Checking In
I wanted to say 'hi' to everyone (old and new). I hate to come back every few months and see more of our sisters gone. I do, however, like to be able to come back and say that I remain NED, and hope that provides hope to others.
I am 7 years out from my surgery date with NED, so that's excellent, but every few months I have something else serious raise its ugly head. I turned 50 this summer, and realized I have been seriously sick for 10 years with one thing and another.
After acute pancreatitis in January, and debilitating fatigue since, my new GI suggested treating my Crohn's more aggressivley, so I have begun Humira. (I had been reluctant because there is very small chance of lymphoma - oy). I am still tired but not unbearably fatigued, so I'm calling that a good thing.
Winter is never a good time for me emotionally, so I've been happy about the relatively dry and mild fall in NJ (near NYC), and fingers crossed for more of the same.
My aunt (a young 67) who had stage 1 in 2006, when I had stage 3, has recurred with stage 4, mets in liver, lungs and bones. She is not HER+, so she's on taxol and avastin, which has stabilized her. She was hoping her mets would shrink (and disappear) but apparently that is not reasonable at this stage.
Wishing you all love and light for the winter days (Northern Hemisphere), and for spring to come quickly!
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Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++
Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense
11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left)
Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07
33 Rads
Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier)
Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause
BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family
survivor of thyroid cancer
also have Crohn's disease
CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13
dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35
1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me?
9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again
B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation
Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years?
4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease
5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year
6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.
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