Oh my heart is just broken. I just saw this message that was posted two day's ago on the AOL Breast Cancer Message Board. It was posted by her Friend Liz.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To all my sisters,
I haven"t been on the board for a long while, I do hope you remember me and my dear friend Maryann.
She was a true warrior, survived IBC, a recurrence, leukemia, a stem cell transplant, liver failure and needing new hips because the steriods she was given rotted her hips.
But this last infection took her from us. She died today at 7:23PM NY time surrounded by her family. please say a prayer for her and her family. She is survived by her mom, 20 year old son, 19 year old daughter, sister, bil, twin 5 year old nephews. And me, her heartbroken, forever loving her friend.
Peace, love and prayers for a cure,
Liz T
__________________ Vicki Texas
Biopsy Dx'd 3-23-05 Age 48
MRM 4-5-05 w/ 2 tumor's 5cm, and 6 cm (right side)
IDC (poorly differentiated infiltrating ductual carcinoma)
5+/16 nodes
Stage III A
Grade 3
ER/PR-, Her2/neu ++
Ki67 78%
Begin Chemo 5-2-05 4XAC Dose Dense , 4X Abraxane Dose Dense (ended August 05)
28 Rad's ended October 13 2005
Started Herceptin Weekly August 2005 for one year
Had a Simple mastectomy left side after Mamo showed incresed micro-calcifications. Jan. 17 2006.
Brain MRI Feb.2006--All Clear
August 28, 2006 Last Weekly Herceptin.
October 2006--Colonoscopy, 6 Polyp's removed--all B9
PET Scan July 2007
Abdominal MRI Oct. 2007---2 Right Kidney Cysts
Core Biopsy-- Lump on Scar Line 1-10-08---B9
Brain MRI 6-2008--All Clear
PET/CT Scan 6-2008
Sept. 8 2008, 4CM area removed from mastectomy scar line. Proved to be B9.
PET/CT Scan-- July 2009 --All clear
August 17,2009 ---Had Port Removed
6 Years NED -- April 5,2011
DX'd with Melanoma left arm 10-10-2011
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
This is so sad. God speed Madame DuBois ... I'll miss you.
__________________ 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 feel so very fortunate to have met MaryAnn. A fighter and believer to her very core. The love she had for her kids and her sense of "life is to live" inspired me so. As said, God speed, special warrior sister. Love and prayers to your precious family and friends. 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!
__________________
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!!
My heart sank at this news. Thanks for cluing us in Yorkie.
I gave Maryann a call about a month ago and she sounded strong. It was hard to believe the way she was describing her present life as an invalid while trying to strengthen her lungs to support the needed hip surgery.
She was getting lots of therapy and had help coming in for her personal needs. Her attitude was good and she expressed that she was working at her exercises a few times a day. Her voice was strong and she was not out of breath while talking.
Her son and daughter had just gone back to college after the semester breaks, and she just "glowed with pride" over the phone at how well they were doing. This was her primary goal all these years of working against her disease. See her children through school and on a good life course.
Rest well sweet friend.
Liz was as loyal a friend as anyone could be.
__________________ "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.
So very sorry to read this news this afternoon...and my heart feels heavy for many of my "sisters" on this journey who read these words and are frightened. This disease is so nasty, however, remember where there is life there is HOPE.
Mary Ann was a special woman...a woman with a purpose and strong inclination to be an encourager as she traveled through this life.
May your soul be resting in Peace with your Lord and Savior sweet sister. You will be missed.
I, too will always remember Mary Ann as a woman with fierce determination.
I shared a room with her in San Antonio one year, and every night she would trot out her suitcase full of carefully chosen and prioritized medications and supplement while regaling me with stories of her battles. Not just battles to survive, but those to claim her right to live as she wanted, and to achieve what she set out to do. Maryanne was not a woman one could say no to.
Steph, seeing her kids grow up and sending them into adulthood was indeed her highest goal - I'll never forget her telling me how "they" (the powers that be) wouldn't allow her to be there at a significant life event (it might have been her son's graduation) because she was so ill.
But she was there anyway, her skin literally GREEN...and then when she was good and ready, she went back to the hospital to let them deal with that.
Rest well, my friend - you've earned it.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?" 9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response! 04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver 02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1 02/09 Continue NED 02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
I am so saddened by Maryanne's passing. I so admired her spirit. Through all her challenges she remained upbeat and seemed invinceable.
My prayers go out to her family.
She was very special.
RIP, Maryanne..
__________________
Linda
Dxed Stage IIIC May 05, 12 pos nodes
er/pr -neg,Her -pos
LVI
Right partial mast & partial axillary dissection-June14,2005
Right modified mast-no clear margins- June 30, 2005
DD AC x4
Taxotere X4 with Herceptin
Rads x 35( 5 fields )
Left prophylactive mast( atypia & hyperplasia found ),
put on Tamoxifen x 1 yr; D/ced due to endometrial thickening
bilateral recon (saline implants)May 06
Nipple recon July 06
metformin 2010
removal of implants due to severe encapsulation, insertion of gummies 2013
Reclast Q yr
NED!!!
Oh gosh no, not our dearest Maryann. I really can't take much more...my heart is broken and I can't hardly type thur the tears. Far too many losses at one time...so many wonderful women being taken. Maryann was such a true warrier and fighter--nothing stopped her from doing what she wanted too--not even this misrable disease...even though it tried. It would knock her down and she would get right back up and dust her self off and keep on going! Maryann would come on here to update us on one of her latest challeges--and knowing full well how difficult it HAD to be for her she did it with such humor and made us laugh while reading her every word. Then to tell others that have had to travel this journey, "Not to worry...it's just another episode--your will get thru this. So upbeat and full of encouragment all the time. Truly one very amazing lady that I admire so much and will never forget.
So many inspriational woman we have, and had on this board--but Maryann was one at the very top of my list. She was one tough cookie and proved to so many that as hard as it is at times...you can fight this beast and still live. One of the most determined women I have every known & will miss her so much. I'm just sick over this. My deepest condolences go out to her family and friends.
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.
Joe and I are stunned by this news. Maryann was a truly unique individual who did not give in to her disease, but fought it until her last breathe. As a single mother, she found the time to share experiences with her children that builds memories.
I can recall her trips to take her kids to various rock concerts around NYC. She wanted her children to have the same experiences that she herself had when growing up.
Maryann accompanied our group to the 2008 AACR meeting in San Diego and later that year to the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
I look back with fondness at the AACR meeting. It seems that we had non-stop traffic to our table, and why not!!
we were three medical miracles who had defied all odds.
How often do the scientists who do basic research ever see the fruit of their labors.
1ST. Picture. Our 3 Miracles wth Dr. Axel Ullrich at the AACR meeting. Dr. Ullrich was the first scientist to isolate te HER2/neu gene in breast cancer.
2nd Picture - Maryann also reported that she had her picture taken with that guy who invented Herceptin (her words)..Dr. Dennis Slamon.
Maryann will sorely be missed.
Chris and Joe
__________________
1990, July DX 1.1cm er-, pr-
Lumpectomy, 5U4, radiation
1999, June mets to chest and brain
HER2 3+++, er- pr-
AC, Taxol, Herceptin, Gamma Knife (3 treatments) WBR
NED July 2001
December 2001 - Founded HER2 Support Group
Last edited by Christine; 02-20-2010 at 05:20 PM..
Mary Ann is one of the old-timers here, and among those who spent time with the founders of this site. I am thankful for the opportunity Joe and Christine provided through this site in creating the chance for so many like Mary Ann to gather in person. It is their choice to do it but also their burden each time a life ends. Thank you Joe and Christine for these treasured friendships and your strength in making it possible.
Oh my, this makes me so sad. Thank you so much, Vicki, for letting us all know. Chelee, I found your words to be lovely and as great a eulogy as anyone could offer for one of our most brave. Mary Jo, you so aptly pointed out what we all need to hear at this moment: that where there is life there is HOPE!
I'm too sad to say any more other than to express my deepest love and affection for all of you.
__________________
Smile On!
Laurel
Dx'd w/multifocal DCIS/IDS 3/08
7mm invasive component
Partial mast. 5/08
Stage 1b, ER 80%, PR 90%, HER-2 6.9 on FISH
0/5 nodes
4 AC, 4 TH finished 9/08
Herceptin every 3 weeks. Finished 7/09
Tamoxifen 10/08. Switched to Femara 8/09
Bilat SPM w/reconstruction 10/08
Clinical Trial w/Clondronate 12/08
Stopped Clondronate--too hard on my gizzard!
Switched back to Tamoxifen due to tendon pain from Femara
15 Years NED
I think I just might hang around awhile....
I apologize for what I am about to say, But this b/c BULLSHIT has got to stop! Surely there is something we can do to get to the finish line and end the carnage. What will it take? Just tell us and we will do it. I am sick of watching these women suffer. Enough is enough. I am speechless.
God Bless you MaryAnn Dubois. You certainly earned your rest.
I am typing through tears, not just because of this sad news about Mary Ann, but because of the beautiful words you have all written about her here .She was truly a brave warrior who deeply touched all our hearts. Thank you for telling us about her passing,Liz, and please , if you can, send my deepest condolances to her family for their loss. She was such a beautiful person. I never read her posts without feeling her special spirit, and I will truly miss her. My heart is heavy tonight. Hugs, TriciaK
as i read this news i burst out with a loud "WHAT??!" of disbelief. i guess i figured that she had been through so much and yet she was such a spitfire i truly didn't think anything would get the better of her. i know that is naive, especially in the face of this cancer and especially all she'd already survived. it seemed like she just changed her avatar photo not long ago and in it she looked so good and strong. i'm just floored and very saddened. i have only been here 5 months and there have been so many harsh blows to the members of this board. i don't even 'know' much of anyone here, but felt a bit like i did from reading posts. she is one of the people who really struck me. it's just terrible.
when my husband was diagnosed with cancer his sister made him a refrigerator magnet that said "This Cancer Has No Idea Who It's F*&king With". that's how i feel about maryann. they both gave cancer a good fight before they left this earth. he is in some good company up there.
valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
Years NED
Re: madubois(Mary Ann) Is An Angel Now
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