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11-11-2006, 09:25 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 87
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No small miracle...
Hi All~
This is the FIRST place I wanted to share my news...Okay, I did call my mom first...
2 weeks of a multitude of tests revealed 4 new breast tumors-1.5cm-6mm. I spoke w/the 2 radiologists and my surgeon before leaving the imaging center & the BreastMRI/Mammo/US/Core Biopsy left little question that my disease was invasive again.
However, I just got the pathology report back that shows the sample is BENIGN!!!
Wha? Whoa...WHA??? 
Not since I started this "Stage IV-4surgery-81 weeks of chemo-not counting solo Herceptin-in 4 1/2 years-Journey" have I ever had the thrill of hearing the word "BENIGN"!
My Story~
Primary Dx:May'02, 33 years old, StageIV-Liver Mets.
L Lumpectomy+49 weeks of chemo = NEDx1year, Herceptin solo
Sept'04 -Recurrence to liver-Single, otherwise NED
On/Off chemo x 1year = 81 weeks chemo in total
STILL fighting off Single Stubborn Lesion
Dec'05 -Right Hepatectomy to FINALLY excise lesion
Feb'06 -Mammo reveals extensive,HighGrade DCIS in L breast (not present@
primary dx) + 1cm invasive mass
Excisional biopsy to remove invasive mass,but no add'l surgery
to allow for more recovery time from BIG Liver sx
We've been vigilantly watching the DCIS, with Breast MRI's & full body PETs(all clean),until this round of scans found all that mess-4 new masses + more pervasive DCIS.
I've had since February to anticipate the inevitable, but not happy about another Big surgery,through the Holidays again, and back on chemo 
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Imagine my shock, surprise, thrill, joy, SHOCK, skepticism, JOY when the Rn called me w/the results from the path! She says they're all stunned (but happy) by the report & are going to Tumor Board w/my case.
My disease has been so uncharacteristic,bad, good, even backwards.We're writing our own rules as we go.
I'm going ahead w/mastec&recon, but we're less "under the gun" now. And that is a great relief!
I still feel a little like I'm waiting for "the other shoe to drop", but am able to find some relief in the joy & gratitude for this "little miracle" & had to share it with all of you!
SurvivING this disease for any one of us is a VICTORY for ALL of us.
Keep the Faith~
Jessica
Last edited by jessica; 11-11-2006 at 09:40 AM..
Reason: typos
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11-11-2006, 12:07 PM
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#2
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Founder - HER2 Support Group
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 361
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Magnificent !!!!
It looks like were on a good news streak again.
Hugs
Christine
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11-11-2006, 12:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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All I can say ...
...is that our bodies never cease to amaze us! Your JOY is overwhelming!
If your tumors ALL turn out to be benign, this could be similar to what happened to my grandmother some 55 years ago. She had a mastectomy for what she called "tumors." Then a couple of years later the other breast came off. She never took any kind of chemotherapy, but did take cortizone in some form.
She recovered well from these surgeries and lived to be 98 years old (died from stroke complications). Since her case was so many years ago we don't know much about it, but she was taking no chances in keeping her breasts.
Have you had the HER2 serum test? Good results from a test like this could really set your mind at ease. Sorry you have to go through another surgery - having had 3 this year myself, enough already!
__________________
"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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11-11-2006, 01:14 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 290
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Congrats
Great to hear Jessica. Just when you think you about to go into the abyss, the Creator provides a joyous moment. I couldn't be happier for you.
Christine, a streak of positive results would do everybody a world of good right about now. Let's pray for a long run. By the way, your picture looks stunning. Commercial photographer was another one of my past careers, so I'm not just flirting...lol. Joe is one lucky man.
And Steph, it sounds like you came from good stock. I think you are gonna be with us a long, long time!
Tom
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11-11-2006, 01:22 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Payson, Arizona
Posts: 96
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Great Results
Jessica:
I was very happy to hear of your results. Your determination in the face of such tough events has been great medicine for others in their struggle. I wish you a great life ahead.
Barbara
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11-11-2006, 01:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Jessica,
What great news and an inspiration for all of us. Never give up!
__________________
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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11-11-2006, 02:38 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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That is great news! Wow!! I am so happy that the lumps are benign! Such a sweet word...
Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi
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11-11-2006, 06:26 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
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Great News
Jessica,
Benign is the magic word. Thank God all turned out well.
Sincerely,
Liz J.
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11-11-2006, 07:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 624
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Wonderful news!
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11-11-2006, 07:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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Keep the good news coming! Awesome news Jessica. Santa is getting ready for Christmas and bearing good news gifts. I hope everyone on this board gets a good news gift. Forget all the other gifts! hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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11-11-2006, 08:52 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Jessica, Thanks for good news. I'm glad we're on a good news streak. Sandy, your hair looks great, you've changed something about it. Very good pic. BB
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11-11-2006, 09:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear jessica
Great news - what a relief.
love
Linda
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11-11-2006, 10:38 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Madison, Connecticut
Posts: 638
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Dear Jessica,
Not only great news, but great news that you were thoughtful enough to share with us. Nothing short of food for the soul...Love Kim from CT
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11-12-2006, 09:04 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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Ditto!
Thank you for sharing you fantastic news-enjoy it! I'm sooo happy for you!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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11-12-2006, 09:23 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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Isn't that a kick in the pants. With all the terror the word tumor causes us, we Her2s can still get benign breast tumors. I am happy for your news. Have a wonderful holiday season. MJO
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11-12-2006, 09:41 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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WOW!!! That's AWESOME!!!
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11-12-2006, 10:08 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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Hallelujah, great to hear such good news. Hope we hear a lot of that now. So happy for you. All the best and go celebrate if you haven't already.
__________________
~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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11-12-2006, 03:53 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Henderson, NE
Posts: 413
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Jessica,
Your story is why dr's do not know anyone's outcome. We should never limit ourselves to others expectations. We all here know that miracles happens everyday if we just look hard enough!!!!!!!
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11-12-2006, 04:32 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 127
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YEAH!!!!!!!!! Wonderful news! I can feel your smile from here! - kim
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11-12-2006, 05:06 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 589
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Great stuff. Lets hope everyone just keeps rewriting the past. I'm very happy for you!
Eric
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