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07-14-2006, 07:45 PM
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#1
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Christine's Absense
I really don't know how many members noticed but Christine has not been posting very often. The reason is that she suffers from radiation retinopathy which is a side effect attributed to WBR and is similar to diabetic retinopathy.
To make a long story short, last Haloween we went to a local neighberhood gathering and Christine ate something that disagreed with her. She threw up which aggrivated her visual condition by causing internal hemmoraging in her eye. She suffered from many floaters which disintegrated over time and created a "soup" in the vitreous of her eye.
Yesterday Christine underwent a procedure called a Vitrectomy. The vitreous fluid was removed from her eye and replaced with a saline solution. She had to wear an eye patch for the first 24 hours. Today she went for her initial follow up and we are all pleased to say that the procedure was highly successful.
Look for Christine's return within the next week or so.
Warmest Regards
Joe
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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07-14-2006, 07:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
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Hi Joe,
I am sorry to hear that Christine has gone through this. I will say an extra special prayer that all goes well. The both of you have given all to so many of us. You are a very special couple.
Sincerely,
Liz J.
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07-14-2006, 08:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
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Hi Joe,
My husband had a torn retina two years ago and then a half year later it ruptured with a lot a floaters. It eventually detached twice. He eventually had the same procedure as Christine plus cataract surgery. The gas bubbles used to keep his retina attached caused the cartaract. All of these procedures worked and he can now even read with the affected eye, although he does have some minor distortion. I'm sure the virectomy will help Christine and I wish her a quick and successful recovery.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.
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07-14-2006, 08:22 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Looking forward to her return
My very best wishes for a speedy recovery and successful results to you both...
AlaskaAngel
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07-14-2006, 08:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Hi Joe, thanks for keeping us posted. I am so glad to hear she is doing well and that it was nothing too serious. She sounds like such a remarkable woman, I'd love to meet her someday..sherryg683
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07-14-2006, 09:31 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Thanks Joe, I'm glad the procedure went well, and we'll so glad to have her back!
<3 Lolly
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07-14-2006, 09:40 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 823
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Joe, Prayers for a speedy recovery for Christine.
__________________
Vicki
Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
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07-14-2006, 09:48 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Joe, I am so sorry Christine had to go through all that...but very happy to hear her surgery was a sucess. I am so happy for you both.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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07-14-2006, 10:20 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Great going!
Thanks for the update with such good news.
Christine has suffered from this condition for some time even before the "Halloween incident."
I am SO HAPPY for her that this procedure will help her eyesight.
She loves to cook and do so many things, and this will be a welcome improvement.
{{{Healing hugs}}}
__________________
"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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07-15-2006, 04:14 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Joe...
PLEASE give Christine our best regards for a quick and speedy recovery. I hope she is up and posting soon. Take care and God Bless.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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07-15-2006, 04:25 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Glad Christine's procedure went well but sorry she had to go through it. The most important thing is that it was a success. Hope Christine is soon up and posting. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
__________________
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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07-15-2006, 04:47 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Thanks for the update. Glad things are going well. It's always a relief to know that a member is not facing a life threatening situation.
I've had floaters most of my life and since chemo (the cortisone I think) had cataracts and even more floaters and now my vision (and I love to read and have to drive) is getting foggier and foggier. So it's good to learn about the solutions to these problems.
Hope Christine can get back to doing her favorite things soon.
all the best for her speedy recovery
sarah
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07-15-2006, 05:48 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 438
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I am glad to hear all is well with Christine after her procedure. I, too have a terrible problem with floaters (especially since chemo).
Karen
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07-15-2006, 05:53 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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I did notice her absense. I am so glad all went well and she will be back to her ole self soon. Many, many prayers going both your way!!!!
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07-15-2006, 10:53 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
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Thanks for letting us know. All the best wishes for Christine.
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
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07-15-2006, 11:56 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TAMPA, FL
Posts: 568
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My love to Christine
and hopes she continues to do so well.
__________________
Irene from Tampa
1996 - INFILT DUCTAL CAR.W/ LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT. ADRIA/CYTOXIN/5FU
1999 - RECURR. TO AUXILA AND 2 TUMORS IN LIVER
TREAT: STEM CELL REPLACEMENT/HERCEPTIN.
2002 - RECUR TO LIVER
TREAT: NAVELBINE, THEN GEMZAR, THEN XELODA.
2004 - TUMORS STILL IN LIVER
TREAT: RFA TO LIVER
STABLE UNTIL
2004 - TUMOR PROGRESSION IN LIVER.
TREAT: RESECT HALF OF LIVER.
2005 - RECURR TO LYMPH NODE OUTSIDE OF LIVER.
TREAT: TAXOL/CARPO/HERCEPTIN. FAILED ON
THIS TRIO. STARTED ON ABRAXANE.
2006 - PROGRESS WITH 2ND TUMOR GROWTH.
TREAT: AUG. BEGAN ON TYKERB/XELODA
TRIAL. CONSIDERED STABLE TO DATE.
2007 - TAKEN OFF OF TYKERB/XELODA TRIAL DUE TO
PROGRESS STARTING TYKERB/AVASTIN.
NOV 2007 - SCANS SHOW PROGRESS TUMOR GROWTH
IN ABDOM. AND TWO NEW TUMORS IN NECK AREA.
BEGAN HERCEPTIN/AVASTIN/TAXOTERE
Feb 08 - Ixempra/Xeloda
June 08 - Her/DM1 trial
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY."
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07-15-2006, 01:24 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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I am happy to hear this was available to her and it was successful. Anything with the vision can be so frightening but the good thing is there is so much more they can do these days. Thanks for the update. Sandy
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07-15-2006, 01:29 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Payson, Arizona
Posts: 96
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Christine
Joe:
Thanks for the information regarding Christine. I am releived that her surgery went well and that she will be back with us shortly. It must be hard for you too.
Barb
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07-15-2006, 02:17 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,843
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Amazing they can do such things.
I hope it continues to go well.
On the food for thought / risk reduction etc DHA is KEY to eyesight. It is the primary fat used at the business end the rods etc
You will find lots of trials in that general direction for many conditions of vision.
As usual of course please discuss with medical advisors.
RB
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07-15-2006, 02:43 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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I just love to hear the success stories. God bless and thanks for sharing!
ma
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