more when they move out!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 05:17 AM
|
#11
|
|
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
|
Milestones from one step, one day at a time!!!
Ramble away Lu Ann!!! Congratulations on your anniversary & Happy Birthday, what a beautiful way to start the morning!!! Funny how I was thinking so strongly of you this morning too, wondering how you were feeling a few weeks after WBR. I opened up my day with your words and what a gift it was to read all that happiness, for you my friend deserve that and much more!! Besides your Mother-in-Law, it sounds like you are off to a great start here. Continued prayers Lu Ann and big hugs for you!! Stay on that roll!!
Hubby and myself will be celebrating our 12th anniversary October 21st, (celebrated one last year after dx & will be 2nd=a true gift in itself because we did not think we would have this time too) Really know that glorious feeling you speak of Dear.
Thank you for taking the time in that busy schedule to keep us posted. You made me need a nap!! LOL!! But first, off to JoAnn's Fabric...LOL
And Yes Love, thanks for reminding us that my Knight In Shining Armor can be sick and happy at the same time. Sometimes it feels confusing, especially when you are having a great time and then it slaps you with the reality of having cancer.
PS How long are you staying on Decadron??
Waiting For A Miracle...and commanding one soon!!>>Believe51 (Marie G)
__________________
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!!
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 05:45 AM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
|
Lu Ann
That was one of the nicest and most happy and peaceful posts we have had on this board in a long, long time. Happy Anniversary and have a wonderful week with your hubby on vacation.
Love,
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 06:06 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 64
|
Happy anniversary. Your post shows that serenity can coexist with BC.
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 06:11 AM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: So California
Posts: 223
|
Thank you
Thank you, Lu Ann. What an uplifting post.
__________________
Leslie's Sister (Lisa)
Diagnosed 5/17/06
Left breast Stage II
5 cm. Her2Neu+++, ER-, PR-
1 positive node out of six,
double mastectomy 6/9/06;
TCH started 7/12/06
last chemo 10/25/06
herceptin ended 6-11-07
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 06:47 AM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
|
Congratulations and thank you for your post. It was uplifting to read first thing in the morning.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 06:53 AM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 430
|
First of all. Congratulations on your anniversary. I agree with Becky, this post was so peaceful in the acceptance of all else we have.
I celebrated my 25th with a bold head at a retaurant with just my hubby and tw daughters. We went to Italy, but when came back, we had to bury my dad who became very ill during the trip from lung cancer and brain mets and was on tube support. So I was not able to celebrate it well.
This year for our 26th, we did nothing so it was a let down.
So reading your post gave me such a loving feeling that you are in a good home and family.
It's wonderful to read peaceful and true core happy stories from us.
Lots of love to you all
Maria (mcs)
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 07:54 AM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
|
Happy Anniversary Lu Ann. In spite of - or maybe even because of -everything we go through life is good.
I wish you many, many more years of health and happiness!
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 08:51 AM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posts: 365
|
I don't know what feels better, the wonderful day I had yesterday or all the nice things you said. Thanks to all.
Today is another anniversary as well as tomorrow. My Mom went home to be with our Lord 25 years ago today, August 2, and My father joined them 16 years ago tomorrow August 3rd. I miss them but don't find this depressing at all. I will see them again.
As if the beginning of August wasn't busy enough, My mother in-law turns 88 August 4 and my niece will be 3 years old August 5th. August is a good month for our family.
Believe51, I will be on 1/2 doses of decadron alternate days through next week. Then I hope the fatigue disappears quickly.
I did play with my plants again this morning from 6am till 11am so I guess I have more energy then I thought. I'm good as long as I'm sitting down to do tasks. It's when I stand that I get tired and out of breath.
I hope I don't have to go back to the lung doc., but if the shortness of breath continues we need to investigate. My husband drains my left pleural cavity every 3 days. I need to keep the right area free from fluid. I can't imagine having to do both. What we do to survive.
I thought my mother was high maintenance being bedridden her last 5 months and my dad flushing her colostomy. I guess I had a good role model for a husband by the way he took such good care of my mom.
I need to look for the photo of my makeover. I have several roles of film that need developed. I'll get working on it.
Thanks again
Love and Blessings, Lu Ann
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 11:35 AM
|
#19
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greendale, WI
just outside Milwaukee
Posts: 211
|
Thank you so much for the feel good post. We do soooo need that! And yes, I love my children dearly, but having them live on their own is much easier to enjoy each other's company. Karen
__________________
04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst
04/05 E & P + HER2+++
05/05 Mediport
05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4
08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr
10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice
10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa
11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla
02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40)
03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects
05/06 Started Tamoxafin
06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction
12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal
01/07 Bilat Saline Implants
07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07
07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site.
09/07 Started Femara
10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39
06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32
09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.
|
|
|
|
|
08-02-2007, 12:22 PM
|
#20
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
|
Hi Lu ann,
Happy 26th wedding anniversary to you and your husband Tom. Wow. What a milestone. Thanks for sharing all your blessings with us. As always, just another gentle reminder of how wonderful our God is to us. Something we need to be reminded of from time to time.
God's continued blessings to you dear one.
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
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:33 PM.
|
Linear Mode
