Celina,

I am so sorry for your loss. Your many diligent posts on your sister's behalf were so brave of you. Sisters have a special bond. It can never be broken. Carole was such a fighter and speaking from experience....it was in part due to your efforts. The support system for a cancer patient is invaluable. You were that and so much more.

God Bless you and all of your family as you go through this difficult time. My prayers and thoughts are with you.

Thank you too for the info. on Lapatinib. I have been on it since Mid December, for skin mets.

May God watch over you.

Cindi.

Re: my sister passed away
 

Hi Celina,

It has been over six years and I just wanted you to know that Carole is still remembered by all of her many friends in Dunrobin. I was thinking of Carole today and Googled her name to come across your post.
The Dunrobin Dames just came back from our annual Mont Tremblant weekend and all 14 of us wore our pink proudly. When ever asked why, we say to remember our beautiful friend Carole and to promote people on cancer and to never give up on finding a cure.
We had many cheers and tears as we retell the funny stories of past visits and all the fond memories we have our of dear friend. I still see Don occasionally as Jory and my son Jake have been friends since kindergarten.
As I have two very close sister it was hard to read your post. Just wanted you to know that your sister touch many lives and will always be remembered.
Not sure if you will read this or not but it is right to write this. Sending you a hug.

Tina (and Dunrobin Friends)

Re: my sister passed away
 

Dear Celina,
So sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathies to you, her family and friends.
hugs and love
sarah

Re: my sister passed away
 

Sorry for your loss and your sister Carole is now in peace

thank you for letting us know and my thoughts are with you and family

Re: my sister passed away
 

Just read this now. 12 years since my dear sis passed. Will never forget

Thanks for remembering her. You probably won't see this, but who knows!!!

Re: my sister passed away
 

Of course we remember, we have lost so many to this terrible disease, I just hope one day all governments allocate funds to research for saving lives and stop giving money to WAR industry. "you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one!"

Re: my sister passed away
 

Celina, I just joined this forum and did not know your sister, however, I’m sorry that you lost her at such a young age.

Sherri, during that last US election, every time I heard about how much money the candidates raised for their campaigns, all I could think about was how wonderful it would be if we could raise that same kind of money for cancer research. When you have a terminal illness, you notice things like that and realize what is important, and what’s not.

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12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months).
04/16 – Have port put in.
04/16 – Get second dose of chemo, but Docetaxal is left out due to liver enzymes being high. I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my chest wall. I am told that I have a local recurrence and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM-1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6 Second CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
01/17 – A second “pimple” shows up on chest wall, as well as a small lump under the skin. My doctor thinks it’s scar tissue and will monitor it for now.
03/17 – Third CEA blood test and CA-15-30 blood test – Both normal at 2.5 and 25
03/17 – CT Chest scan to see if there’s improvement to chest and lungs – results are mixed. The good news is, lymph nodes are stable, there was improvement of previous lung changes due to radiation, and the cancer has not spread to my bones, spine or liver, etc. The bad news is that while some lung nodules remained stable, others increased by 1-2 mm and new ones have shown up. All of them were less than 1cm.
03/17 – Second brain MRI –awaiting results
03/17 – Ultrasound scheduled to determine size of “pimples” on my chest wall. They will follow up with a second Ultrasound in three months, to see if they are growing
05/17 – Full Body CT Scan scheduled to see if I’m still stable