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05-09-2007, 06:09 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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Another interesting Day on Monday!
I went in had the old port removed and a power port put in. My pain is gone in the arm and I am so far much happier with this one. The IV which had to be put in the arm infiltrated and so got a fat arm. Went to have cat scan and this was the second power port they had done so did not get it hooked up right and had contrast running down my neck and spraying in my face, and yet enough went in so my bottom felt warm! Not enough went into my body so had to give me another dose. Seems how I had dressing on the port they all got wet. Back to oncology for my chemo and the nurses were very kind to fix me up. The cat scan show bilateral large pleural effusions and both lower lobes completely collapsed. I was scheduled to get it drained next Tuesday but have gotten much worse and they pushed it up to Friday. I was told if I couldn't wait until than to go to E.R. which I will do this afternoon. I am wearing my funny socks and my green shoes for good luck. hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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05-09-2007, 06:50 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 477
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Hi Sandy,
I am sorry to hear about this recent struggle...like we don't have enough on our hands. Good idea to go to the ER and wearing the green shoes is sure to bring you luck.
Prayers and warm wishes to you for a better experience and some relief today.
Love, Hope, and Peace,
Carolyns
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05-09-2007, 07:06 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Sandy, you are a real trooper. As Kermit said, "It's not easy being green!" but your green shoes are a different story as they take you through each crisis with your spirit intact. You take everything in stride with grace and style and are a real inspiration to us. Holding you in my thoughts and prayers today and everyday.
<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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05-09-2007, 07:14 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Sandy
You have had way more than your share, you are in my prayers going through all of this....wear the green shoes and show them what a fighter you are!
__________________
"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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05-09-2007, 07:19 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Sandy...
you are hanging SO tough. My prayers and huggs are with you. Rest.
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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05-09-2007, 07:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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Sandy, Sandy, Sandy you have been THROUGH IT! I'm so amazed by you and hoping you are doing as well emotionally as your posts seem to indicate. I'm really praying hard that all this dumb stuff passes SOON and you can move back to a place of calm with treatment. Consider yourself hugged AGAIN!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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05-09-2007, 07:59 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Sandy - I am so sorry to hear of your recent developments. Those green shoes are bound to bring you luck. Many prayers are also with you that you will once again come out on top.
__________________
Andi
-- ------------------------
Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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05-09-2007, 09:07 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Sandy my dear,
You are due for a good turn of luck - and I'm hoping those green shoes and clever socks will help bring it about.
Much love and many hugs,
Chris
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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05-09-2007, 09:49 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Hi Sandy! I'll be thinking green with everyone else as you go through one more ordeal. It's time for the flowers to bloom in your valley, girl. Every time I start planning my next pity party, I think of you and so many others who keep on keeping on in the fight. I am grateful for who you are, Sandy. May God make your road a bit easier. Luv, 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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05-09-2007, 11:26 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Dear Sandy -
You are giving "living green" a whole new meaning! Do you have a hat or a green wig to go with? Maybe a little food coloring to make you look like an elf? A few lucky shamrocks as accessories?
Just am sick about your pleural effusions acting up so much and hope your medical team will find a way to resolve this problem. Severe shortness of breath is no joke.
A power port - I WANT one too. That is not what I got last time and I do think it was available. Need to find out why that is not what I got.
__________________
"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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05-09-2007, 12:06 PM
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#11
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Deceased
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Virginia
Posts: 113
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Sandy,
Sending you lots of hugs, well wishes and prayers. You have been through so much and have inspired so many. I know that with your great spirit and fighting attitude that you will come through this too. Hoping that everything improves drastically, as you most deserve it Sweetie.
Love & Hugs,
Nicola
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05-09-2007, 04:44 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 484
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Sandy, great about the power port, when I have to have mine replaced I will request a power port.
Hope things went well for you, and you got some relief.
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05-09-2007, 07:59 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 492
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Bluck- I am sorry you had to spend your afternoon in the ER. I hope you are feeling better and are able to do some sock shopping!
Take care,
Margerie
__________________
Are we there yet?
Dx 10/05 IDC, multi-focal, triple +, 5 nodes+
MRM, 4 DD A/C, 12 weekly taxol + herceptin
rads concurrent with taxol/herceptin
finished herceptin 01/08
ooph, Arimidex, bilateral DIEP reconstruction
NED
Univ. of WA, Seattle vaccine trial '07
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05-09-2007, 08:32 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 138
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Love, prayers and strength being sent your way Sandy.
Karen
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05-09-2007, 08:33 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Just click your heels and say there is no place like NED 3x.
The port thing almost sounds like someone made a boo-boo. I don't think I'd be very happy with the parties responsible.
Hang in there til Fri. Warm wishes and prayers for you. Bev
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05-09-2007, 08:47 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Terrace, Southern California
Posts: 114
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Dam Sandy...I hate that you going though this! I know how you feel and I want you to go to the ER and get your lungs drain. I wish I can be there with you. I wish you well. Love you! xoxoxo
Rendi
__________________
04/97- breast bx. diagnosis breast cancer.
05/97- radical mastectomy; 5cm tumor & 11 lymph nodes.
10/97- City of Hope, high dose chemotherapy.
11/97- 36 radiation therapy.
01/98- NED; tamoxifen.
02/02- breast reconstruction.
08/04- recurrence; mets to rt lung; thoracentesis; femara.
09/04- thoracentesis; ER/PR +, Her2+++.
10/04- total abdominal hysterectomy.
02/06- mets to 9th rib; monthly zometa; arimidex.
06/06- medi port insert; weekly herceptin.
10/06- 3 weeks herceptin treatment.
02/07- mets to liver; arimidex
11/07-liver clear
02/08-chemo taxol/herceptin weekly treatment
12/08-taxol not working
01/09-navelbine/herceptin weelky
03/09-navelbine not working
04/09-xeloda/tykerb
09/09-30 radation to neck; xeloda/tykerb not working
11/09-Gemzar/herceptin weekly
04/10-tykerb/herceptin weekly
06/10-cancer spread to left lung;stop treatment; tap
07/10-right lung collasps; TDM1
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05-10-2007, 05:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear sandy
i am so sorry you are having a rough time. not sure about what day that was but please go to er sooner- don't hold out.I have been worrying about you and have not had a chance to access email - been sick with bronchitis.Please look after yourself .
love
Linda
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05-10-2007, 10:41 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Green for Good Luck
Sandy,
Thank goodness you have those green shoes. Sounds like they are part of your battle plan. Hoping and praying for you tonight, tomorrow...and over the weekend and over the rainbow.
All the best, Catherine
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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