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04-17-2006, 04:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Latest scans, markers, etc.
Well, friends, I got the WORD today that I am "PERFECT!"
Don't take that TOO seriously, but those words from my med onc did mean good news for me. CT of chest/abdoman did not show anything new or worrysome. MUGA was up at 61 and heart function looked good. Tumor markers continue to stay low where they have been.
Only thing that was the slightest bit "off" was my calcium level, but I know what to do about that.
At my next quarterly med onc visit I will have been off chemo, after some fierce mets, for FOUR YEARS. I would never had imagined this four years ago, even though I was showing some good progress against the mets at that time. God has been very good to me.
The next thing is to pass a couple more requirements for the U of W DNA vaccine trial. I am almost "there." My med onc is all for me doing this and I think they are waiting now for a FISH test to be done on my tumor block (I was HER2 plus 3 by IHC). FISH is required by the FDA, even though I have been successfully maintained on Herceptin all this time.
Just wanted to share these happy results with you. The only thing now is to do well on my brain followups next week. But, I feel this will be fine, too.
This message lets those of you out there who are struggling along know that it IS possible to overcome your metastases and live a reasonable life afterwards.  Guess you have to have some of those stubborn ancestors' genes - they always said I got them all! And I think I am just a pussy cat .. |
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04-17-2006, 05:10 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 198
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Yeah!!!! Oh Steph I am so thankful with you that all is well....It really does give the rest of us something to hold on to!!! Thank you very much for posting It was just what I needed today!
Tammy
__________________
Dx'd Dec'01 while 6mos preg. with #4. child (30yrsold)Mastectomy/AC chemo/radiation/ Recur:Mar'04 liver mets: 3 taxol/herceptin /liver resection/3 taxol/herceptin. Cured?
Recur: May'05 spine & Hip. New onc
treatment in Mexico Feb'06-Mar-06
back to Mexico June/July '06
Currently on herceptin/Zometa/Femara-recently added navelbine
Switched to arimidex Nov'06
ovaries removed June '07
ca15-3 in May'06 was 102
ca15-3 summer of '07 holding steady at 23!
ca15-3 slowly rising Dec & Jan 36, 38, 41 and Feb was 36
Feb '08 Liver, lung & Brain scan NED... bones are stable with even a couple spots gone. as compared with '06 scans
May '08 ca 15-3 is 55. Treatment is zometa, vinorelbine, herceptin and aromasin.
No signifcant changes.
Feb'09 Started Xeloda with herceptin..no more hormonals
Feb'09-June'09 tumor markers coming down again from 155 to 84
May'09 blood clots in lungs vena cava filter put in..Heparin shots daily for now.
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04-17-2006, 05:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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I am so happy for you Steph. You give hope to all of us on the board. I also admire your wisdom and also your pragmatic approach to life. You never freak out (even when it appeared your brain mets returned) and have a steady step that I really like.
If anyone deserves a break, its you and I am thankful for your results.
Warm regards
Becky
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04-17-2006, 05:36 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 230
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Yahoooo!!!
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04-17-2006, 06:38 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 752
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Steph;
Absolutely fantastic!!! It really is just what I needed to hear as well this evening......there really IS hope and YOU are showing us the way!!!
Cathy
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04-17-2006, 07:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Congrats, Steph, on finding your own path through the maze successfully in spite of serious odds again and again. Now you can truly enjoy your travels together with joy. Thanks for putting up signposts for others to follow as you go...
DELIGHTED,
AlaskaAngel
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04-17-2006, 08:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Henderson, NE
Posts: 413
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Congrats Steph, You looked so good when i saw you last month, i knew everything would turn out ok!! Did you hear i get to go to Washington DC next weekend! Wish you were going!!!
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04-17-2006, 09:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Steph, it's amazing that you've been off chemo for 4 years now! And things can only get better if you receive the vaccine, so we'll be waiting for you post saying you've gotten the go-ahead, and in the meantime a BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your fantastic test results!
<3 Lolly
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04-17-2006, 09:37 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 285
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What an inspiration you continue to be. Did you apply for Oprah? I hope so!Muy congratulations on all your tests. And you seem pretty perfect to me!
Love and light,
Lisa
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04-18-2006, 01:47 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 95
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Congratulations Steph! I am so happy for you. You truly are an inspiration. I also have liver mets, and when I read about how bad yours were, and where you are at now, it gives me so much hope. Good luck for next week. And celebrate!!!!
Take care.
Love Lisa
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04-18-2006, 02:36 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Awesome news Steph!!!!
I am SO happy for you. Now to get such great news from all the OTHERS on the board who are struggling.
Rhonda
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04-18-2006, 04:05 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Montgomery Co, Pennsylvania
Posts: 110
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Steph, what wonderful news for you and your family! You are giving us all hope!
Maggie
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04-18-2006, 08:26 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 58
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Fantastic!
I am always so glad to see happy news here. Way to go! My last CT scan was also free & clear and I hope that, 4 yrs from now, I can continue to report the same.
Awesome!
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04-18-2006, 08:31 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 32
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Steph,
Congratulations to you and continued good health.
Ann
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04-18-2006, 08:44 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 329
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Dear Stephanie,
I'm so happy for you. This was the best news for all of us. I think you are planning for some trips now! Good for you. I'll go again in June for my Vaccine, I hope I can see you and we can celebrate this wonderful news.
Big hug,
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04-18-2006, 10:26 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 42
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Congratualtions Steph! I am so happy for you! You are an inspiration to me who is just starting this fight!
Lisa
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04-18-2006, 03:54 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 312
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I just want to ditto all the congratulations. You really are inspiirng. Thanks for all your posts.
Janet
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04-18-2006, 07:09 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne Victoria
Australia
Posts: 330
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Great news
Way to go Steph....by the way wht supplements do you take?
Cheers
Jackie
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04-19-2006, 03:51 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 202
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Steph, I think your perfect! I think that is great news. Congrats. I am so happy for you.
__________________
Take care, k
DX: 10/29/03-Stage IIB, 3/12 nodes +, er/pr-,
Grade 3
MRM: 11/07/03
TX: TCH-BRICG Study-6 tx's; 12/15/03
Herceptin; til 12/14/04
Rads: 30 days
BRCA neg
S-Gap: 12/15/04
Oct 05: LAVH
NED
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04-19-2006, 06:09 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Winchester, KY
Posts: 35
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Steph!!! What wonderful news. I will pass this along to my Mom. Your response to treatment gives her so much encouragement.
xoxo,
Britt
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