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StephN · 03-08-2007, 01:09 AM

Dear Grace -
What you have described is just what we all go through at some point with this disease. Only you put it in such plain yet eloquent language. Having a site like this is MORE than just knowing you are not alone - we all know that when we go to our cancer centers. There is flesh and blood here, and smart people who care for others.

It takes many months to begin to look forward and get beyond all the appointments and the steep learning curve that comes with a diagnosis of any major disease. I recall thinking that I needed to be so practical and only buy new clothes with buttons or zippers in front to wear to treatment. And other restrictive nonsense.

Treatment saps our energy level and that in itself makes it hard to do anything but what we HAVE to. Takes the fun right out of life! I felt like I had a flat tire and was limping along handicapped.

Spring is a new season and a good time to have thoughts of renewing your life. Start a new chapter. Let go of some of the fear that we harbor over our future. Get your hands in the dirt - I planted some bright primroses yesterday and it felt very good.

03-08-2007, 01:09 AM	#2
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Cats are SO comfy Dear Grace - What you have described is just what we all go through at some point with this disease. Only you put it in such plain yet eloquent language. Having a site like this is MORE than just knowing you are not alone - we all know that when we go to our cancer centers. There is flesh and blood here, and smart people who care for others. It takes many months to begin to look forward and get beyond all the appointments and the steep learning curve that comes with a diagnosis of any major disease. I recall thinking that I needed to be so practical and only buy new clothes with buttons or zippers in front to wear to treatment. And other restrictive nonsense. Treatment saps our energy level and that in itself makes it hard to do anything but what we HAVE to. Takes the fun right out of life! I felt like I had a flat tire and was limping along handicapped. Spring is a new season and a good time to have thoughts of renewing your life. Start a new chapter. Let go of some of the fear that we harbor over our future. Get your hands in the dirt - I planted some bright primroses yesterday and it felt very good. __________________ "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.