Thoughts on the movie Living Proof?
 

I was wondering what everyone thought of the movie last night? We don't have cable but are on the road in the RV and were able to see it. Talking to Christine, I knew there was a surprise in store for us. How wonderful to see her and then both our fearless leaders on the commercial. I can not put into words the gratitude I have for Christine and Joe. I look back over the last 2 years of my life and can't believe the knowledge I have gained from this site. I am so grateful for the friendships I have found here. I now have a true sense of sisterhood!

Now onto the movie. I was really amazed at all that went into getting Herceptin available to us. I am indebted to Dr. Salmon and all our sisters that went through the early trails for us. I see Herceptin as our miracle treatment.

I was unable to record the movie last night but ask a friend at home to record it for me. If available I would love to share it with my sisters outside the states that were unable to see it. I went to sleep last night with tears in my eyes and a smile on face. We all should be grateful and feel blessed to have Herceptin available to us. Miracles do happen!

Donna

I am in the middle of watching it right now... it is kicking my butt emotionally. It's weird to watch "our lives" on TV, but it is making me weirdly proud of being HER2 +... I am mad at Genentech right now, but I know I won't be by the end of the movie. Can't wait to see Joe and Christine.

Check this out and how absurd this is... http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et...0,104262.story

Oops, it's back on. More later.

I had read the book shortly after being diagnosed, but seeing it portrayed in the movie really made me appreciate the true miracle that we have benefited from. I can't help but think that many of us would not be here today, if not for the work of Dr. Slamon and the people who helped to finance his research. The movie is a good story for anyone--but for us--it is the story of our LIVES.

Just saw Joe and Chris - now I can't stop crying. I love you guys!

It's on again tomorrow (Monday) night at 9 ET...

Thanks Brenda for the time it's on tomorrow. We DVR'd it and watched it last night. UNFORTUNATELY, since it was DVR'd we fast forwarded it through the commercials so I did not get to see the special commercial. So, I now have the DVR set up for tomorrow night so I can watch the commercials.

I loved the movie and was very emotional through out it also. My husband loved it too and today when we went to Walgreen's and I was looking for some fingernail polish my husband said "buy Revlon!"http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif

Anyway, it was awesome and I had no idea of all that went into getting this miracle drug approved. I, too, feel indebted to Dr. Slamon, Lily "T" and Revlon for all their unselfishness. What a diligent, loving, compassionate, caring soul Dr. Slamon is. His wife as well.

Truly I can't say enough about what I watched and how I feel. I feel blessed - I feel lucky - I feel grateful and I am so happy I am alive and well.

Thank you God for sending us a Dr. Slamon.....We are thankful.

Hugs to all my "sisters"

Mary Jo

When I had my pic taken in front of the Yew Tree (Taxol tree) in Monte Carlo this summer (that was given to the principality on Monaco by Lily and the Tartikoff foundation for their ongoing support of breast cancer research) - I had NO IDEA that she was instrumental in the Herceptin research. I will cherish my branch from that Yew Tree even more than I already do...

Oh my! Here I am running over to this site during the commercials. I didn't realize the Joe and Christine will be on the commercial! Guess I will stick by the tv!!

It is a very profound movie!! Tears and gratitude. I never realized all that went into having the herceptin approved and available for us now. (still not over, 20 min to go...)

I just saw you two on the commercial!!!!

The movie is based on HER2 - The Making of Herceptin by Robert Bazel. It is still available on Amazon both new and used. I highly recommend it for everyone.

http://www.amazon.com/Her-2-Making-H...4477479&sr=1-1


Regards
Joe

What it meant long before the movie ...
 

My thoughts went on the other thread, but more appropriate here:

That movie touched a nerve deep within me.
My hubby had planned to watch it with me as I have been "promo-ing" it to him for a while now.

So, we sat together on a comfy chair large enough to hold both of us, watching till the end.

Slight digression: In Jan. of 2002, when I was diagnosed with raging mets to liver, I did not know WHAT to do with myself. I did not know if I would live or die. I had not found this support group or any other that could help me know anything, except "the worst." While wandering in a large local book store I ran across a used copy of the making of Herceptin book. This is where I began to see that maybe the treatment I was on might work as it included Herceptin. I tried to channel those women for whom it had worked. I tried to understand the impossible! I tried to believe and have the same degree of faith that Dr. Slamon and his staff had in pushing the drug through development. I used guided imagery to help me in these efforts. I concentrated deeply before going to sleep each night. Perhaps trying to program my body to accept these drugs and fight the tumors. This was a very emotional time for me.

That book gave me some sense that I may have at least a small degree of power in a situation where I felt utterly powerless. But it still felt like Russian roulette.

I began to feel that it was practically a duty to Dr. Slamon and Genentech to be a responder and be a sort of standard bearer for others like me. Why not me???

Thus I feel I owe a lot to Robert Bazell for even writing the story, warts and all. I feel I owe a lot to Lily Tartikoff for believing in Dr. Slamon's idea of targeted antibody therapy. Dr. Slamon comes last but certainly NOT least. I have met him on 4 occasions (in public) and always thank him as best I can without embarrassing us both. I always let him know that I am "still" a living proof that he could be right. (Yes, I did use those words.)

Thus I had a real mare's nest of feelings to deal with even before sitting down to the movie. My husband had forgotten the passages I had read to him those years ago from the book. It became refreshed to him with tons more meaning. Now he really has an even better understanding of how lucky we are that I have managed as well for as long, in spite of all the setbacks.

Knowing Dr. Slamon and having heard him speak several times, I thought that Harry Connick, Jr. played a great interpretation of the good doctor. Have met Mrs. Slamon as well and her character was also well played.

What an emotional and humbling show to watch...after reading the book, it was so meaningful, and what a gift to see the commercial of Joe & Christine right in the middle of the show.....to Dr. Slamon, all the women who trialed Herceptin, all who fought hard for Her2 research and to Joe and Christine who are our advocates every single day, we owe a world of gratitude and thanks. We truly would not be here without them.

When I was diagnosed in 2002, I was stage 1, and herceptin was only available to Stage IV Metastatic....so I had to wait to get mets to qualify. How lucky the women are today that get it as firstline treatment ! It has been the backbone of my treatment (with and without chemo) for 5 years, and still going!

I don't have cable and was unable to see it. Does anyone know if there will be a DVD available at some point? I will try putting it on my Netflix list but if anyone knows of some other eventual source I would be most appreciative.

Update: no listing on Netflix so far (in general, you can put recently released movies on a Netflix wait list for when they are available on DVD).

Anyhow, if anyone has any other ideas, suggestions are welcome. I will try the Lifetime site.

Thanks.

The best part for me was seeing Christine and Joe in the commercial. I thought it was a decent movie. Don't know if it will win an Emmy, but we'll wait and see.

Living Proof
 

I just wanted to say what a remarkable man, a remarkable movie, and BOY oh BOY I must have really, really needed that good Cry on Saturday night. That was a very powerful and moving movie for me to watch.

Love to all of You

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I am so thankful for Dr. Slamon's dedication. If it were not for people like him and Lily Tartikoff we would not have this wonderful drug that has saved so many. I was especially surprised to see the commercial with Joe and Christine. I was bouncing up and down and pointing to my partner and saying oOh My God! It's the couple from my support site. I was so excited and my family was looking at me like I had 4 heads. LOL My partner also enjoyed the movie and ordered the book coz it peaked her interest and she wanted to learn even more about her2 and our miracle drug. I will read it too when it comes.

I'm feeling tremendously grateful to Dr. Salmon, Lily, Joe, Christine, all the courageous women in the trials and all of you. It also gives me such hope to know Dr. Salmon and Lily (by fundrasing) are still working towards a cure.

i would love to see this movie, so Donna if you can extend it to us, outside the US that would be great.
i really need to see it. Just p.m me for details..i would be happy to pick up all cost getting to me.
thanks Suzanne

The movie made me very emotional. I gratefully thank Dr. Slamon, Christine, Joe, and all the other ladies who made it possible for me to be able to have Herceptin for my treatment.

Amelia

When I finished chemo in 06, my oncologist said I might
get Herceptin if approved for Stage one, it was, I took
it and thank God every day and all the Drs., sisters before me, and the drug companies and supporters that
pushed this through. To have to fight for a drug that is
not available is a scary prospect and I wonder now what
the news is on compasssinate care drugs?
patb