I became a reluctant member of this club no one wants to join...
Stage IV since my primary diagnosis, 105 rounds chemo, countless infusions of the life-saving Vitamin H, having sacrified parts of my body, my hair on more than one occasion, but never my Hope.
And now 8 recurrences later, my hair restored, my body reconstructed & my liver regenerated, I am by the Grace of God, surviving and thriving and a proud member of this Changing Face of Stage IV BC Survivors.
I wish I could say NED was here, close by my side, rather than on the cusp of making a choice for yet another treatment to beat the monster back. But he's a fickle one, that NED, yet I will gladly welcome him back into my life, at any moment he should choose to show up, for any amount of time, always praying for more.
Among the ironic blessings that have come hand in hand with this diagnosis, are all of you. Strong, courageous, compassionate human beings, who lead by example and ecourage with the softest, kindest place of your hearts.
I am so grateful for the lifeline you all have thrown me, on so many occasions & on any given day, and pray that I contribute at least 1/2 of the generousity I've received.
Thank you for always offering me a soft place to fall and your inspiring patience as I search & find my fight again, each time.
7 years ago, I knew from the moment I heard those fateful words, "It's cancer," that my life would never be the same. But somehow, even through the earth-shattering fear, I knew that I would be blessed. I didn't know how or what that blessing would look like...
I do now.
Still Keeping the Faith.
God bless all of you~
Jessica
Dx - 5/17/2002 @33yo ;Stage IV - IDC + liver met;
Lumpectomy, 12/12+ nodes; er/pr-, Her2+++
Tx1 - Navelbine+Herceptin x 8 wks; No response, progression - single liver met to "innumerable/immeasureable"
Tx2 - ISIS 2504 - clinical trial x 6mos
Taxol + ISIS (continuous IV);partial response.
Tx3 - Taxol+Herceptin x 13 weeks
NED 
NED 9/11/03-9/17/04, then single liver met recurrence.
9/04-Recurrence 1- Taxol+Herceptin x 4 weeks prior to RFA, but NED again, cxl RFA.
12/04 -Recurrence 2 - single liver met
1/05 - RFA - partial response
2/05 - Abraxane+Herceptin x 9 weeks;No response due to improper dosing(?)
3/05 - Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin to NED again.
11/05 - Recurrence 3 - same single liver met
12/05 - Right hepatectomy-55% liver removed. Success. NED in liver ever since.
2/06 - Recurrence 4 -single lesion in L breast again
3/06 -excisional biopsy. 1cm IDC, extensive high grade DCIS.
No tx due to liver still healing post hepatectomy, follow with Herceptin & scans to keep an eye on DCIS
12/06- L mastectomy w/ reconstruction 3/07 & 8/07
10/07 - Recurrence 5 - Supraclav nodes
Tx4 -Gemzar+Herceptin, til NED 3/08.
9/08 -Recurrence 6 -Supraclav nodes again.Rads1 - x 7wks
10/08 - Acute Renal Failure - ICU x4 days, hospital 1 week,
stents in ureters/kidneys x 4mos.still no known cause???
10/08 - Recurrence 7 -Sternal nodes; supraclav -NED
Tx5 - repeat Gemzar+Herceptin; NED in 1/09; finish GH cycle to 3/09.
4/09 - PET scans shows Recurrence 8 in sternal nodes...progression while on GH cycle.
5/09 - Now what? Tykerb/Xeloda/Herceptin...still deciding.
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