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08-22-2009, 09:41 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 154
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6 year Cancerversary!!
Wow, I can't believe it...6 years! It seems like i was just on this site finding out that I wasn't alone in the fight against HER2 postive breast cancer! I'll never forget how "different" the dr's made me feel when they told me I had a very "rare" type of cancer. Then i got on line and found out unfortunatley i was not that alone after all. Having 35 postive nodes I thought for sure it would come right back. Now Herceptin has changed that for a lot of us. I'm so thankful I had this site to come to for answers. I met my "soul friend" on this site while starting treatment! (Love you Audrey!) Thanks Joe and Christine for the hard work you put into this site....
__________________
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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08-23-2009, 01:18 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Hi Michele, Just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS on being 6 yrs out. Yeah! That's fantastic and gives the newly dx so much hope.
I know I've said this before...but I'll say it again. When I was 1st dx with Her2...I was in a total panic especially with my doom & gloom onc. He acted like I'd be lucky if I made it a yr. (Seriously.)
Then I got online & started searching. Thank the good Lord for this wonderful board Christine & Joe started...it was a true God send to me. Then I will never forget reading yours & also Audrey's signatures and I finally had some hope!!! You are a true inspriation and I am so thankful that you take the time to post once in a while so others that were in my position see they too can make it. As you said...it is so nice to come here and find out your NOT alone. (Hope you had a wonderful Cancerversary!)
Always in my thoughts & prayers!
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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08-23-2009, 07:30 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 309
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Congratulations Michele!
Blessings
Hermiracles
__________________
2003 L/DCIS –> LWE: High G./Comedo - 6 nodes clear 6 wks Rx
04/07 2 miracles born ~ very grateful
06/07 Susp areas L/b
09/07 Stage 2 bilat. mastectomy R/ b. clear extens DCIS/IDC Paget’s 8 nodes clear ER(<5%) HER2+++ CT clear
11/07 Portacath - FEC
15/11/07 Stage 4 Emerg op - hip replacemt #NOF bone mets H/Taxotere
12/07 Rx to 'spots' on spine/R/hip/femur 3wkly H
2008 H+T mets to rib/sternum? Aredia CT clear! Cont. H + Aredia 07/08 1 wk Palliative Care - mets to lungs + ?1 to brain
09/08 Stop H complete Epirubicin 1wk PC new brain mets
10/08 2wks WBR 1wk PC 22/10/08 Tykerb/Xeloda 12/08 6 CEREBRAL METS COMPLETELY GONE! Rib mets down to <1cm.
01/09 Tumour markers normal! Rx to L/arm
03/09 LUNGS CLEAR (ALL NODULES GONE!), brain clear, liver clear. Bones stable! ~ THANK YOU GOD
07/09 Repeat CT Scan ~ ALL organs clear apart from bones which remain stable. I walk in gratitude.
***************
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08-23-2009, 08:30 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Moultrie, GA
Posts: 431
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
You give me SO much hope since I had 21/21 positive nodes and I am 1 year from my diagnosis. Thank you for the inspiration!
Sandra
__________________
Diagnosed: 7/25/08 ~ age 63, no family history
Surgery: 8/14/08 Bilateral mastectomy; tumor left breast, node dissection; right prophylactic with expanders: 1/12/10 latisimuss dorsi flap on left side: 9/22/10 implants in
Pathology Report: ER/PR-; HER2+ (3+); Grade 3, StageIII; 3cm tumor plus 21/21 lymph nodes positive; 5cm DCIS
Chemo: A/C; Taxol/Herceptin/Tykerb; phase II study at Mayo adding Tykerb for early stage
Radiation: 25 rads
Vaccine: Walter Reed GP2/AE37 vaccine study ~ last booster 9/17/2012
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08-23-2009, 08:47 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 347
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Congratulations! Thank you for being such a helpful and inspirational member of the group.
__________________
"Dancers Against Cancer" in the Eugene, OR Komen Race for the Cure 2010
Diagnosed 8/7/08 with stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, micropapillary pattern, Her2 3+, ER+,PR-, grade II, positive lymph nodes.
Received 6doses of Taxotere, Carboplatin with Herceptin continuing for a year...DONE.
1/28/09 Left Modified Radical Mastectomy, Right Simple Mastectomy.
Surgery pathology: No invasive carcinoma present and 17 lymph nodes removed all negative! Only small amount of carcinoma in situ in left breast.
March/April '09, Radiation to left chest wall.
Currently involved in Neratinib clinical trial.
"Well being I won
and wisdom too,
I grew and joyed in my growth;
from a word to a word
I was led to a word
from a deed to another deed." (Odin)
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08-23-2009, 09:05 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 212
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Congratulations, Michele! I'm so happy for your continued good health--you've been such a blessing to this site and to me personally by sharing your struggles and informed support. Can't believe we've come this far--I remember the early days on the Herceptin clinical trial, filled with tears, gloom and doom and wondering how our little girls would manage without us... Hope you celebrate this anniversary by breaking out some champagne and doing something special for yourself-you deserve it!!!!!
__________________
Audrey
diagnosed July 2001, at age 36
large tumor, 11+ nodes
Stage IIIb, er/pr-, Her2+
treated with A/C, weekly Taxol
radiation, + year of Herceptin
on clinical trial. double mastectomy
followed by reconstruction
NED!!
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08-23-2009, 11:03 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Believin' for many, many more years of NED for you. Keep on sharing! 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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08-23-2009, 12:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Wow, 6 years! Congratulations and keep those NED years coming.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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08-23-2009, 05:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Yahoo Michele...and you look great too!!! xo Suzan
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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08-23-2009, 07:12 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Hi Michele.....You bring hope to all of us. I'm always amazed at your story - 35 positive nodes and you are NED 6 years later.  Thanks for coming back here to remind us. You bring hope to all of us.
Love and continued good health I pray for you...
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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08-23-2009, 07:41 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 126
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Michele~ You are truely an inspiration. I must tell you I passed on your story to someone that had recently found out that they had 9/9 positive nodes and she was ready to throw in the towel. I let her know that it is possible that the beast will not come back.
I wish you many, many more cancerversaries...
__________________
Diag. 12/24/08-
IDC 1.3 er-/pr- HER2+
Grade 3 0/2 lymph nodes
no angiolympathic invasion
Bi-Lat. Mast. 1/8/09
Exchange scheduled for 6/17/09
Lost implants due to unknown reason :(
Hip Flap 1/26/2010 in NOLA :) LOVE EM'
TCH x6 (6 done and I am hoping to never do it again )
Well so much for never...
Local recurrence May 25,2014 is left over breast tissue.
April 2 , 2014 lumpectomy
April 28, 2014- June 9, 2014 start AC x 4
Taxol x12
Perjeta x 6
Herceptin x 18
And 33 rads just for fun. NOT!!!
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08-24-2009, 04:43 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,486
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Michele,
Thanks for posting. You give me Hope. God Bless You. How is your lymphedema?
Amelia
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08-24-2009, 05:51 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Michele
Congrats on 6 years...what a day to celebrate....may you be blessed with many many more!
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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08-24-2009, 10:51 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 216
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Many, many congratulations.
You give me so much hope.
I wish you many more happy anniversaries.
Janie
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08-24-2009, 07:22 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Big congrats to you Michele on being 6 (count'em 6) years out - and with 35 positive nodes yet- all I can say is WOW - so much hope 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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08-25-2009, 01:03 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Michele, your thread is inspiring to many of us and I just want to add my congratulations to all the other's you've received 
__________________
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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08-25-2009, 08:17 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hershey, PA. Live The Sweet Life!
Posts: 2,005
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Thank you, Michele, and a heartfelt congratulations! Your post inspires us all to hope and hope some more. Thanks.
__________________
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....
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08-25-2009, 09:34 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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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
That is such encouraging news Michele!! I am so pleased that you are doing so well 6 years out. That is awesome! You were a real inspiration to me when I was diagnosed. I am thankful that you are well.
Hugs,
Lexi
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08-26-2009, 06:30 AM
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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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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
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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08-26-2009, 08:35 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: St. George, UT
Posts: 582
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Re: 6 year Cancerversary!!
Wonderful news, Michele! What a ride you have had! It is so good to hear good news such as yours, not just six years and still NED, but that you have overcome so much! We are sharing your joy and are so grateful for every day the Beast is held at bay! Hugs, TriciaK
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