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09-06-2008, 07:34 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 154
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5 Year Cancerversary!!
So, it has happened. I made it to my 5 year. It is bringing up some very pent up emotions. Time has a way of healing and also a way of trying to erase fears. The fear of death. I woke up every day for 2 years, thinking, is this going to be the day the cancer returns. Day by day, then week to week, then year to year. It did not return. I want new members to see my story of having 35 postive lymph nodes and see a ray of light at the end of the chemo tunnel. Herceptin has saved my life. No one knows what will happen next week, but for now, I'm cancer free. With breast cancer, I know there is never a magic number of years we can let our breath out with a sigh of relief, but 5 years, wow. I thank God every day for Herceptin. I thank God every day for getting picked to receive the Herceptin in the clinical trial, and I thank God for this website! It truly saved my emotional life that first year of treatment. I stumbled across it one night searching on the internet for anything that might save my life. Instead, I found a life line of friends that were going through the same thing that I was, with the same kind of cancer that my oncologist told me was so "rare". Thanks Joe and Christine for starting this website!! I love you both and I love all my Her2support friends!!
__________________
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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09-06-2008, 07:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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Congratulations, Michele!!!!! And, what an awesome inspiring post! You keep on rolling!
__________________
For Nicola
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09-06-2008, 08:41 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Michelle,
I "stumbled" upon this site while searching for anything I could find on my cancer that would give me hope. The post I stumbled upon was yours, stating how you had 35 positive nodes, but were cancer free at almost two years out due to Herceptin. I bookmarked that post and read it every time I hit panic mode. You gave me such hope, that my 5 positive nodes did not doom me.
Congratulations on your five years and may they grow exponentially!
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14 YEARS NED!
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09-06-2008, 09:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
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Michele,
That is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. You ought to be a poster child for the Her-2 breast cancer survivors.
Congratulations!
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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09-06-2008, 09:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 183
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Congratulations on your Five year cancerversary!!! That is the most wonderful news!! I had no node involement, but my onc told me that normally that would be good news, but not in my case because of the Her2. Your news is music to my ears!!
It is nice to see you posting again, your posts were an inspiration to me when I was first diagnosed almost 3 yrs ago.
Thanks Michele, here is to another 5 + another 5 + plus another 5 + another 25 +
__________________
Anita
er, pr-, Her2+++
Stage 2b, grade 3
negative nodes
4 rounds AC
3 months of weekly taxol
1 yr of Herceptin
Finish Herceptin May 2007
35 rounds of Radiation
Reconstruction completed Dec 2007
Implant replaced due to infection Mar 2008
4 Years NED!!!
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09-06-2008, 09:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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Congratulations!!
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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09-06-2008, 10:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 438
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Michele,
I am so happy for you. Congratulations!
Karen
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09-06-2008, 11:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Wow Michele....5 yrs!!! Right on!! I am so happy for you!
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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09-07-2008, 05:29 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Congratulations! You are an inspiration to the rest of us!
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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09-07-2008, 05:33 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Michele,
Congratulations on reaching the 5-year mark!
Joan
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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09-07-2008, 12:55 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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So happy that you reached year 5! Keep em comin'!
__________________
dx aug 03 invasive dcis 1 cm
er/pr/her2+
bcs 8/4/03
bcs 8/21/03 0/16 nodes
tx 4x ca 36 rad tam
postmenopausal 06 aromasin
sept 07 biopsy node in neck
muga/pet/cat/bone mets to lungs nodes and liver stage iv
tx hki-272
tx not working switched to taxol herceptin
Taxol not working switched to navelbine
navelbine is causing bad neuropathy
starting gemzar
gemzar quit on me now on Ixempra due to increasing number and size of liver mets
another progression starting tykerb/xeloda
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09-07-2008, 01:19 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Southern California
Posts: 900
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Congratulations Michele! I remember a few months back when you were worried that this day wouldn't come.
Your story is truly amazing and gives hope to all of us.
Celebrate!!!!!
__________________
Gerri
Dx: 11/23/05, Lumpectomy 12/12/05
Tumor 2.2 cm, Stage II, Grade 3, Sentinel Node biopsy negative
ER+ (30%) /PR+ (50%), HER2+++
AC X 4 dose dense, Taxol X 4 dose dense
Herceptin started with 2nd Taxol, given weekly until chemo done
then given every 3 weeks for one year ending on March 16, 2007
Radiation 30 treatments
Tamoxifen - 2 yrs (pre-menopausal)
May 2008 - Feb 2012 Femara
Aug 2008 - Feb 2012 Zometa every 6 months
March 2012 - Stop Femara, now Evista for bone strengthening
********** Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
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09-07-2008, 01:35 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Your cancerversary is amazing and wonderful, but the hope you share out does all else! Congratulations and prayers for many, many more. 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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09-07-2008, 01:47 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,843
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Congratulations,
And many thanks for that wonderful message.
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09-07-2008, 02:27 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I live in Christmas, MI - located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Posts: 606
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Congratulations! I hope you have many more NED years!
__________________
Barb
10/03 Radical Mastectomy 3 cm tumor - 1/17 Nodes Stage II B, Her 2 +++ ER-/PR- 11/03 4 AC 4 Taxol 12/05 Stage IV - Lung met , Bone mets - Carbo, Taxotere, Herceptin 9/06 - 2 cm brain tumor 10/06 - Tumor removal surgery - Herceptin Halted 12/06 gamma knife tumor base.1/07 Navelbine/Herceptin 4/07 Rads to R femur 5/07 Stereotactic - new 2 cm brain tumor 4/07 Start Xeloda 5/07 Tykerb added 7/07 Brain MRI clean 10/07 .055 cm brain met found. 12/07 Stereotactic -1 cm brain tumor Start Tykerb 11/07 Abraxane/Herceptin 5/08 Cisplatin, Gemcitabine/Herceptin 6/08 Stereotactic to 1cm 9/08 Stereotactic repeat (growth). 11/08 Pet Scan Good but new tiny met on L lung/dead Brain surgery (no cancer cells found/scar tissue) 1/09 Chemo restarted 2/09 Pet Scan Bad - R larger very active/active L active lymph nodes both sides of chest MRI- mets slight increase 2/09 Start Doxil/Tykerb Treatment
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09-07-2008, 02:49 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Watkinsville, Georgia
Posts: 356
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YEAH Michele - you know you ROCK girl!
Love ya ~ Ruth
__________________
[/SIGPIC]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diagnosed 6/03 nursing daughter
Dose dense A/C 4x
Modified rad mast 8/03
IDC; 3 cm; 10+/16 nodes; ER/PR-; Her2+++
Weekly taxol w/Herceptin (off label) 12x's
40 weeks Herceptin
Radiation 33x
Reconstruction w/ implants 05 & 07
NED
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09-07-2008, 03:25 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Saratoga Springs New York
Posts: 136
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Michele, You have always been an inspiration to me from the start. I will also be 5 years this coming March but not NED. I was NED for the first three years after the initial treatment. I have been fighting active cancer for about 1 1/2 years. But I plan on being NED soon. I know we will have many more years NED or not. Take Care. Sally
__________________
Dx March 2004 HER2+ er/pr+ 8/16 + lymphnodes mets to the liver Stage IV / 6 cycles of TCH and 33 rads . NED Continued Herceptin 3 years w/ Femara. Tumor markers start to rise in Jan of 2007 and swiched to Tamoxifen. August of 2007 found more mets to liver and lymphnodes outside of liver. Went on Tykerb/Xeleoda--spots on liver gone found large mass between intestines. March 2008 started TCH. Stopped Carboplatin due to allergy. Still on Taxotere and Herceptin. Nov 2008 mass is gone. 3 new spot on liver and one on spine. Radiation on spine. tykerb/gemzar for liver mets. PET in April 09 showed shrinkage still a little activity, continue tykerb/gemzar until Aug 09. PET showed new spot on my spine more on my liver and a bunch of enlarged lymphnodes in upper chest. Start Adriamycin Sep 09. more radiation on spine . April 2010- Still on Adriamycin 3wks on 1 wk off and zometa every 28 days. PET -May 2010 showed progression. Starting Herceptin/Navelbine on June '10
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09-07-2008, 04:04 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Michele,
Happy 5 year cancerversary! You are an inspiration and I am so happy that you are doing well!! It gives many of us hope!!
Lexi
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09-07-2008, 04:29 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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Congratulations!!!!!!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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09-07-2008, 04:51 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 59
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Mazel Tov, Michelle!!! woo-hoooiiee!
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