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Old 01-25-2017, 09:40 AM   #1
Paula O
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No Mo Chemo!

Hip Hip Hooray for this No Mo Chemo milestone! It's a relief to be done with the chemo part, hopefully for good. This treatment was for my second primary run in with Triple Positive Breast Cancer. The first diagnosis in the other breast was 12/2010 with treatment that time of a mastectomy, Carboplatin, Taxotare, Herceptin, radiation, hormone blockers.

This time after my second mastectomy my chemo drug was changed and protocol altered due to a reaction (Went from Taxol to Abraxane), a skipped dose because of a low white count, and shortened because of neuropathy. We all know the nature of this beast: am hoping that this was enough along with Herceptin for 9 more months and no more chemo is ever necessary again and a NED status is for keeps. If it dares to rear it's ugly head again though, I'll do what I gotta do just like you guys.

I was poking around in my blog this morning--a place that I've journalled my journey over the years and pulled the below from the archives. Here's two poems I posted in my blog and here a couple years ago that I'll re-share in celebration of my milestone today---hope you enjoy:
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This one was written by Nancy Emerson:

Today
Breathe deep
Talk slow
Walk soft
Let go
Give big
Take less
Don’t count
Just guess
Act fair
Think long
Laugh loud
Hug strong
Plan bold
Dream far
Feel loved
You are.

“In 1985 when Nancy Emerson was diagnosed with breast cancer, her doctor gave her a life expectancy of only two years. But that grim statistic did not take into account Nancy’s indominitable spirit. In fact, that year Nancy was just beginning a remarkable and inspiring journey across almost two decades and becoming an extraordinary spokesperson and champion, advocating for patient rights, lobbying to secure more funding for cancer research and treatment, and supporting and encouraging other cancer patients and their families.”

I learned about Nancy when volunteering for a week with http://www.LittlePink.org (who provide free retreats for families battling breast cancer) and like the message of her poem. I’m no poet but her beautiful thoughts got me in the mood to write one of my own after I read hers:

Her2 positive cancer can knock you down and keep on knocking you down and dragging you around to places you do not want to go. Get back up. be brave, and fight, fight, fight.

Insurance companies can try patience and make things harder and more wearisome than they are already or have to be. Document and keep calling, calling, calling.

Doctors can mess up or lack expertise or run out of options. Find another doctor as necessary and move on, move on, move on.

Hurting people sometimes spew bitter, spiteful poison out of hurting hearts. It’s like acid and can eat the giver and receiver alive if one lets it. Forgive, forgive, forgive.

Negativity is very toxic stuff. Be like a duck and let it roll off your back like water. Waddle on over and choose to swim in the lovely sunshine instead. Quack, quack, quack.
---------------


Here's to good health for all of us Her2 sistas!

Paula
My latest update in my blog along with a riddle that tickles my funny bone:
http://jpoliver.com/wordpress/archives/1903
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Old 01-25-2017, 11:30 AM   #2
TiffanyS
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

Congrats Paula! I remember how I felt when I was done with chemo the first time around! I hope you stay NED after you are done with Herceptin.


¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my scar. I am told that I have a “local recurrence” and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6
11/16 – Second CA-15-30 bloot test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
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Old 01-25-2017, 06:11 PM   #3
MaineRottweilers
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

Congratulations, great milestone!

The poetry is wonderful.
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Old 01-26-2017, 04:05 AM   #4
Paula O
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

Thanks Tiffany and Tracy.
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Old 01-26-2017, 10:41 AM   #5
Mtngrl
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

I'm happy for you, Paula. Best wishes.

Amy
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Old 01-26-2017, 12:25 PM   #6
Paula O
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

Thanks, Amy.

I love your new avitar. You are beautiful with and without hair.

Paula
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Old 01-26-2017, 03:28 PM   #7
Donna H
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

May Ned be with you forever! And congrats.
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Old 01-26-2017, 07:48 PM   #8
caya
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

Congrats Paula!

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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Old 01-27-2017, 04:26 AM   #9
Paula O
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Re: No Mo Chemo!

I appreciate the congrats, Donna and Caya. Thanks!

I love your "May NED be with you forever" wish, Donna H.

Paula
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