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02-24-2010, 06:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: western ma
Posts: 280
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Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
hi -
a couple weeks ago i went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in kanab, UT for a week of R&R as a gift to myself after chemo and before radiation. i've worked as a volunteer 2x a year for a week at a time for many years in a building called Kitty Motel for special needs cats. my favorites are the incontinents and the FIV+ boys. one of 'my' boys, Wrigley, was diagnosed with lymphoma around the same time i was diagnosed with breast cancer. he and i went through the same 4 months of chemo, right down to thursdays - the same day of the week. he was declared in remission within one week of me being told i am considered 'disease free'. he had a big mane of fur that he lost (plus most of his whiskers) and i had a long mane of hair. now he faces a year of less frequent chemo as i face a year of herceptin every 3 weeks. i like to think we walk 'hand in paw' through this cancer fight.
they interviewed me for an article for their magazine and a professional photographer came to my cabin the evening i had wrigs for a sleepover. wrigs has a Guardian Angel progress journal on their website and here is the journal entry this week by the woman who works in the clinic he lives in. my journal entry will come next week with the photos i took. i am not sure when the magazine comes out next but will post when it does. 
after a really lousy night last night full of uncertainty and anger and fear about cancer, it did my heart good to see this today. the cats of Kitty Motel face all kinds of huge challenges and they adapt and live their lives never obsessing about what they have to face, which is why they've always been an inspiration to me. here's to living like a Kitty Motel cat.
here is the URL to see me and Wrigs in all our post-chemo 'glory', glad to have a night out and together!
http://www.bestfriends.org/guardiana...73D6DBE27E4969
valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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02-24-2010, 07:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mesa, Az
Posts: 219
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
What a beautiful pict on the web site. To see the peace and joy in you both. Take care God bless you and your new friend
Darita
__________________
dx 1/06 IDC 2cm 38 at dx
2/06 L mast nodes 3/9+ SNB neg ER-/Pr - her2 + Stg 4 liver/pelvis
3/06-9/06Taxol/Carbo/zometa/Herceptin
3/07 6 brain mets WBR down to c-2
4/07 osteonecrosis jaw
1/08 mri new 9mm lesion right lower side
2/08 gamma knife 1 lesion 11/08 regamma
10/09 latent rad necrosis to brain met,
1/20/10 crani: lesion necrosis w active cells continue her add tykerb
1/11 NED just Ingrown toenail! YEAH GOD
8/11 Tykerb, herceptin weekly, elevated her2 levels, negative scans
oct -march 11 new neuro deficits lower legs
3/12 2 spinal metsTykerb, Herceptin
04/12 4050cGY rads T 2-4 & T7-9
5/12 Brain,cervical lumbar clear/thoracic slight decrease
10/12 t 2-4 shrunk t-9 grew start Xeloda, 02/13 stop xeloda,5/13 on metformin, decadron, Tykerb, iv and IT herceptin 5/30/13 total #11 #2 of 80mg dose weekly.
9/13 100mg of IT her, IV hern, 750 mg tykerb, 3mg dec.
last Mri T--3 SHRUNK t7-9 shrunk no edema. Left shift in CBC bone marrow BX negative.
10/13 Ct has shown Double left ureters with stones/cysts in them, after 3 births and lots and U/S iit takes cancer to figure out you have 2 smaller ureters going into 1 kidney!
12/13 Mri brain no new lesions, cervical and lumbar arthritis.
Tspine lesion at T3 stable, T 7-9 GROWTH lots of pain
1/29/14 HIHO HIHO its off to Neuro surgery I go
Life is Good when you wake up in the morning and take a breath and know that God has given me another day.
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02-24-2010, 07:34 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 343
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Oh Valerie, that is so exciting and I'm so envious. Dogtown is one of my fav shows. I love cats and had them all my life but am the owner of 3 rescued dogs now.
Before I got cancer I was a foster parent for about 8 homeless dogs (one at a time!). Right after I was diagnosed, I brought home little Peanut (jack russell, chic mix) to foster and knew within an hour she would become part of the family.
So, now I have Chloe, the bulldog, who's had cancer twice and is the elder and boss of house. She's about 9 years old. She was used as a breeder and discarded when she was still full of milk from giving birth. She didn't even know how to play.
Then I adopted Zeus, the dreaded pit bull breed, who is the best behaved of all my dogs. They tried to make him fight, he had heartworms and was afraid of everything. After some training classes, he is much better but still has to have tranquilizers during thunderstorms.
I don't know what I would do without my 3 babies. They truly make this cancer battle more bearable and make me laugh all the time. At least 2 of them are usually piled in the bed with me when I feel bad.
Animals truly can teach us how to live in the moment and they are such great therapy for me.
I admire what you did so much and truly understand what a rewarding experience that must have been. I enjoyed the pics and article very much. Maybe I could do that one day
Getting ready to start radiation soon.
__________________
Vicky
Age 47, TN, Diagnosed 05/09
Her2+, ER/PR-, Stage III, 2 tumors = 1 8cm tumor
Grade 3
Sentinel Node Biopsy-speck present in 1 node
Completed 3 month clinical trial of weekly Herceptin and 1000mg Tykerb daily
Tumor no longer present
Right mastectomy and lymph node removal 09/25/09
No cancer present at time of surgery, none in lymph nodes
Start TCH 10/15, every 3 weeks for 4 months followed by radiation
Finished chemo 01/28/10-YEAH!
Herceptin every 3 wks until end of June
Radiation begins 03/01, 6 1/2 weeks
Radiation complete--Yeah!!
Developed lymphedema after radiation
In hospital for 4 days with pneumonia:(
Herceptin done! 06/24/10
Port Removed 07/08/10
Still in PT for lymphedema and mobility issues
DIEP Reconstruction 05/11
I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it~~Maya Angelou
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02-25-2010, 02:19 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
What a wonderful post!!! We have 3 kitties, all rescued, and 2 dogs...rescued. Everywhere we go there are so many animals in need...good to hear about the Kitty Motel, and your wonderful experiences. Sign me, sitting up late with insomnia! xo Suzan
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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02-25-2010, 06:01 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
I love this. I have a serious cat allergy (asthma attack) so I've never been able to enjoy cats (I love them) Shots, medication...nothing works so I enjoy them from afar. I hope to do some work with dog rescue someday. Right now I'm overwhelmed with "people rescue"
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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02-25-2010, 07:14 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
I love the peaceful/content look in both of you. Thanks for sharing.
__________________
Jackie07
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
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"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
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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02-25-2010, 07:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
I have one dog and a cat (who adopted me). But since my granddaughter and I moved to San Antonio, 3 or 4 other cats seem to be adopting us! I love watching them. I keep food out for them and they stop by for a meal and a visit each day. One we call Tux sits in the sun with our Angel in the backyard. She's never let another cat stay near our home. Something different is happening. Most of all, it's a pleasure to watch the "goings on" that occur around all of them. They have such different personalities and habits. They are a good reminder to me to accept people and "critters" just as they are....much more interesting that way! 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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02-25-2010, 11:28 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Valerie, what a gorgous pic and I'm so glad you posted about it and these special kittys. My friend runs a cat sanctuary and turns no one away no matter what the problem and does wonderful work .
I just lost my little Harry last week to effusive FIP, as you know there's no treatment or cure and kills within weeks 
Your pic made me smile, thank you and well done for all you do. xx
__________________
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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02-25-2010, 01:11 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Valerie,
You are a special person for helping these animals. I hope you receive many, many blessings.
Where I live, people have been abandoning their kittens and cats, so my mom tries to feed them.
Amelia
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02-25-2010, 06:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Wonderful story. It just made my heart sing. The
rescue of animals is a wonderous thing and they
know and appreciate it. You have a pal and share
everything with you kitty, just great.
Take care and good luck to you both.
patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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02-25-2010, 06:22 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: western ma
Posts: 280
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
thank you very much. the release of that Guardian Angel page was just in the nick of time to help me feel better because this first week of radiation has been a really stressful time, add to it my first 3 week herceptin dose and 2 unsuccessful doc visits to stop my eye twitch. it feels like forever since i was at Best Friends. i'm pleased that the photo they took came out nice, it was scary to go so hugely public bald. the shirt says LIVESTRONG on the front, but you can't see it. however, i'm glad it was pink for breast cancer and the yellow ring around one wrist represents the yellow cancer bracelets people wear. i'll let you know when the journal i wrote is released. being with those animals was truly the best medicine. i spent 2 nights with one named Tiger whose intestinal cancer is terminal and all i can hope is that he can remember how happy those nights we spent together. he is the one in my avatar photo looking like he is smiling.
it helps me smile to see that because today i did a lot of crying. to reach radiation i have to go past the Endoscopy room where the first discovered bob's tumor and i had to tell him he had cancer. the rad doc and nurse today told me i have PTSD and that's why i am suddenly overwhelmed with a hard time. i have to figure out some way to help myself because short of going to live in that animal sanctuary.... something's gotta give.
valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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02-26-2010, 07:16 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 430
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Valerie,
I am so sorry to hear that things have been so stressful for you. Your journey has not been an easy one. I cannot even begin to put myself in your shoes. I do hope you are doing better today.
Thank you for sharing Wrigley & Tiger with us. I have bookmarked the Guardian angel page so that I can go back and check on any updates. I transformed from a dog lover to a cat lover when we adopted our daughter's rescue cat Franklin. Then a couple of years later we adopted Benjamin. I truly believe that my 2 boys (as I call them) were instrumental in helping me through my treatment. Whenever I was feeling down all it took was a snuggle with one of them to lift my spirits. That was especially fun when I had to sleep in a recliner after my reconstruction, somehow by morning, both cats ended up in the recliner with me!!
You are a beautiful woman even bald! Thanks for being such an inspiration to so many people. Bob would be proud!!!
__________________
9/15/08 (age 52) - Mammo: calcifications
9/22/08 - Biopsy: DCIS, grade 3. ER,PR status: Pos. in 75-90% of tumor cells.
10/01/08 - Ob/Gyn appt.: found complex, mostly cystic mass on right ovary - 11cmx12cmx 8cm
10/15/08 - Hysterectomy & Oophorectomy, Lumpectomy: Cyst on uterus, not ovary - all was benign. Breast - 5 of 6 bad margins. 2 Sentinel Lymph nodes removed, both negative. Stage 0, Tis, N0
12/11/08 - Mastectomy & DIEP reconstruction: Surprise! 2 cm Invasive DC, grade 2 found. One benign internal mammary lymph node. Stage 1, T1c, N0, all clean margins. ER+ (Proportion Score = 2/5, Intensity Score = 2/3) and PR+(Proportion Score = 3/5, Intensity Score = 2/3)
HER2 score = 3+
1/09/09 - Oncotype DX: Recurrence S/core of 60 !?!?! ER status is NEG!! PR staus is NEG! HER2 score = 12.2 (still positive, greater than 11.5 is positive).
1/20/09 - Started chemo: TCH
5/26/09 - FINISHED CHEMO!
1/05/10 - FINISHED HERCEPTIN!
1/22/10 - Port-a-catheter removed!
3/07/18 - Still NED
9/10/23 - Still NED
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03-24-2010, 12:05 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: western ma
Posts: 280
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
since i last posted, Best Friends put another story up about me & Wrigley written by their professional writer and they also asked me to write a journal entry on Wrigley's Guardian Angel page about our sleepover. They sure did go nuts on the photographs! here is the story David Dickson wrote in their Top News of the sanctuary:
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cf...1F620C43295C5A
and here is my funny little journal entry:
https://www.bestfriends.org/guardian...9AA47F15F91D18
i thought everybody here could use some more uplifting stories.
meow. valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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03-24-2010, 08:05 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 343
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Thanks for sharing Valerie. I really enjoyed reading both. What a special lady you are and what a special cat you have in Wrigley!
__________________
Vicky
Age 47, TN, Diagnosed 05/09
Her2+, ER/PR-, Stage III, 2 tumors = 1 8cm tumor
Grade 3
Sentinel Node Biopsy-speck present in 1 node
Completed 3 month clinical trial of weekly Herceptin and 1000mg Tykerb daily
Tumor no longer present
Right mastectomy and lymph node removal 09/25/09
No cancer present at time of surgery, none in lymph nodes
Start TCH 10/15, every 3 weeks for 4 months followed by radiation
Finished chemo 01/28/10-YEAH!
Herceptin every 3 wks until end of June
Radiation begins 03/01, 6 1/2 weeks
Radiation complete--Yeah!!
Developed lymphedema after radiation
In hospital for 4 days with pneumonia:(
Herceptin done! 06/24/10
Port Removed 07/08/10
Still in PT for lymphedema and mobility issues
DIEP Reconstruction 05/11
I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it~~Maya Angelou
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03-24-2010, 08:47 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: California
Posts: 668
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Beautiful pic!
Valerie,
What a beautiful woman you are!!
I love the shape of your face..and those eyebrows!!! Perfect.
My 2 y/o maltesse Gino is a great companion, he follows me around the house, sleeps with me and my husband, we shower together( he loves the water and enjoys the blow dryer treatment he gets afterwards).
After my husband suffered a stroke I was lonely and depressed.. I found him in the local newspapers. Right after meeting Gino-- he was only 8 weeks old, I said: "he's coming home!"
Much love to you and HUGS!
Adriana
__________________
1994 - rt brst, .lump, underarm node dissection,chemo+rad 1.2 cms, Grade 3.
28 nodes neg
Er,Pr, Positive HER2 status unknown
2003- Recur to rt lung.July 16 ( B-Day!)
Her2+++ Er,Pr, Negative
2003 - Aug04--Navelbine + Herceptin
2004- 2007--NED - Herceptin, only
2007 Feb-April Xeloda added to hereceptin
2007-May Back on Navelbine+Herceptin
2008-Feb-Mar 15 Ses Rad to Rt. Lung
2008- Oc 17 Add Tykerb to Herceptin
2009- June-- Discont Tykerb
2009 July 7--Current Taxol + Herceptin
2009 Dec--Discontinued treatment due to progression. Looking into cyberknife.
2010-Aug Accepted to TDM1, no SE, except liver count went up.
2010-2011 September got kicked out of the trial, due to a small spot found on lung.
2011- 2012 September thru early 2013 on Herceptin
2013- March Bone density shows small spot on 5th rib.
2013 - April 4th appt with onc. will post after discussing course of treatment.
2013-March-April Cyber knife to brain and radiation to rib. Chest --base line before chemo-CT-Scan stable for lung issue. CA2729 Normal.
2013 April Herceptin- TDMI
2013 Sept Herceptin + Perjeta . CA2729 within normal range. Brain and Pet scans October 31st. will post results.
2013 October Brain MRI- mixed response. Will see Onc/rad on Halloween.
2013 October/November Brain-MRI nothing new. Repeat MRI next year in May.
2013 December Continue Herceptin and Perjeta. Stable at the moment.
2014 February Brain MRI -clear!
2014 January Added Taxotere to Perjeta+Herceptin.
2014 March Stopped chemo-chest ct-scan next.
2014- March Scans shows tumor's larger, CA2729 higher. Discontinue Herceptin.
2014 April Perjeta+ Halaven
2014 April CA2729 went down 60 points after one cycle. Cough does not want to go away.
2014 June Continue on Perjeta + Halaven-- no more cough. Stable
2014 June Back on Herceptin + abraxane
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03-24-2010, 11:19 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful story and the links. Really special.
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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03-25-2010, 06:07 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Thanks for sharing, Valerie. What an amazing story and beautiful pictures.
__________________
For Nicola
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03-25-2010, 06:49 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
Thank you for sharing! Very sweet! And... I love the animals - have been trying to get my Dog Argentino, Ally pregnant for two cycles now --- but she hasn't taken. I figured I can't have kids (too late and after chemo its really too late!) but I can still have PUPPIES! :-) I keep telling Ally she needs to help me have my puppies I so want! Hoping for a good breeding in July or August when she comes back in heat.
:-) Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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03-25-2010, 08:50 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: western ma
Posts: 280
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Re: Me & the Chemo Kitty Wrigley at Best Friends Sanctuary
thank you! i just got a beautiful card from Kitty Motel at Best Friends, where wrigley lived before he got cancer, telling me how much they and the cats missed me. needless to say i cried, but happy tears. adriana - i drew those eyebrows on and worried that they were too dark! i have to thank Look Good Feel Better for teaching me to draw them. phew... cuz they're next to invisible at this point. so far the cat in my avatar, Tiger, is still holding his own against intestinal cancer. those animals taught me so much about adapting to what life throws at you. i am glad you all enjoyed the stories. valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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