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Old 10-16-2007, 04:56 AM   #1
Christine MH-UK
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Posts: 414
Diagnosed high-risk four years ago and no recurrence

I thought that my story might encourage some people who are newly diagnosed.

Four years ago today I was diagnosed with a high-risk breast cancer: er-, pr-, her2+, eight out of 19 nodes after pre-surgery chemo. Oh, and I had been diagnosed six months after having had a baby, which is also a very bad thing in terms of survival. The member of the surgical team tasked with giving me my results was optimistic until he realised that I had already had chemo (FEC which is good, but failed for me). When my husband asked my prognosis, the surgeon evaded the question and I didn't want to know anyway, since I knew the odds were dire. The only optimistic thing one nurse could think to say to me was that breast cancers as aggressive as mine always came back fast, so I would know sooner rather than later whether the treatment had worked! She mentioned that I might live to see my one-year old start school if I got on the herceptin trial, only to announce soon after that that trial was closed. Children start school at 4 in Britain, so I was devastated. Trying to keep optimistic, I once pointed out to my oncologist that at least I had a grade two cancer, only to have him respond back that my cancer was a grade two but it acted like a grade 3.

Fortunately after I had surgery my oncologist gave me taxotere, which was unusual in Britain at the time. I also started saving my money to go anywhere where there was an approved anti-her2 vaccine (which I optimistically thought would come out very soon), but it meant at least when the Hera results came out I had the funds to start late herceptin.

Four years on, I am still around despite the odds, with no sign that the cancer has come back. Because I had to go back into treatment late and became very tired on herceptin, I am just now getting everything back into order, but am doing well.

Of course, when I started my treatment back in October 2003 so much less was known about how to treat this type of cancer. I am amazed by the progress that has happened in the last four years. I hope that you have found this story encouraging.
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Old 02-25-2008, 06:07 AM   #2
Madge
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Location: Columbia,SC
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Awesome!!! Thanks for sharing--it does give great hope!!
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Old 02-27-2008, 04:54 PM   #3
ehall2265
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Location: Spring Hill, Florida
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Thank you

Thank you for your encouraging story. I was diagnosed 10/18/2007. Am very fortunate that I can have the Herceptin therapy. Will receive this therapy for a year. Also on clinical trials for chemotherapy because my cancer is aggression as mentioned. Clinical trials in 2nd phase. Although I'm 54, I still feel I'm in my 30s. Working fulltime through all this. I live in the States, Florida.
Ellen Hall
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Old 03-01-2008, 09:30 AM   #4
goops
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It is great to see someone with such a poor prognosis beat the odds. It gives encouragement to people like me who are still in treatment. I can't tell you how sick I am of the words "high risk".
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May 2007 - Stage 3A, 12 positive nodes, her2 positive
July 2008 - Stage 4 - Liver Mets

Help my city grow:

http://goopsville.myminicity.com/ind/
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Old 04-08-2008, 10:28 AM   #5
lkc Gumby
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Posts: 437
Christine , Thnaks for posting this!
Eileen & Goops, Next month I will be " out " 3 years from a BADDDDD dx.
12 pos nodes, lymph & Vascualr invasion, er/pr neg HER positive,
blah, blah, blah blah.....
I am fine!!! and you will be too.
Have faith and surround yourself with positive people. Be kind to yourslef. Treatment is hard, but you will get through it!!
God Bless!
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Linda

Dxed Stage IIIC May 05, 12 pos nodes
er/pr -neg,Her -pos
LVI
Right partial mast & partial axillary dissection-June14,2005
Right modified mast-no clear margins- June 30, 2005
DD AC x4
Taxotere X4 with Herceptin
Rads x 35( 5 fields )
Left prophylactive mast( atypia & hyperplasia found ),
put on Tamoxifen x 1 yr; D/ced due to endometrial thickening
bilateral recon (saline implants)May 06
Nipple recon July 06
metformin 2010
removal of implants due to severe encapsulation, insertion of gummies 2013
Reclast Q yr
NED!!!
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Old 04-19-2008, 06:18 PM   #6
harrie
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Wow, YES I did fine this thread encouraging!!! LOVE reading threads like this one!!
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*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE

1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen

2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy

2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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