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Old 10-21-2017, 01:43 PM   #21
Laurel
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Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Karen,

It is very brave of you to tackle that old "Everest" from your past! I am betting you will surprise yourself and enjoy the challenge. It is nice to hear you are well and settling into retirement life. Those second chapters in our lives can be wonderful! Good luck with the class!

Laurel
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Smile On!
Laurel


Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara

15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....

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Old 10-21-2017, 03:52 PM   #22
karen z
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Thanks for your kind words Laurel. I decided that if I was going to start doing art again that I DID need to go back to Everest !

Class number 2 is coming up this week and I look forward to it, although I will say that some of the clss assignments in the first class (well, one in particular) was very challenging for me.

But, I am going to give this a try and do the best I can. Thanks for checking in and take good care ~~~ Best, Karen
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Old 10-31-2017, 08:01 PM   #23
suzan w
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

12 years!!! Yay for you!!! 12 years this year for me too. A nice even dozen!!!
__________________
Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year

as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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Old 11-01-2017, 06:14 AM   #24
karen z
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hi Susan,
Many congratulations. Twelve IS a very nice number and praying for more good numbers.
Take good care.
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Old 01-30-2018, 09:40 AM   #25
CutiePie
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Congratulations, we never stop counting! I'm 13 years out, fear (anxiety) never really leaves but we need to focus on today & tomorrow.
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Old 01-30-2018, 09:58 AM   #26
karen z
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hi CutiePie,
You are so right. I am still plagued (even though it is not something I think about daily, it is triggered often) by fear and anxiety. Thanks for the reminder to focus on today and tomorrow. I forget that too often. k
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Old 02-01-2018, 07:55 PM   #27
StephN
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Wink Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hi Karen,

We are still kicking after all these years. I have not taken up art classes, but wonder how you are doing putting your creative juices to work?

Staying in the "here and now" is not always so easy when we have to also plan for "tomorrow"! Take good care, as there are some very nasty bugs going around.
__________________
"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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Old 02-01-2018, 08:25 PM   #28
karen z
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hi Steph,
I have now taken three classes and really loved two (good teachers are helpful). I will keep taking art classes and have decided to initially take shorter classes to see if I enjoy the type of art as well as the teacher and then move into longer classes over several weeks. I really want to try and explore many different topics. I am lucky that we have a center with incredible classes that is not too far away from me.

At the moment I am also trying to learn Italian as my older brother recently bought a second home in the town my maternal grandparents were born. My brother and his wife are going on a work/hang out with our relatives trip in April (for three weeks!) and made me an offer I could not refuse (they are treating me to all). So we will go to Milan to look for furniture, fixtures, doors, etc. and to Cassamassima for two weeks (my brother can talk to a construction crew as a few things will be changed and I can get to meet my relatives and explore the town where my grandparents on my mom's side grew up). I am not mentioning this my brother or his wife, but I bought a three month subscription to Rossetta Stone and am trying to spend at least one hour a day (I might have to increase that!) so I can at least talk a little. My maternal grandmother never learned to speak English and I understood her perfectly as a child. So, we shall see!! So good to hear from you. Take care. K
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Old 02-07-2018, 02:48 PM   #29
StephN
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Wink Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Wonderful, life-after-breast-cancer projects! You are making great use of your time. I bet your Italian will come out of the back reaches of your memory since you are working on it. A good phrase-book may help while you are there.

Going back to your European roots will be exciting!
__________________
"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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Old 02-07-2018, 04:36 PM   #30
karen z
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hey Steph,

Jumping into retirement after teaching/doing research at a university for decades was not the easiest, even though I felt it was time. It has now been a little over a year and I am learning to (try and) relax and find out who I am without a job and what I love besides psychology. Art is high on my list. And am having so much fun learning (re-learning) Italian. I can definitely see some "savings" from all my many Italian conversations with my grandma (but, of course, I was not required to write in Italian back then and I am not finding it easy). Steph, I am SO HAPPY that I will be spending two weeks in the town my maternal grandparents were born. I CAN NOT WAIT to meet my relatives (who have my mom's and grandpa Luigi's last name). This is an incredible opportunity my brother and sister-in-law have given me and I am so so appreciative. It sounds like you are doing great and I am happy and grateful about that. Your "signature" remains amazing. I miss our rookie days in San Antonio and I miss Joe and Christine !!!!!!
Love,
Karen
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Old 03-30-2018, 10:20 PM   #31
BonnieR
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Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

I have also been AWOL for awhile. But felt compelled to check in to this place that helped save my life 11 years ago
I especially related to what Karen Z posted. Finding the courage to attempt a new, scary challenge. I also worked in psych but always wanted to explore art. In my case, it was newfound sobriety that gave me permission to try something new and be bad at it! Now I’m quite good at it!
Keep the faith
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Bonnie

Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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Old 03-31-2018, 03:33 PM   #32
Carol Ann
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,045
Re: 12 years, but who is counting?

Hi Bonnie! So glad to see you here! Glad you are doing well.

Carol Ann
__________________
July 24, 2013: "Infected" Right Nipple and benign cyst removed, pathology report revealed Paget's, DCIS, and ILC 1.25 cm, ER+/Pro+/HER2 equivocal, Grade 2 under benign cyst, previous diagnostic mammo/ultrasound said I was perfectly healthy in both breasts.

Aug 18, 2013: MRI report says Left breast is perfectly healthy "consistent with previous studies".

Sept 2013: I insist on a bilateral mastectomy anyway. Too nervewracking to let left breast remain with higher risk after 3 cancers in right, nipple in right is already gone anyhow.

Sept 18, 2013: Bilateral mastectomy, 11 right nodes removed, ALL negative BUT -- ER+/PRO+/HER2+ tumor, 1.0 cm, Grade 2 found in a piece of "grossly unremarkable" breast tissue from prophylactic mastectomy of left breast, no nodes removed.

Oct 25, 2013: 13 left side nodes removed, ALL negative, Stage 1 across the board, NO RADS needed, YAAAAY! Port also installed.

Nov 25, 2013 Begin 6 rounds TCH.

March 10, 2014 Just finished 6th and LAST Chemo today, YAAAAAY!

March 24, 2014 Echocardiogram to make sure I'm still good for Herceptin every 3 weeks.

March 31, 2014 Echo results NORMAL, first Herceptin all by itself. Now if only my eyes would stop streaming from the Taxotere ... :)

April 21, 2014 Started Arimidex and therapy for "mild" lymphedema in left hand and arm

May 2014 Therapy completed, I have sleeves and gloves for both arms, a Flexi touch lymph pump to hook up to for an hour every day, and I've become an arm bandaging expert. :)

June 2014 Begin Fosamax to prevent osteoporosis; bone scan revealed osteopenia

Nov 17, 2014 FINAL Herceptin!

Dec 4, 2014 My right thigh muscle has been extra achy for days ... I discover a blister rash cluster on the side of my right thigh while taking a shower. Port appointment cancelled until Dec 17, my doc is working me in tomorrow afternoon to see me and the rash. My muscle at least feels less achy.

Dec 5, 2014 Yep, I have shingles. Boo! I start acyclovir and also have a prescription for a painkiller just in case for over the weekend.

Dec 17, 2014 Port is OUT!

January 2016 Shingles again and this time it started where my left breast (where the hidden HER2+++ tumor was!) used to be. My onc nurse got me a same day appointment to see my doc when I called and told her I had a rash on the site. The antiviral meds are working once again, though, so that is good news. :)
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