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Old 08-18-2008, 08:00 PM   #1
kcherub
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Angry Christina Applegate 100% FREE of cancer!

Wow. I left a comment, although not quite as harshly as I have been reading on some of the other BC boards. You can guess which one is mine...

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5606034&page=1

BTW...does anyone know what oncology group she used?

Take care,
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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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Old 08-18-2008, 08:22 PM   #2
Ginagce
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Red face Christine Applegate

Well good for her! Either she's uneducated or she's in denial. Either way she sounds happy about it!
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Old 08-18-2008, 08:50 PM   #3
hutchibk
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I am tired of "celebrity cancer patients" not talking about actual details of their diagnosis. They do a disservice to all women by talking about it so cavalierly. By speaking so absolutely, I worry that women will get a false sense of security that breast cancer can be treated and eradicated easily, and in turn don't worry too much about it...

I am happy that she is in good shape now, but I am right there with ya Gin and Krista...
__________________
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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Old 08-18-2008, 10:54 PM   #4
Jade
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My thinking is that she had DCIS with no invasive component and therefore feels she is free and clear. My oncologist only confirmed I actually had cancer when after the second surgery (mastectomy) the pathology showed there was an 8mm spot of invasive cancer. Until then it was defined as "pre cancer".
I agree that these women could be very helpful to the general population if they would disclose what type of cancer/treatments they had. They never seem to come out and say 'Her2' or 'hormone dependent' or 'inflammatory'. Most people, even a lot of doctors, don't seem to know there are different kinds of breast cancer.
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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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Old 08-19-2008, 06:45 AM   #5
Becky
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I read that Christina Applegate tested positive for BRCA 1 and had a double masectomy even though only a small (possibly dcis) was found in only one breast. She will be having reconstructive surgery and then an ooph
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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"
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Old 08-19-2008, 07:25 AM   #6
kcherub
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DH just relayed it to me...

Todd just watched the entire interview online, and was relaying it for me on my way to work. When I read the post last night (on another board) no one mentioned that the interview had not been released in full.

Technically, she does not have breasts, so I am thinking that is where her "not going to die from BC" thought comes from. It looks like she is doing all that she can to make that true, but we all (sadly) know that sometimes "all that we can" doesn't keep the beast away.

Like I said on my GMA post, I do wish her the best, but can't decide if she isn't aware of the continued risk (keep up those screening appointments!), in denial about the possible continued risk, putting on a brave face, or is just that optimistic!

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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Old 08-19-2008, 11:16 AM   #7
StephN
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Anyone notice that BC runs in her family? Article mentions that her mother is a repeated survivor.

Guess the docs told her that having the double mast would give her the best chance and they probably find NO EVIDENCE of any cancer at this juncture, so she thinks she can say that she is "100% clean."
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"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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Old 08-19-2008, 12:21 PM   #8
Jackie07
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Thaks for providing the interesting link. USA today only had a very short piece with her picture in 'Life' section.

I can understand her making the comment after having a very stressful event. I think it is human nature for a person with a positive attitude to think "well, I am lucky because..." especially compared to what her Mother had to go through. But when it is announced to the whole world, she inadvertantly put down the 'unlucky' ones and appeared to be unsensitive and not very smart - sort of like the character she's used to playing on TV.

Many people in her blog reminded her what breast cancer really is. And reporters did use quotation marks over "100% free" and perhaps hinted on her "naiveness'. At the moment, I would just want to wish her the best.
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http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2

NICU 4.4 LB
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"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." Irene from Tampa

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Old 08-19-2008, 12:55 PM   #9
Gerri
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I saw this on GMA this morning and thought she was very open and honest. She said that having an MRI saved her life and she is starting a foundation to provide funding for MRIs and BRCA testing for women who can't afford them or don't have insurance. Pretty honorable, if you ask me.

Also, revealing to the world that she had a double masectomy is pretty darn brave. I didn't hear her say she is "cured", but rather that "they got all of it". Perhaps she had negative nodes, so she is inclined to believe that the cancer is now gone. I don't believe for a moment that she will not share the same fears we all do with every new ache and pain we experience. No, she doesn't state the actual pathology of her bc, but I've seen it mentioned here time and again, that all breast cancers are unique to the individual, no matter what the diagnosis. Maybe she takes her public exposure very seriously and doesn't want her celebrity status to influence the treatment decisions of other women given the same pathology.

I admire Christina Applegate for going public with such a personal choice.
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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

Last edited by Gerri; 08-19-2008 at 12:59 PM..
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Old 08-19-2008, 04:53 PM   #10
Chelee
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I found this article on Christina Applegate posted below in the "Breast cancer news" for those that want to read it.

http://www.healthcentral.com/breast-...260452-66.html

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.

Last edited by Chelee; 08-19-2008 at 10:15 PM.. Reason: Correction.
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Old 08-19-2008, 05:13 PM   #11
ita
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I find it interesting how some on other boards tore her apart for say she was 100% cancer free. We have to remember that she is a celebrity and she chose to reveal the bilat mast. Something she did not have to do. Would it have gotten out because of all the media around Hollywood? Probably. But she did it in her own terms and her own time.

I have to agree with Jackie7, although she has dealt with cancer because of her mother and was vigilant in her screenings, she has been hit with a bomb. The first thing most of us do think positive. God knows I'm not saying that thinking positive is wrong. I live in a world looking at life through rosed-colored glasses.

Deep down we all fear the beast will return. We all fear that something may have been missed. Why should she put all that info out to the world? Just because she didn't talk about her fears it does not mean she doesn't have them. Doesn't she deserve some time to digest everything that she has to deal with for the rest of her life?

Kcherub,

I think the answer to your question about her knowledge of her continued risk is "all of the above." Like I said before, she still needs time to digest the curve ball we've all had to deal with.

But, for this woman to start immediately to want to help others is to be commended.

In my book, she'll create a path for others to find the help they need.
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Old 08-19-2008, 05:34 PM   #12
DanaRT
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I am so glad to read these messages. While I am happy for Christina, that she caught it early and doesn't need chemo or radiation, I was left with a feeling of "did I do the right thing?"
I did what was right for me and had I chosen a mastectomy I would have still had to have chemo and rads due to the Her2+++ factor.
Thank you my friends for commenting on this.

To use the term "100% cancer free and clean" - how does she truly know???

Dana
__________________
-Dana-

]
Diagnosed - Nov. 2, 2007 at 45
Lumpectomy - Nov. 13, 2007
Tumor 1.2 cm
Stage 1 Grade 3
ER/PR - Her2 +++ (3.8)
Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin- 6 rounds
Neulasta
Radiation 33 treatments - will be done 6/6/08
Herceptin through 12/08
12/07 MUGA 61%, 4/08 MUGA 60%, 7/08 MUGA 64%
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Old 08-19-2008, 07:41 PM   #13
Becky
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Especially since she was tested positive for BRCA 1 which means that she is most likely triple negative which is a pathology (like Her2+) that needs chemotherapy in most cases.

I guess we will have to wait and see if she remains cancer free.

For the record - nobody on earth is 100% cancer free. People make cancer cells all the time (but the body deals with it before a real problem occurs). So, it is an off beat remark. However, don't we all, under pressure, make the biggest fools of ourselves? All we can do is the best that we (think) we can.
__________________
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"
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Old 08-21-2008, 07:04 AM   #14
RobinP
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anyone with her exact dx?

Exactly what was Applegate's breast cancer diagnosis? I know its early stage, but is that a small invasive or DCIS or something else. Wow, I googled her name a few times, but just can't come up with the specific diagnosis.

I agree with her double mastectomy, given her BRAC1 mutation. Mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 predispose to breast cancer and ovarian cancer so I wonder if she will be taking her ovaries out as well???
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2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo

Last edited by RobinP; 08-21-2008 at 07:11 AM..
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