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09-19-2014, 01:45 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES!
w/home in Boca Raton, Florida
Orig from L.I., N.Y.
Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
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Re: ANDIBB's Birthday
Well, I finally got here. Back to the site.
Life has been wondrously exploding all around me.
First -- thank you all for your loving wishes! I truly appreciate you all and hold each of you close to my heart, even when I am AWOL. I swear...
In '95, before my 51st Bday, I was given the impression I had a yr or so to live. 4th stage breast cancer. My attitude was immediately, I KNOW I will survive. I lived with joy and peace, through the mastectomy and the surgeries, through the chemo, baldness, nausea and feeling like I had the worst flu ever for 9 mnths. I said, Don't call the funeral home yet. I plan on living. Anyway.
In '98 the bc recurred throughout my liver. I lost it for 3 long mnths, but charged forward anyway. Now, they were testing for the HER2 gene. I was 80% positive (that's how they tallied way back then). I began Taxotere. Yes Taxoterror one of you told me once. So true. Killer. Herceptin wasn't yet approved by the FDA in Aug of '98, when I metastasized B U T -- Sept 28 it was fast tracked for metastatic bcers. YAY!
As many of you know, I spent 10 yrs on Vitamin H. I HAVE NOW BEEN FREE TO BE for 6 yrs......!!!!!!
When I turned 60, I had a wedding I had to be at in Cali. We planned a vacay after that to Hawaii (half way there from Fla). I had it in my head that I wanted to go parasailing and get as close to God as I could, so I could shout THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!
I am not an adventurous Soul. Not an amusement park person, which is like putting your big toe in the cold pool. I don't do the roller coaster. I find the merry-go-round and reaching from my horse for the brass ring a truly daring feat.
I used to think anyone parasailing was insane. I'm not that trusting.
But I saw close up on TV how serious those harnesses are. I also wanted to go on a helicopter (though terrified of flying) b/c I saw these pp flying in one over Hawaii on the same TV show. They were looking down over a volcano. The guy commented with wonder, 'I never knew that color orange existed!"
I can never get that phrase out of my head. So awesome to discover new colors of the world!
Now, still living my dream I remain in remission since '99! Honerstly, I thought I'd never get to live to experience entering the new millennium on my bad days!
And look at me now. I just CELEBRATED my 70th Bday...! Life is such a gift. I truly cherish each moment, and each person, that has blessed my life.
My my journey inspire you my dear Sisters...
With much love,
Thank you all again for the surprise greetings. Thank you, Jackie for alerting me. Been partying since September 3rd, truly.
Every day is a reason to celebrate, right!!?
XOXOXO,
Andi
__________________
Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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09-19-2014, 08:49 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
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Re: ANDIBB's Birthday
You are such a wonderful inspiration to us all Andi! Thank you!!
You're right, every day is a reason to celebrate!
Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.
Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".
Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.
Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.
Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.
Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.
March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!
March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.
March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)
April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm
May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)
June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia
Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!
Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.
Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.
Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!
January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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