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07-26-2008, 10:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Nicola
This is my 1000th post and I dedicate it to my wonderful wife, Nicola. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have known some amazing people in my life. Nikki was the best of the best. She was so strong and tough and courageous, even while facing the realities of this horrible disease. In her honor, I will be sending a check to this wonderful website. We thank all of you for all of your support and kind words and prayers over the years. Nicola lost her battle with cancer on November 18th, 2007.
__________________
For Nicola
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07-26-2008, 10:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Dear Bill,
I am so very moved by your post and your deep love for
Nicola. We are very fortunate to have you as part of our
special family. You are proof that Her2 support group isn't only for those with breast cancer.
You are a major contributor to so many, your warmth, funny and reassuring personality is a gift to many.
Nicola was a very loved woman by a very special man.
Fondly,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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07-26-2008, 10:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 856
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Dear Bill:
Thanks for being such a dedicated and caring member of this community. Congratulations on your 1000th post. To me, I see it as a badge of honor and a measure of how much you gave to this site. You are truly an inspiration to me and if I am only one percent as devoted to my wife and to the brave warriors on this site, then I would be happy with that.
Bill, you are truly a good man and you are a dear friend.
Lee
__________________
This happened to Colleen:
Diagnosed in September 2007
ER-/PR-/HER2 Neu+++ 2.1 cm x .9 cm spicluted tumor with three fingers, Stage 2B
Sentinal node biopsy and lymph node removal with 3/18 positive in October 2007
4 TAC infusions
lumpectomy March 2008, bad margins
Re-excision on June 3rd, 2008 with clean margins
Fitted for compression sleeve July 16, 2008
Started the first of two TCH infusions August 14, 2008
Done with chemo and now a member of the blue dot club 9/17/08
Starting radiation October 1, 2008
life is still on hold
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07-26-2008, 10:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Bill,
I can tell you and Nicola shared a love together that empowered you both to live life to the fullest. I wish I could have gotten to know her. I feel like I can see a glimpse of her through you and and I can tell she was very special.
BBB, what I am so proud of you for is this: you experienced and supported all what Nicola had to go through with her journey with cancer. After she left you physically, you have continued to offer your support to so many of us here at HER2 and all done with such compassion, kindness and positive energy.
I could not agree more with Jean when she said, "Nicola was a very loved woman by a very special man".
Muchas Alohas my dear friend,
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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07-26-2008, 11:42 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shingle Springs, CA - near Sacramento
Posts: 295
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We have been blessed....
by Nicola as a sister and by you as a brother. Thanks so very much for being here - for continuing to be here for the family you have here. You honor Nicola with each and every post you make here. I love to see your posts, they are always heartfelt and show a particular joy in life that Nicola must have loved! We love you!
Donna
__________________
Donna in the Sierra Foothills of California
Diagnosed 6/7/06 invasive ductal carcinoma/ductal carcinoma in situ
Lumpectomy 6/21/06
Pathology: Er 99% Pr 10% Her2/neu 3+
DNA Index 1.0
S-Phase 3/High
Primary Tumor 2.4 cm Sentinel Node Tumor 2.1cm
A/C/T+ Herceptin + rads + Arimidex
stopped Herceptin after 7 mos. due to low MUGA
Surgery for thickened uterine tissue May 2008 - conclusion: side effect of Arimidex
Switched from Arimidex to Femara - joint/tendon problems significantly better!
2 year mark Pet scan and Echo shows all clear!
5 year mammogram with ultrasound shows no sign of cancer - yay!
11 years, 11 months new breast cancer - found lump
Mastectomy 4/30/2018
Pathology: Er99%, PR 28%, Her2 negative! (new type)
Faslodex
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07-27-2008, 01:45 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Bill, are you hearing Nikki saying, "Now, Bill"....
Somehow I think she's watching (with all our other warriors on high) and smiling and speaking to us someway! You know, I wonder sometimes if there is really anything really so important as finding and loving others til they giggle.
Giggles to you, Bill. Whatever will be in those next 1000 posts? God Bless you. ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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07-27-2008, 06:12 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 Bill,
I join in with the others who say we are the blessed ones. Your wife's cancer, your awesome love and care for her and the special bond you both shared is what has given you the kind of heart you have and are now able to share with us here at her2support. As I've said before.......we here at her2support "get it" and you definitely "get it!" The kind words you have shared......the knowledge you have gained from "living" with this disease and your awesome sense of humor has been a true blessing to all of us here at her2support. Thank YOU for that.
May God's Hand of love and peace always hold you close Bill.
Hugs,
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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07-27-2008, 06:16 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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Dear sweet Bill,
What a wonderful tribute to Nikki. I know that she is smiling down on you and at the same time she is not surprised; she knew what a wonderful man and partner she had in you. You are an inspiration to us all - you took a personal tragedy and used it to reach out and help others. I hope in some way it has helped you too. Thank you for being a part of this board and giving so much of yourself everyday.
Much love,
Gerri
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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
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07-27-2008, 08:22 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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Bill,
This is a lovely reflection of your love for Nikki. Although I only knew her through this website and only briefly, anyone could tell that she was a very special person. In fact, she has touched my life in a way that I may not have shared. At the end of her signature are Bible scriptures and I have looked up and written down every one of them. I often read them during my bible time.
Thank you for all you bring to this website and for continuing to share Nikki with us.
Tonya
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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07-27-2008, 11:07 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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Bill you are without a doubt one of the sweetest and sentimental men I know. Nikki was blessed to have you as a husband as are we blessed to have you as a friend.
__________________
dx aug 03 invasive dcis 1 cm
er/pr/her2+
bcs 8/4/03
bcs 8/21/03 0/16 nodes
tx 4x ca 36 rad tam
postmenopausal 06 aromasin
sept 07 biopsy node in neck
muga/pet/cat/bone mets to lungs nodes and liver stage iv
tx hki-272
tx not working switched to taxol herceptin
Taxol not working switched to navelbine
navelbine is causing bad neuropathy
starting gemzar
gemzar quit on me now on Ixempra due to increasing number and size of liver mets
another progression starting tykerb/xeloda
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07-27-2008, 11:29 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Nicola
Mahalo nui loa Bill !! That means "thank you very much" in Hawaiian. You and Nicola were a special couple. We are lucky to have had her and to still have you as our friend.
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07-27-2008, 05:02 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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We are truly blessed to have known Nikki and to know you. You bring light into dark days and such wonderful words of advice for any who need it. THANK YOU!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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07-27-2008, 05:42 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 292
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Awww, Bill. What a wonderful post for a wonderful woman.
I, for one, am so glad you stuck around. 
Take care,
__________________
Krista
Diagnosed 3/29/2007 @ age 34
Stage 1, Node Neg. (SNB), Grade 2, 1.4 cm. IDC
ER/PR 90%+ HER2 +
6 TCH started 5/25/2007, ended after #5 due to steroid "reactions" and neuropathy in feet and hands
BUT--#6 CH w/o Taxotere
Begin Herceptin alone 9/28/2007
30 rads completed 12/19/2007
Finish Herceptin 5/9/2008
Stopped Tamoxifen early--HATED it.
Married 17 years
13-year old son
3 embies on ice (from 1999)
GA, USA
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07-27-2008, 06:26 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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I can almost see Nicola watching Bill and smiling right now. |
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07-27-2008, 06:30 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 203
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Bill,
You and Nicola are each an inspiration.
Love,
Cannon aka Rebecca
__________________
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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07-27-2008, 07:31 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
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Bill, wow. You are such an inspiration, and you have a beautiful angel always around you. Thank you for continuing to share her with us...
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
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07-27-2008, 08:12 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Nicola was...
VERY lucky!!!!
__________________
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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07-27-2008, 08:50 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Our Dear Bill
Nicola was a very special woman who was blessed to have a very special husband.
We have all been blessed by your sharing of your lives.
"What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose."
-----Henry Ward Beecher
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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07-28-2008, 01:35 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Vancouver Canada
Posts: 72
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Bill,
You are a special awesome guy. And Nikki was clearly a smart cookie to have chosen you. Thank you for your insight, wisdom and caring for all of us here. May happiness and inner peace be yours always.
Jade
__________________
Dx Nov.04 - Stage 1, Grade 3, widespread high grade DCIS, Paget's disease of nipple, 8mm tumor invasive DC (ductal carcinoma), ER/PR-, HER2+++
Nov.04 - left mast., clear margins, 6 of 6 nodes clear
Feb.05 - began EC chemo, 4 rounds (every 3 weeks)
Aug.05 - began Herceptin every 3 weeks for 1 year
Aug.06 - ended treatment
NED
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07-28-2008, 06:17 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CHARLOTTE NC USA
Home town (ECUADOR) South America
Posts: 542
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Bill , something that Nikki can bragg in ( i dont know if I write correct ) is that she haved a TRUE LOVE with you and you know you did have with HER ...and many many many people never can get even close what it is TRUE LOVE ....for me you both had that ...and I'm so lucky to count with you like a true friend , thank you !!! I know Nicola she is just smile of happiness and proud !!!
__________________
Lily Diag April/06 5 months after give birth my son Max stage IV mets on liver (5 tumors) 38 year old, her2+++ and ER+PR+ from32 nodes 4 positives mastectomy right breast chemo before surgery herceptin/carboplatin/taxotere ,clear and surgery have radiation 20, `& then herceptin and tamoxifen NED until Aug/07 body only then 'n June 04-06-07 .1 lesion of 1.6 cm on cerebellum ...novalis ,open sugery 5m.m brain met again novalis, 4mm.In the liver. Waiting 2 months now 3 tumors enroll on T-MCC trial start first infusion Nov 5/07 at Dec 17 scan show one tumor despair the 2nd and 3th diminish Doc said great results until March/08 ct scan show progression 03-05-08 start tykerb & xeloda
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