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12-08-2006, 08:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Bad time of year to be sad
Not that anytime would be better, but I had lunch with my best friend from high school today....we have remained close over the years...we are like sisters. She was diagnosed 1 month ago with brain and lung cancer....seeing her today made it all so real...she went through gamma knife, brain radiation and is now on chemo and radiation...alot of hugging and crying for the 2 of us....she was there for me when I was diagnosed, and now I need to be there for her.....so many tears, but before we left, we both had a good laugh wondering who we "pissed off" or what did we both do wrong to deserve this fate of having cancer! It turned the tears into a smile and a laugh....we have always done everything together, why not the cancer journey!
__________________
"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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12-08-2006, 08:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sheila,
I'm sorry to hear that your dear friend now has cancer. You were fortuante to have her there when you needed her. Now you must be there for her. I'll keep her in my prayers.
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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12-08-2006, 08:10 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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There is absolutely nothing in the whole wide world as precious as those very special "sister" friends!!! I'm glad you have each other in the midst of turmoil.
__________________
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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12-08-2006, 08:27 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 290
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Special bonds
Sheila and all,
The one thing I have noticed over the years as I have seen friends and family dealing with cancer, is the difference between men and women with respect to how they choose to cope. When women are diagnosed and undergoing treatment, they always confide in each other and lean on each other for emotional support.
When men are dealing with cancer, they go into hiding and fail to find any comfort or support from other men or women for that matter. It is almost as if they were ashamed of the diagnosis, or that they weren't "strong enough" to avoid the disease. I have never understood that. When my barber was suffereing from lung cancer, he never said a word at first. Then, after years of bugging him about his horrendous smoking habit, he finally admitted it to me when he actually developed lung cancer. He only spoke of it when I was the only one in the shop. I offered as much advice and incouragement as I thought he would allow. We had spoken before his diagnosis of how my Father had succumbed to cancer, so I guess he felt I would be at ease with the subject.
I can only hope when my turn comes some day, that my male friends will be supportive and willing to listen to me reach out for conversation. I have a bad feeling that they won't however. Boys will be boys I guess. In men's minds, it is somehow unmanly to have cancer, as it makes us vulnerable and mortal. Perhaps I will come here for my comfort, as I doubt I will be disappointed or find myself fighting alone. I have the greatest respect for all of you here, for the way in which you reach out into the vapor to comfort total strangers with your own personal stories and advice. It certainly has met the world to me and Mom. Take good care this Christmas season and God bless you all.
Humbly,
Tom
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12-08-2006, 09:41 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Sorry Sheila, I know it must hurt. I hope your friend can find a good online support group like ours. Tell her we all sent our prayers and hugs her way. BB
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12-09-2006, 06:58 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Sheila
On Wednesday I will give you a real hug but know I am sending hugs your way today.
__________________
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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12-09-2006, 03:32 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Dear Sheila
friendship is so precious - its at these times we realize it. your friend is lucky to have you - you are very supportive to us.
love
linda
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12-09-2006, 04:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Shelia, I am so sorry to hear the news about your friend. As difficult as this is for all involved...its nice that she has someone like you that she is close to that truly understands what she is going through. As we know support is so important at a time like this. It sure sounds like she has been through alot already...thank goodness you can be there for her. Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on. She is really blessed to have you in her life.
I'm sending you both a big hug...and please let your friend know you will both me in my thoughts and prayers.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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12-10-2006, 02:01 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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Sheila, I am so sorry to hear about your good friend. It is a shame that you have to have cancer in common but thank G-d you have each other to rely on for support. I received so much by having my close friends around me and behind me while going through my cancer treatment and recovery. There is nothing like a really good friend during times like this. I would have been lost without my circle of close friends. I am praying for her and you.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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12-10-2006, 02:24 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: (Hill Country) Texas
Posts: 72
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Sheila,
I'm sorry to hear about your friend's dx. It will help her so much to have you there with her through this. A good friend of mine was dx with breast cancer 5 weeks after I was. We went through most of it together including most of the same drs. This really helped. Prayers are with both of you.
__________________
Jackie
Stage II, Grade 2, DX 4-05
EP +, HER2 +++,
1 node+, 1.6cm
46 yrs. old at time of dx.
Completed Chemo 11-05
Completed 1 yr. Herceptin 8-06
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12-10-2006, 06:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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Sheila I am sorry to hear about your friend and as it has been said here already she is fortunate to have you for a friend. There is nothing like a friend who has been there done it! Both can travel this journey and understand each other and say anything they wish not worrying about upsitting the other. Another hug on Wednesday. Sending you you one tonight and see you Wednesday. 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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