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04-07-2008, 06:29 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: TN
Posts: 84
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Its me again
03/2003- breast biospy. diagnosis breast cancer. Sent to onc & labs done, port in, scans done-ready to start chemo on3/28. Found out I was Her2+++, Stage 4. Mass in breast 8cm x 10cm, lymph nodes positive in chest & under left arm. 6 masses noted in liver.
3/28-7/16/2003- On Epirubicin & Taxatere
8/03-4/04- Herceptin only
4/04-8/04- Gemzar & Herceptin
8/04-1/06- scans every 3 mos, but clear! Herceptin only
2/06-found (L) side lymph enlargement & hot on pet, along with ? nodes in back of neck
2/28-first dose of Gemzar & herceptin
3/3-had to skip dose because found out needed new port because old one had a bend.
3/7-went in hospital for a quickie new port, and found blood clots-ended up in ICU for a day on ATP and an angioplasty, along with new port
3/10-resumed gemzar & herceptin. Was suppose to do 3 weeks on & 1 week off, but took me twice as long due to low blood counts. Did a week on & a week off.
6/06-Taken off gemzar, sluggish bonemarrow, and was sick of it anyway
7/20-PET,CT, & MRI-found lymph node enlargements on CT, which were hot on PET. Also 2 Nodes in back of my neck hot on PET...but I do have a brain!
7/26-started Navalbine, and will resume herceptin on the 8th of Aug
Have a MUGGA on the 28th
7/28- MUGGA fine at 56.
8/1-Had navelbine. PAIN, &lots of it! tired, leg, arm, shoulder pain.
11/04-In the hospital for low white cells, and high fever.
11/07-Refused Navelbane...cont on Herceptin
01/2007-Scans are Clear!!!!!!!!
02/2007-brain MRI wnl...so I have a brain 
05/07-Ct's again.....not good, cancer growing again....more chemo
..............Began Abraxane along with my herceptin, once a week x 3 weeks, then a week off....
07/07-Ct's are clear again! 2 more rounds then done for now!
Abraxane until Aug 28th, then herceptin only 
In Sept we went to Florida with my grandkids...it was wonderful! Disney, the ocean, I so love Florida. I refused scans until after Christmas. I just had no desire for Chemo during Christmas!!
Jan, scans showed 2 lymph nodes under my (L) arm acting up....but they had not grown nuch, so opted to wait. Scans last Monday showed one at 3 cm & one at 4 cm. I had a PET on Friday, w/ct of my brain...results tomorrow.
I guess what I would like to say is, I have been alive 5 yrs at stage 4 Her2+++ Breast cancer, with mets to my liver initially. I am still here, for my husband, my grandkids, my 2 dachshunds (Lucy & Desi) and my wayward kids. I have a little hair....lost it with the Abraxane. I did ask my doc why I could come back as a cute skinny blond after chemo...there needs to be some outward benefits!!!
God has been wonderfully good to me in these 5 yrs. I am here.
__________________
3/2003-Dx'd Stage 4 Her 2+++
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Dum spiro spero (Latin: while I breathe I hope)
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04-07-2008, 08:00 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Dede
Here is hoping that your latest Pet and CT are good news...just wondering why not the MRI which is better for visualization of the brain....Sorry about the hair loss...but so much better for the warm Florida weather....I feel like the stork dropped me off in the wrong state...I love Florida.
I myself feel that quality of life is important, and it looks like yours is good!
__________________
"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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04-07-2008, 08:20 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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I wish you 5 more years x 5. There's no reason why Stage 4 can't go NED for many years. There's no reason why Stage 4 can't be cured. There just isn't. If we aren't there today, I'm certain we will get there soon.
__________________
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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04-07-2008, 08:52 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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What a positive, uplifting post. Thank you for that and thank you for the reminder that although lfe may throw lemons at us .... it's up to us to make lemonade............it's an old cliche' I know - sounds kind of corny - I know that too - BUT - it's damn true. Life can be glorious regardless.
Good for you and may God's Hand of Joy and Peace continue to rest upon you dear sister.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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04-07-2008, 03:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Dede I just love your atittude and you are an inspiration to many here,thank you for sharing and here's to another five years!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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04-07-2008, 09:11 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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Your post gives me hope and inspiration. All of you have helped me dispel my own misconceptions of what cancer was like when i was first diagnosed.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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