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03-03-2007, 02:27 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: LI, NY
Posts: 660
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madubois63 update March 3
January was my 7 year anniversary of surviving breast cancer, and today is my 4 month anniversary since the bone marrow transplant! Although recovery is going slow (due to my many years of fighting BC), it has been quite uneventful (a good thing). Except for the nasty cold that kept me down for a bit and the internal itches (due to the changes happening in my body) I have done pretty well. Although I never wanted to think about it, the last 4 months have been a very critical time for me. A rejection, graft v. host disease or that simple cold could have killed me; but with the grace of God, the many prayers and well wishes, the love and support of friends and family and the great doctors and nurses that I have been lucky enough to have, I am still here and doing pretty good! The last bone marrow biopsy taken showed NO LEUKEMIA, and the transplant post-testing done 2 weeks ago, showed that the transplant has taken and my DNA/RNA is more than 95% my donor. My opportunity to commit a crime as me are over, but if I commit a crime now, I can bring up reasonable doubt because there is someone else in the world that has the same DNA. Pretty strange, huh? Actually, I am considered a medical "chimera" (if your interested, see definition below). My blood type is still part B+ and part A+. I continue to receive O+ (universal for me) blood transfusions weekly, and I get tired really quickly; but I walked around the mall the other day and didn't need to sit (great improvement). I went to my daughter's best friend's sweet 16 party and even danced a little. It was really great for me, because after the big weight loss from being so sick, I fit back in to my little black dress!! My hair is growing in, and someone even complimented me on my haircut (strange). My love and prayers to all of you...
Chimeraplasty: A method of gene therapy based upon the use of a molecule called a chimeraplast, a synthetic blend of DNA and the related molecule RNA, to trick the patient's own cells to remedy a gene defect. (Many of my genes were defective)
Chimeraplasts are made to match the patient's sequence of base pairs (the molecular building blocks of DNA), except in one area, the area of the mutation (the change) that is responsible for the gene defect. There, the chimeraplasts have the correct sequence of base pairs in the DNA.
The chimeraplasts are designed to attach to the patient's DNA and activate the DNA repair system, a system that cells normally use to correct mistakes they make in replicating their DNA.
The patient's DNA repair system is tricked into treating the chimeraplast as the correct version of the DNA and changing the patient's gene to match the chimeraplast, thus correcting the mutation. (The new marrow is what has tricked my system in to correcting the defects)
The term "chimeraplast" derives from the legendary monster made up of incongruous parts. In Greek mythology, the Chimera was an awesome fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. In medicine, a person who is composed of two genetically distinct types of cells is called a chimera. This may be due to the fusion of two embryos at a very early (blastula) stage. More commonly today, the formation of a chimera is due to transplantation. When bone marrow from one person is used to reconstitute the bone marrow of an irradiated recipient, the recipient becomes a chimera.
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Maryann
Stage IV Inflammatory BC 1/00
Mod Rad Mastectomy 24nod/5+
Adriomycin Cytoxin Taxol
Tamoxifen 4 1/2 yrs
Radiation - 32 x
Metastatic BC lung/liver 10/04
thorocentesis 2x - pleurodesis
Herceptin Taxatiere Carbo
Femera/Lupron
BC NED 4/05
chemo induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia 5/06
Induction/consolidation chemo
bone marrow transplant - 11/3/06
Severe Host vs Graft Disease of liver
BC mets to lung 11/07
Fasoladex Herceptin Zometa Xeloda
GVHD/Iron overload to liver
Avascular Necrosis/morphine pump 10/10
metastatic brain tumor
steriotactic radiosurgery
Last edited by madubois63; 03-03-2007 at 02:37 PM..
Reason: mistake
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03-03-2007, 02:40 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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RE: Little black dress
I bet you looked like Audrey Hepburn's younger, prettier sister. You go, girl.
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MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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03-03-2007, 02:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Glad to hear you are getting some strength back and that your tests have turned out so well. You are such an inspiration to me with your positive, fighting spirit. Keep charging...!
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Andi
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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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03-03-2007, 03:29 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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You are truly one very amazing lady. You have been through so much and yet continue to have a great sense of humor. (Referring to commiting a crime.) lol You have hit quite a few bumps in the road and managed to stay the course. I know its been said often...but you really are a true "inspiration". I can only imagine how tough much of this has been but you have push forward and let nothing get in your way. I would like to say congratulations on your seven year anniversary of surviving. You show so many of us how much is really possible if we have faith and give it all we have to keep going.
I am so happy to hear you got to go to your daugthers friends sweet 16 party and got to dance and show off your new figure.  Sounds like you had some much deserved fun. (About time! And way past due.) Sending well wishes for many more days of good health, fun and happiness.
Hang in there. Will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Chelee
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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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03-03-2007, 03:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Hi Mary Ann! When I think of you, I think - so pretty and so much courage! Bravo for all you've fought and for sharing your hope. 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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03-03-2007, 03:51 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
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Hi Mary Anne,
Thank you for posting. I am glad that you continue to make progress in your recovery. Your story is truly inspiring.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.
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03-03-2007, 04:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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paths through the maze
It is great to hear from you Maryann and wonderful to hear such good progress. We all end up on so many different paths in the State of Breast Cancer. Thanks for continuing to post updates along your way.
AlaskaAngel
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03-03-2007, 04:45 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: .
Posts: 211
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Great news. its so great to hear from you and to know you are enjoying your life. Thanks for writing.
love
linda
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03-03-2007, 05:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Mary Ann,
You have the "Heart of a Lion"...
May God continue to look over you.
Fondly,
Jean
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Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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03-03-2007, 06:25 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Mary Ann,
So wonderful to hear from you and know that things are going well. You continue to amaze and inspire us all.
Glad you got to enjoy that " little black dress" too! Just goes to show you can always find a positive--hopefully we all can.
________
GLASS BONGS
Last edited by sassy; 08-22-2011 at 09:09 AM..
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03-03-2007, 06:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Mary Ann,
Congratulations on your seven years! Also a a big congratulations on the great progress you're making. With all that you have had to endure you have remained so positive. You are truly an inspiration to us all.
__________________
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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03-03-2007, 10:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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Thanks for the update Maryanne. You are one amazing person. I sit in awe of your persiverance.(oops, spelling). I truly believe that their is nothing you can't conquer. Here's to many more years of good health.
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~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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03-03-2007, 10:47 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Really incredible! You are a medical miracle.
<3 Lolly
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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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03-03-2007, 11:50 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: melbourne, australia
Posts: 267
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Mary Ann, great news.
i am so pleased it is going well for you. My friend's sister who had the transplant about 6 weeks ago is going really well too. FAntastic for you both as it has been such a long hard road with leukemia.
Take care
Christine
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Christine
DX Sept 03 age 40 Stage 2B Grade 3 mastectomy (after 2 prior breast conserving surgeries)
"at least" 2.3 cm 3/12 nodes ER+/PR+ Her2+++
8 FEC. Tamoxifen then Arimidex. Ovaries out.
"late" Herceptin for 2 years (18months after chemo) on HERA trial. finished Herceptin Nov 2007.
Multiple bone mets May 2012 and now liver August 2012.
Abraxne, Herceptin and Zometa.
June 2013 Tykerb, Xeloda and Xgeva
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03-05-2007, 09:33 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 624
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I am so glad to hear that you are doing well. I know you enjoyed getting dressed up in a little black dress. You have such a fighting spirit and positive outlook. I am praying that everything continues to go well for you.
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03-05-2007, 10:47 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: san luis obispo, ca
Posts: 1,150
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You have been an inspiration to me since I first started posting and I am so happy to hear of your recovery. You have been through so much and it makes me realize that we have a longer, but sunnier road to walk up. Thank you for your words of encouragement and especially your sense of humor...Love and prayers to you dear one, Vickie
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03-06-2007, 09:00 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 477
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Mary Ann,
It is great to hear from you. Thank you for keeping us posted. I wish you continued health and well being. May every day bring you more strength and joy.
God bless you and your family,
Carolyns
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