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12-16-2006, 10:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Colorado
Posts: 131
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Light a candle for Lisa tonight
Angels -
News is not good in Colorado right now. After an absolutely terrible night spent with the home hospice nurse, this morning we had to move Lisa into in-patient hospice. In short, her bowels, intestines, and stomach have all stopped functioning and we are left with only alleviating her pain and misery. As I type Lisa is getting the first real sleep she has had in several days/nights - all in a super-dosed morphine induced haze.
The doctor has given us a prognosis of "days" and we are gathering friends and family to the hospice center. We can no longer provide her with any food/drink as anything that goes into the stomach worsens her condition.
Please light a candle for Lisa and remember her courage and love. Carry on her fight! She loves all of you and would be typing to you all now if she were able.
I wlll to my best to keep you all posted but my greif comes in waves and I am so numb I cannot promise much.
Love and Light
Mel
__________________
Mel Gordon, Husband of Lisa Lowe - Queen of Love and Light and the bravest person I know!
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12-16-2006, 10:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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so sorry to hear this, Mel. I have lit a special candle for you both.
__________________
 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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12-16-2006, 10:27 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Oh Mel and Lisa, I'm in tears reading your missive. Words are inadequate to express my feelings, but you are both in my prayers tonight.
Love and Light.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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12-16-2006, 10:32 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Mel, Finding the right words at a time like this is so difficult, if not impossible. I just want you to know how truly sorry I am to hear this. I can't even imagine what Lisa and you are all going through right now. This just breaks my heart to hear such news.
I will certainly have you all in my thoughts and prayers.
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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12-16-2006, 10:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Candle is lit. So sorry. I'm having a hard time with words. Don't worry about posting for us. Do what you need to do. Bev
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12-16-2006, 10:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Mel,
I don't know what to say but rest assured Lisa will be in my prayers. I can only imagine the pain and anguish that you and the family are now enduring. I will pray for a miracle.
__________________
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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12-16-2006, 10:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Power outage
Mel -
We are experiencing a long power outage and the oil lamps and candles have been lit since you first posted about Lisa. I have been calling them "Lisa's lights."
I am now at my sister's where they have power, but left one lit when we left our house. I had hope for Lisa.
This is undoubtedly the worst time in your life, and we appreciate a few moments to let us know what has happened.
Sending you both all the love and light we can muster.
__________________
"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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12-17-2006, 02:06 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 290
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God bless you Mel for the boundless love and caring of your dear Lisa. I pray that He will give you both strength as you walk this difficult path together. Remind her how much we here all love her.
Sincerely,
Tom
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12-17-2006, 02:12 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 14
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Lisa
So sorry to hear the news. Will lit the candle and think of Lisa, you and the whole family. Love and eternal peace.
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12-17-2006, 02:27 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: melbourne, australia
Posts: 267
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Mel and Lisa, thinking of you in this hard time.
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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12-17-2006, 02:56 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Mel...
nothing I say could take away your grief so I won't even try. Lisa has been such a GREAT source of support and love to many (she has ALWAYS held a special place in my heart). My prayers will continue with her, you and your family and friends. Take care and God bless.
Rhonda
__________________
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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12-17-2006, 03:07 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Done!
...And I'm so sorry to hear this news.
I pray Lisa will be comfortable and free of pain.
Thinking of you both at this sad time.
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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12-17-2006, 03:42 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada
Posts: 116
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My candle is lit. Our house is now full of of light and love.
My condolences to you Mel.
Merridith
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12-17-2006, 06:54 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 29
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Our thoughts are with Lisa, family and friends. Candles are burning.
Steve and Sarah
__________________
Sarah's history:
DX Sept 03 Stage 2B Grade 3
BRCA 1 positive
RT Mastectomy
4 cm lobular 1+node ER-/PR- Her2+
chemo 2004:
4 cycles AC
4 cycles Taxol
herceptin 2004-2005
june 06 stage IV: lung, bones
weekly taxol
1/3wk herceptin
Oct/November 06: new primary left breast
ductal 4cm+
mastectomy
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12-17-2006, 07:57 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Hilton Head Island, SC
Posts: 279
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I am joining in with everyone here as we lift you up.... Thanks to you both for being such a wonderful supportive part of this site.
candle is lit here in NC...kim
__________________
Kim
Diagnosed 7/05
Stage 3a er+(45%) pr+(68%) Her2+ (40%)
3.8 cm + .8cm multi focal - pleomorphic lobular tumors
high grade DCIS
7/20 nodes
BRCA 2 positive as of 5/07
surgeries: double mastectomy, hysterectomy (LAVH)
A/C,Herceptin for 1 year completed 11/06
femara
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12-17-2006, 08:05 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 250
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I'm heartbroken to hear all that Lisa and you are enduring. I'm lighting a candle for Lisa, and wishing the both of you some peace and comfort.
Jen
__________________
dx 4/05 @ 34 y.o.
Stage IIIC, ER+ (90%)/PR+ (95%)/HER2+ (IHC 3+)
lumpectomy-- 2.5 cm 15+/37 nodes
(IVF in between surgery and chemo)
tx dd A/C, followed by dd Taxol & Herceptin
30 rads (or was it 35?)
Finished Herceptin on 7/24/06
Tamox
livingcured.blogspot.com
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." -- Helen Keller
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12-17-2006, 08:06 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Mel, your courage is amazing to me. I light my candle to you both with love and light, as much as I have in me. May God bless your faithfulness and may He come for Lisa in His perfect timing. May the angels surround you with love and strength. Thank you for being 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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12-17-2006, 08:17 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Posts: 127
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Candle is lit. I pray that her suffering will end. She deserves peace now. My heart is breaking. No one deserves this kind of suffering. We have to continue the fight to find a cure.
God bless you Mel. - kim
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12-17-2006, 08:51 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 312
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Mel
Lisa has always been an inspiration to me. The two of you still are. May she go peacefully knowing how much she was loved by those left behind.
I will light a candle.
Janet
__________________
Janet
Endometrial Cancer 2002
Mammogram 11/2004
Lumpectomy 12/2004
Stage 1, 9mm DCIS, grade 2, Her2+++, ER/PR negative
Refused A/C as recommened by two oncs.
35 treatments of radiation that ended March 4, 2005
Changed oncologists and began
Taxotere/Herceptin August 2005. Finished Herceptin July 2006
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