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12-25-2006, 08:43 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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message from madubois63
It has been a while since I've posted (sorry). I killed my daughter's laptop while in the hospital (she doesn't know yet) and I've been really tired and also crazy withthe holidays. I hope everyone is as healthy as they can be and is enjoying life to the fullest. I know how hard that can be. Today, I am 52 days POST bone marrow transplant!! I have done very well so far. I have had minor reactions due to some of the MANY medications I am on. My body can't keep magnesium. I take these huge mag pills 4 times a day, eat pumpkin seeds and soak my feet in Epson salt (mag). My body shakes and I get terrible Charlie horse cramps, but this is doable compared to what I could be going through if I didn't have the transplant. My blood is still B+, but I have A+ characteristics - the war in my body has started. This is a good thing. I do get blood transfusions every week (normal at this stage in the game). I drive myself (freedom - yeah), I do light cleaning, food shopping and cooking. I have to rest a lot and do take naps every once in a while. A nurse told me I should be getting more energy after day 60 or so. I got a LOT of financial help for Christmas this year and was able to get almost everything the kids asked for. Roswell Park's Pastoral Care sent me a HUGE shippment (3 big boxes) of food and gifts for the kids. A local grassroots organization sent me a huge check for gifts and a local church gave me gift certificates for food and Wal-mart (my favorite store because they have those electric carts - look out). This Christmas would have been special even if there were nothing under the tree, but it is especially wonderful knowing there are such GREAT people out there to help. This has been a very hard 2 years for me, but it has also been very special. I have gotten such GREAT support from the ladies regularly soon. January 12th marks my 7th year of survivorship!!!! It's been a hell of a trip, but somehow I've come out of this a better person. I wish you all the most joyous wishes, dreams and life. I wish I could hug you all and tell you each how special you are to me.
with all my love....
-:¦:-Maryann -:¦:-´´
__________________
Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
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12-25-2006, 12:29 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 232
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Maryann,
Your message brings tears to my eyes because of your courage and strength.
Thank you for posting and letting us know how you are doing. I pray for peace and strength for you and your loved ones during this holiday season and the new year.
May all your dreams come true.
Hugs and healing prayers.
Karen
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12-25-2006, 02:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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Maryann it is so good to hear from you. Glad it is finally behind you and you are moving on. Hope this new year will bring you peace and comfort as well as new energy and healing. Thanks for updating us during such a busy season for you with so little energy. Sending you and your children a big hug. 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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12-25-2006, 03:32 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Maryann your news is so good! And your blessings are so deserved! Your great attitude about your transplant was such an encouragement to me! May you be blessed 7 X 7! Enjoy the day! God bless you!
__________________
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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12-25-2006, 03:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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MaryAnn,
So good to hear the good news! You have been and continue to be a true inspiration. I admire your courage through all that you have experienced. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
__________________
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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12-25-2006, 03:55 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear Maryann
So good to see your post. I am glad your Christmas went well. Rest and enjoy the holidays with your family.
love
lindaw
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12-25-2006, 07:19 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 329
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Maryann,
Thank you for your post. You are such a brave woman. What you said it's so true about being a better person;I feel it too, I have more compassion and less arrogance.
We all love you and wishing you a better Xmas for next year.
Big hug,
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12-25-2006, 10:49 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 543
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Maryann,
There is quite a number of courageous women on this board but I think that if Time magazine had nominations for cancer patients you would be Woman of the Year.
Best wishes to you & your family for the new year.
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12-26-2006, 03:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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You go girl
Maryann
I'm so glad to hear you're coping well and had a good Christmas.
You deserve every good blessing in '07!!
Tricia
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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12-26-2006, 05:42 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,843
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What a journey !!
AND a great deal of credit and respect to you for the positive way in which you have dealt with it all and turned negatives into positives.
Humbling.
RB
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12-26-2006, 10:18 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: St. George, UT
Posts: 582
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It's so good to hear from you, Maryann---and it's good to feel of your tremendous spirit again. I believe that this life is like a school, but unlike most schools where you learn the lessons and then have the tests, , here we get the tests first and then we learn the lessons. The kind of tests we are going through either make us bitter or strengthen us so we learn to be more compassionate and humble. You have certainly earned an A+! It is my prayer that 2007 will be a great year for you, and you will continue to feel all the love and support around you as you grow stronger every day. You have been through so much, and yet we are all humbled by the great spirit that shines through your posts. Remember, we are all praying for you! Hugs, Tricia
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12-26-2006, 01:15 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 127
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I set up a post a week ago asking if anyone has heard from you! I was worried since you have not posted in a while.
I am so happy that you are doing so well Maryann!! You are like the energizer bunny! I pray that your batteries stay charged!!!
I will be toasting you wonder woman on this New Year's Eve!! God bless - kim
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12-26-2006, 01:21 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Great to hear you're terrific news! You such a brave and wonderful person and so inspiring.
thanks for hte update. It's also good to hear about nice people getting help. You deserve it and it's great that so many people felt that.
Keep getting better and keep that wonderful, optimistic attitude.
hugs
sarah
Last edited by sarah; 12-26-2006 at 01:23 PM..
Reason: addition
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12-26-2006, 08:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Hi,
I have a longer fuse these days. I never get angry anymore and I like that. I just really have a different perspective.
Glad to hear you're improving. Praying for a happy and healthy 07. Bev
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12-26-2006, 10:31 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Maryann,
So happy to read your post and glad to know that you had a wonderful
Christmas. You are in my prayers each day. Please keep us updated
as it is always so special to hear from you.
Hugs,
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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12-27-2006, 05:47 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
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Good to hear from you!
Hi Maryann,
First of all I want you to know that you have been in my thoughts and it was so good to hear that your family had such a positive holiday celebration. I so admire your courage, and it sounds as if you still working with the long recovery of this transplant. You are truly a hero to us and I am hoping that 2007 will bring a truly year of real healing for you.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.
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12-27-2006, 08:15 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 208
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Sounds like you're forging ahead.....
So glad to hear that Christmas was good for you. Wishing you the best New year ever, love to hear your continued recovery. You are a special woman. Hugs to you and your family, Diane
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12-28-2006, 12:44 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 290
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Way to go
Glad to hear you are progressing so well Maryann. I must admit that I was a little disappointed with news of you lounging around all day, taking cat naps, soaking your feet and eating rabbit food. Sounded a bit laid back to me. But then I was reassured when you described getting back to "womanly duties" such as grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning. Before that, I was afraid that you were on the fast track to becoming an American princess. You know how we males get excited at the sound of a frying pan of a vacuum cleaner. It's music to one's ears...lol.
I considered applying for a position on the palace guard, so I might have access to some of the home cooking being done nearby. Not bad work if you can get it...lol. Seriously though, I am thrilled to hear you are doing so well. You are a constant source of joy and incouragement to many on this site. God Bless you and continue to provide for your complete recovery.
Fondly,
Tom
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12-28-2006, 11:16 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: So California
Posts: 223
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happy for you
MaryAnn:
I have been reading your posts and looking forward to hearing that you continue to do well. You are an incredible human being, having been through so much. You continue to fight with a strong spirit and are an inspiration to anyone, even those of us w/o cancer. It is so wonderful to read that things are going so well for you. Please continue to post with updates. I pray for all the best for you and your family.
__________________
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
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12-30-2006, 07:29 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Clutier, Iowa
Posts: 61
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Maryann,
I'm in agreement with every post I've read saying that you are beyond courageous, you give me and others strength through your courage with all that you have been through. It was wonderful to know that you were able to go home for Christmas and enjoy your family through the holidays. May your strength continue each day in the new year and enjoy your foot soaks, naps and seeds! A congratulations toast will be in your honor for being a strong 7 year survivor when I ring in the New Year at midnight tomorrow.
Sue
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