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06-11-2010, 01:39 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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I am the Survivor Speaker
At our local Relay for Life. I leave in 20 minutes. I'm "on" at approximately 6pm. I am nervous beyond belief (and didn't practice enough). It's about the lessons I learned. Wish me luck. Can you hear my knees knocking?
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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06-11-2010, 01:55 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Hi Becky,
I think you'll do a fantastic job.
All the best,
Tonya
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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06-11-2010, 02:12 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
They are incredibly fortunate that it is YOU! You are more than up to this task! 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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06-11-2010, 02:25 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 42
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Hi Becky, You'll be great and thank you for speaking.
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06-11-2010, 02:44 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 508
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Good luck, Becky! Hope it goes wonderfully well.
Barb A.
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06-11-2010, 03:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Becky,
You are a great writer and researcher. You will do great. Thank you for all the posts on this site.
Amelia
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06-11-2010, 03:17 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
I'd go to listen, and I know I'd be glad I did.
AlaskaAngel
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06-11-2010, 03:30 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
They couldn't have anyone better!
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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06-11-2010, 07:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Becky,
I know you did a fabulous job! You are a great source of info for all of us here and I am sure you speak even better than you write. I would really enjoy reading what you had to say. Please share!
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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06-11-2010, 08:04 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Wonderful no one could do a better job.
They will love you like we do!
Wish I knew ahead of time I would have been there.
Update us...
Love and Hugs,
Jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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06-12-2010, 03:55 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
You'll do great Becky, good luck but you won't need it! 
__________________
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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06-12-2010, 05:30 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
They couldnt have picked anyone better....wish I could have heard you speak Becky...the tears would have been flowing!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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06-12-2010, 07:07 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 110
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Becky,
Are you breathing yet? How did it go? Fabulously, I'm sure
Henny
__________________
Henny
Dx 3/07 IDC and DCIS Her2+ ER- PR-
Stage IIb 1/15 nodes
A/C, Taxol, Herceptin
Bilateral mastectomies with recon
Zometa 2/yr for 3 yrs- finished 8/2011
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06-12-2010, 12:19 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Well, I made it through and once I got going I was fine. I hate to say it but I knew I did a good job. I did not write a speech because then you read but I had points to make written down so that I stayed on track. It kinda went like this..
I told them I didn't want to do a speech on my story because my story really isn't more important than anyone else's whether you've had cancer or not. I told them that being a survivor has to do with being alive and if you're alive, you can live your life and impact others. And all that, and looking death in the eye makes you look at things differently. You realize that life learning is really backwards from how you learn in school. In school the teacher teaches a lesson and then you have lots of hard work - homework, studying, projects and tests but real life is alot of hard work and then you learn the lessons. So I shared the lessons that I learned. (I said more than I will write below)
1. Be who you are. You are perfect. No one is a more perfect you than you . It won't always be easy and it won't be without conflict...
2. Listen - you have 2 ears and 1 mouth and you should use them in that proportion. No one ever learned anything by talking but by hearing and seeing. There will be things you hear that you don't agree with, maybe not agree with now or ever but one day you might....
3. Embrace Change - you can still be happy even if things are different. Different broadens your horizons and your skills. You will become a better you
4. Bad things will happen but you can always think of something worse. You can't win the rodeo without a bunch of scrapes and bruises but you have to get back up on the horse. Some days it will be a slow loping horse and other days a bucking bronco but chances are, it will never be a raging bull..
5. Sometimes you still have to say yes when you mean no. All self help articles tell you the contrary but if you must, you have to take your Grandma grocery shopping once a week or to the doctor. It makes you a responsible person. Responsible people do these things. No one wants to change a poopy diaper but we do it....
6. Make time - we have all heard the old adage of a person on their deathbed looking up at their loved ones and they never say " I should have spent more time at the office". So make time to be with the people you love. Time is a precious commodity and it goes by quickly in our busy lives so spend it wisely with family and good friends. Also, do not forget to give alittle time to yourself. You can't take care of others without caring for yourself. You also need to make some time for your community (and this was my conclusion - that these people were doing that by doing the Relay for Life etc)
It went very well and I was very happy with it. I lost my nervousness almost immediately and the whole thing flowed. I just had a piece of paper that said the "cue" words. I knew what I would say.
I should have told you all earlier!!!
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
Last edited by Becky; 06-12-2010 at 12:22 PM..
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06-12-2010, 12:53 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Well, as we all knew, you did wonderfully. You brought me to tears just reading this. You're AWESOME.
Tonya
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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06-12-2010, 05:30 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Great talk with good points for everyone.
Congratulations
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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06-12-2010, 05:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Well done, Becky.
If ever I'm invited to make a speech on being a survivor, I'm going to start with: "One of my on-line support group members did a speech the other day. Here are the points she had shared with us ..."
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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06-12-2010, 10:31 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 343
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
I knew you would do a great job! Congrats
__________________
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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06-13-2010, 04:11 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 170
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Awesome as usual. Now you will be relaxed the NEXT time you give a speech.
__________________
Nov. 2006-IDC with Her2 +++
A/C for 3 rounds
Dec. 2006- Herceptin and Taxotere
March 2007-MRM with 8 of 14 lymph node involvement
May 2007-36 Rads
Sept. 2007- Stopped Herceptin
Jan. 2010- CT scan shows enlarged lymph nodes in sternum and lung involvement
Feb. 2010-PET scan shows mets to liver, lung, lymph nodes and bone
Feb. 2010- Started Herceptin/Taxol and Zometa
April 2010-PET scan clear. Herceptin and Zometa
June 2010- Stopped Herceptin continue Zometa and still NED
August 2010-Back on Herceptin and Zometa every 3 weeks
August 13, 2010- Had another port placed
August 24, 2010- PET scan clear. Herceptin and Zometa every three weeks
Nov. 2010-PET scan clear
Feb. 2011-Brain MRI clear
March 2011- PET scan clear
May 2011- PET scan clear
Sept. 2011- PET, Mammo, Bone Scan all clear- Herceptin only
March 2012-Recurrence in lungs and tumor around pota hepatis artery. Added Navelbine to herceptin
April 2012- Entered palliative care
June 5, 2012-Entered hospice care
Planning my memorial
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06-13-2010, 05:27 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: TN
Posts: 175
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Re: I am the Survivor Speaker
Thank you Becky for reminding me what is important to realize in this struggle we all are dealing with. Some times when dealing with the minutia of details involved with cancer, the important stuff can get lost in the weeds. You really seem to have figured it out.
bird
__________________
Male Breast Cancer, DX 5/15/09, IDC, STAGE 1, 1.7 cm, HER2+++, ER+(95%)/PR+(75%), Ki67 40%, grade 3, 0/5 nodes, TX: mastectomy, TCH finished 7/19/10, radiation 6 wks., Tamoxifen on going, bisphosphonate 24 mos.
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