|
The HER2 group at San Antonio 2012
Hello amazing group.
Here is a thread to post photos and impressions of this year's San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
I will open with a great photo of some (most) of our group with Dr. Denis Slamon. He had just moderated a great presentation on the birth, development and sequels to Herceptin. All I had to do was approach him saying we were "Joe's HER2 ladies" and his attention turned completely to us!
We were able to talk briefly and take all the photos we wished. Seems the world's top docs are all like that. Once they see that a patient is who is approaching, you get their attention. There are not that many patient advocates at this meeting, and our questions are met with thoughtful answers.
Group photo L to R: Melissa (Mel3), JoanM, AliceM, Dr. Slamon, StephN, PaulaO.
(We represented fairly closely the 4 corners of the lower 48!)
__________________
"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.
Last edited by StephN; 12-14-2012 at 08:27 PM..
|
Threaded Mode