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09-15-2008, 03:27 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: melbourne, australia
Posts: 267
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5 year cancerversary
Tonight is the night 5 years ago that I got a call from my breast surgeon to let me know that he was surprised to find my lump was a lymph node with breast cancer attached. As usual I had let the call go to the machine at 8.30pm, but when I heard JC say "Hello this is JC I am looking for MRS Lee" I jumped up and ran for the phone. Then I went into my room and he explained it to me. I remember feeling that intense heat/electric like shock, and had to sit down. I know people think it is bad being told over the phone but he wanted to get me in earlier than planned, like 7.45 the next morning. He had actually spent quite a bit of time trying different combinations of my phone number as the hospital sticker was incorrect! Of course they couldn't see any sign of the primary so I had to have core biopsy later in the week to try to find the primary tumour. After a bit of guessing and 4 cores they did find it but of course, as I was to find out further down the track, they still couldn't see its boundaries. So partial mastectomy and clearance followed by a wide local excision, which was then followed by a mastectomy. Of course that was the easy bit and there was much more treatment to follow.
It all seems so long ago now but still such a big part of my life. It is not something you just forget. I now feel pretty confident that I will get to see my daughter go to high school in 2012.
Take care
Christine
__________________
Christine
DX Sept 03 age 40 Stage 2B Grade 3 mastectomy (after 2 prior breast conserving surgeries)
"at least" 2.3 cm 3/12 nodes ER+/PR+ Her2+++
8 FEC. Tamoxifen then Arimidex. Ovaries out.
"late" Herceptin for 2 years (18months after chemo) on HERA trial. finished Herceptin Nov 2007.
Multiple bone mets May 2012 and now liver August 2012.
Abraxne, Herceptin and Zometa.
June 2013 Tykerb, Xeloda and Xgeva
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09-15-2008, 03:54 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Welcome to the 5 year club. You are in good company with others like, Sheila, Joan, Michelle and Jackie.
I too remember being told over the phone by my Dr's. partner because my local onc was not in the office the day my results came back.
Do go out and celebrate. High school is just around the corner, you'll be beaming!
Thanks for posting, we need to hear these joys.
Donna
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Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
Last edited by DonnaD; 09-15-2008 at 03:58 PM..
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09-15-2008, 04:04 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Christine, First of all let me say BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your 5th yr cancerversary! Talk about a MAJOR milestone. Wooo hooo!
Also...thanks for sharing that with the board because its so important to the newly dx women that find this board. Stories like yours are always so encouraging and truly inspirational. I will be looking forward to your post in 2012 about your daughter going to High School, and then again when you go to her graduation. 
I hope you are doing something special for yourself...a celebration is in order...you go girl.
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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09-15-2008, 04:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: OH
Posts: 385
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Congratulations
Christine from another 5-year member. I know how you feel, 5 years ago was a lifetime ago, but at times it still seems like yesterday. I think it will always be a part of our life, but not the ragged apprenhension it was 5 years ago. Happy to hear that things are going well for you.
__________________
Diagnosed 4/03/03, age 50
3.5 cm, 0/19 positive nodes
Stage IIA
Her2++, ER & PR++
RB Mastectomy, 4 AC,
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09-15-2008, 04:27 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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Congratulations Christine!!! It is always so good to hear
another success story.
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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09-15-2008, 04:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Marengo, IL
Posts: 518
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Vi,
I am sorry I did not include you in the list. I celebrate with you as well. What a club we have.
Donna
__________________
Donna
Crystal Lake, IL
Diagnosed 8/4/06 at age 54
Lumpectomy 8/30/06
Stage llA, grade 3, ER/PR-, Her2++
1.7 cm tumor, 1+ lymph node out of 9
Completed 4 A/C, & 4 Taxol with Herceptin
36 rads completed 5/16/07
Mammograms, 7/07 clear
fractured ribs in radiated area 10/07
Finished Herceptin 12/27/07
Mammogram,CT,tumor markers 1/08 - small lung nodules in radiated area, repeated tests 3/08 stable
Mammogram,CT ,tumor markers 6/08 stable
NED 2 years!!
3 years !!!
4years!!!!
4 years, 10 months and 8 day NED, calling it 5 years!!!
Official 5 years 8/30/2011
8/31/ 2012 - 6 years!!!!!!
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09-15-2008, 04:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Christine,
Congratulations on your five years! Great to hear that you're doing well.
Joan
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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09-15-2008, 06:35 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Congratulations Christine......The best news I heard all day. Thanks so much for sharing.
God Bless ..
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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09-15-2008, 08:06 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 154
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Glad to welcome you to the 5 year club!! I was dx Aug 23, 2003...It was funny to hear how well you could remember every detail of the call, me too . I remember I fell off my bed when the nurse told me! You too were young, i was 39 and I did get one of my children graduated last year! You will too!!!!!!
__________________
Michele Ulmer
Dx.2003 Stage 3b 35 pos nodes
Dx August 2003 Stage 3B with 35/35 nodes IDC age 39
Lumpectomy
A/C x4 Taxol x12
35 radiation tx
1Year Herceptin in trial
HER2 vaccine trial Seattle
3 months Tykerb off label
NED
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09-15-2008, 08:19 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: N Georgia
Posts: 18
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Congrats and Thanks
WOW-Congratulations!!!!!!! I am so happy for you. I know finding out is something we will never forget but you have 5 wonderful years of memories now despite all you have been through.
As a newly diagnosed (7/14/08)I want to say a big THANKS as you give me hope and encouragement-see I guess we all find a way to give back something positive in all this. We continually touch others.
I think it is so great you have set your next goal and I KNOW you will be at that graduation and I KNOW I will be reading a post about it.
Thanks again for blessing me with your milestone and I wish you and will pray for you the very best.
Celebrate today and celebrate everyday!!!! We have been given the gift to do so because we have learned not to take everything for granted and I, am learning what is and is not important to worry about.
Sorry to get philosophical- go enjoy-celebrate and hig everyone as I know they are hugging you.
__________________
Gracie's Mom's Motto:
I gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which I must stop and look fear in the face... We must do the the things that we think we cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt
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09-16-2008, 08:45 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Yess!!! Congrats on your 5 year milestone!! I'll never forget the phone call either. I am so happy that you are doing well. You give us encouragement. Thank you!
Hugs,
Lexi
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09-16-2008, 01:20 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Congratulations!!
Your news in fantastic and one we all love to share because it gives us all hope. Have a wonderful day and many more and thanks for sharing!
__________________
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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09-16-2008, 01:28 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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Happy 5 years! Celebrate doing what makes you happiest!
__________________
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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09-16-2008, 01:59 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Christine,
Congratulations on your 5 year anniversay.
Thank you for your story. You offering me hope. I have three more chemos to go.
Amelia
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09-16-2008, 05:27 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Congrats Christine on joining the 5 year club!!
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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09-16-2008, 06:21 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Just love hearing about your Big "5" milestone.
I wish you 10 more of them....
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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