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09-07-2008, 05:19 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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Wowsers ... 5 years ....Congrats!!!
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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09-07-2008, 05:58 PM
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#22
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Michelle
You know you are my hero. Keep on truckin'
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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09-07-2008, 06:41 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Michele... Your story was always the story that would get me through those earlier years when I just knew a recurrence would happen to me. Everytime I was sure that it did or would happen I'd think of your 35 positive nodes and how well you were doing. That's why people like you are so important to this board. That kind of HOPE never gets old....and always needs to be heard.
God Bless you sweet lady.....I'm so glad you are well...........what an awesome blessing!!
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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09-07-2008, 08:22 PM
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#24
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 247
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You are truly an inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your very real emotions.
__________________
Laurie
Diagonsed 8/10/06 (found own lump)at 35
Her 2 +++, er-/pr-
4 A/C 8-29-06 to 11-06
Lumpectomy, node dissection- 11/30/06
Pathology report stage IIIC
1 tumor 3 cm
10 of 15 nodes +
12 Taxol 12/18/06-03/06/07
Herceptin 12/18/06- 12/11/2007 done!!! yeah!!!
33 rads started 3/22/07, done!! yeah!! 5/07/07
Lymphedema diagonsed 2/1/07
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
port out 1/10/08
pregnant after 6 yeas of trying- due mid feb.
Ryder David Kessel Hunter born feb.6th 2009
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09-07-2008, 09:02 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 329
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So happy for you! LiveStrong Michelle!
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09-08-2008, 11:53 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Michele
Thank you for inspiring us with the hope we all are in search of. Through the time I have been here I have followed your journey, you are a trooper, a huge inspiration. Congratulations on five years, a major milestone in your life with many more to come. Hope you spoiled yourself rotten!!>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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09-08-2008, 12:02 PM
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#27
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 216
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I am so very happy for you.
Janie
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09-08-2008, 12:04 PM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Wow!
Five years!! Many congratulations Michele and for giving those of us that have come behind you hope, confidence and a determination to get to those five years too...and further 
Your story reminded me of two ladies I know from another site who have just celebrated 23 and 22 years out from cancer. They both had over twenty positive nodes and a poor prognosis at that time although neither obviously would have been checked for her2.
I find it wonderful and inspiring to read their stories,and yours and know some of us really will beat this.
Best wishes to you, have a great day and here's to another five and more!!
__________________
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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09-08-2008, 05:19 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 2,214
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Wonderful news Michelle. I am so happy to see you NED for so long.
'lizbeth
__________________
Diagnosed 2007
Stage IIb Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Pagets, 3 of 15 positive nodes
Traditional Treatment: Mastectomy and Axillary Node Dissection followed by Taxotere, 6 treatments and 1 year of Herceptin, no radiation
Former Chemo Ninja "Takizi Zukuchiri"
Additional treatments:
GP2 vaccine, San Antonio Med Ctr
Prescriptive Exercise for Cancer Patients
ENERGY Study, UCSD La Jolla
Reconstruction: TRAM flap, partial loss, Revision
The content of my posts are meant for informational purposes only. The medical information is intended for general information only and should not be used in any way to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease
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09-08-2008, 07:33 PM
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#30
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Yes Michele - an amazing milestone, especially with 35 positive nodes - truly an inspiring story for all of us...
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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09-10-2008, 11:00 AM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Not without a few speed bumps ...
Dear Michele -
I know this is a VERY significant time for you to reach this milestone of 5 years NED.
Remember when we first met when you came to Seattle for the vaccine trial? That seems SO long ago, but you were very emotional then, and SO ready to fight any way you could.
Then each trip would go better for you as the trial progressed and you had more confidence that the cancer was under control.
For those who don't know, Michele was like a tiger with cubs about getting the Mercy flights from the mid-west to Seattle for this trial. Her determination to live and see her darling children grow up was just amazing.
And here, you are - 5 years later. Looking better than ever and so much wiser.
__________________
"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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09-10-2008, 11:21 AM
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#32
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 118
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Mri
Need a little help here. I had a bone scan , then they had to do an xray on my hip. Onc just called and sadi I had to have an MRI. I am s***t terrified. I have never had one before. Should I ask for something to get me thru this, Txs, Jeanette
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09-10-2008, 01:16 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Michele, I did pretty much the same thing Sassy did. I was DX 12-05...I was googling everything I could find on her2/neu which lead me to this board. (Thank goodness!) My doom & gloom onc which was so young left me feeling hopeless even if that was not his intent.
When I ran across this board I will never forget when I found your post and then one from Audrey. I finally had some real hope! It sticks in my brain like it was yesterday. I remember telling my husband & Mother about Audrey's & your posts. When 1st dx one can never have enough hope and you gave me that. So thank you.
Now let me just say BIG CONGRATULATIONS on your 5th year cancerversary! Talk about a major milestone. Your such an inspriation, and here's to you & NED living happily ever after.
Chelee
__________________
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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09-13-2008, 07:53 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 154
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Chelee,
If you don't know this already, Audrey's post to me was the first i got from the webstie. It was just on my computer one night when i needed it the most. Then me and Audrey became best of friends!! We have met eachother about 5 times, I live in nebraska and her in ohio. Our stories were so much alike. I'll never forget the first time i laid eyes on her in the airport...then just hugging her made me feel, finally....someone that understands me, my fears, my frustrations, and that's the first time since my dx i felt a sigh of some relief. It's like meeting the sister i never had!!
__________________
Michele Ulmer
Dx.2003 Stage 3b 35 pos nodes
Dx August 2003 Stage 3B with 35/35 nodes IDC age 39
Lumpectomy
A/C x4 Taxol x12
35 radiation tx
1Year Herceptin in trial
HER2 vaccine trial Seattle
3 months Tykerb off label
NED
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09-14-2008, 12:20 AM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Michele, Thanks for sharing your story with me. I have a very good idea of how you must of felt when you got Audrey's first post. When first dx that is such a scary time and its so important to find someone that can truly understand what your going through...and I know you found that with Audrey. Talk about, "Just what the doctor ordered". lol
I don't think any of us can say this too much...but thank goodness for Christine & Joe...where would so many of us be had we not found this website and all our wonderful her2 sisters. I don't even want to think about it.
Thanks again Michele...
Chelee
__________________
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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09-14-2008, 12:23 AM
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#36
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Michele, I really enjoyed reading your story about how you and Audrey first met in person.
I can just imagine the joy.
Maryanne
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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