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Andrea Barnett Budin · 06-04-2007, 02:11 PM

I guess my story is in my signature and bio. Tk me 2 yrs on this site to figure out how to add these. Next is how to get my picture on board.

'95 dx - infiltr lobular carcinoma + 2 out of 18 nodes. '98 multiple mets ino liver. Her+ 80% ER/PR-. Been on my miraculous, life-saving Herceptin since '98. Wouldn't skip a treatment. Started ev wk, back in the day. '01 switched to the ev 3 wk plan. Get drug w/500cc's saline. Had a new pharmacist once who gave the standard 250 saline, but felt shaky, light-headed as leaving, a bit zonked. So they give me my 500 ccs. Slightly drippy nose. I can live with us.

Taxotere for 9 mnths got the job done, but wow! the side effects were huge for me. This is a breeze. I get it over a half hr. Loading was 2 hrs, then 1 1/2 hrs., then 1 hr. Now l/2 hr. With a port. Piece of cake.

Note in signature -- Herceptin was FDA fast-tracked at end of Sept '98. I was dx w/mets in Aug '98. How lucky I feel. There to save my life. I believe it keeps the mets at bay. Stable, NED since '99. Would never go off -- as long as my body and heart can take it (ECHO ev 6 mnths -- EF good), as long as I can psychologically stick w/the plan (I say Yeah! Thank you God for this life-saver, and, thank you Dr. Slamon -- who I've met and hugged and personally thanked for saving my life), as long as insur co doesn't balk (not once -- again LUCKY)... THAT'S THE ADVICE I GOT FROM SLAMON, FROM PEGRAM, HIS PARTNER IN DEVELOPING HERCEPTIN AFTER SLAMON ISOLATED THE HER 2 gene and found it to be the cause of 20% of bc. Also I have 3 other oncs who say -- don't go looking for trouble. Stay w/it. That's my view. Like insulin for a diabetic. Like meds for a person w/high bld pressure. It's a savior.

Praying for continued good results for you and all the fabulous warriors on this board. I love them all. Soul Sisters to be sure. ANDI

06-04-2007, 02:11 PM	#9
Andrea Barnett Budin Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW... Posts: 1,904	Go Caya and all you Superstars! I guess my story is in my signature and bio. Tk me 2 yrs on this site to figure out how to add these. Next is how to get my picture on board. '95 dx - infiltr lobular carcinoma + 2 out of 18 nodes. '98 multiple mets ino liver. Her+ 80% ER/PR-. Been on my miraculous, life-saving Herceptin since '98. Wouldn't skip a treatment. Started ev wk, back in the day. '01 switched to the ev 3 wk plan. Get drug w/500cc's saline. Had a new pharmacist once who gave the standard 250 saline, but felt shaky, light-headed as leaving, a bit zonked. So they give me my 500 ccs. Slightly drippy nose. I can live with us. Taxotere for 9 mnths got the job done, but wow! the side effects were huge for me. This is a breeze. I get it over a half hr. Loading was 2 hrs, then 1 1/2 hrs., then 1 hr. Now l/2 hr. With a port. Piece of cake. Note in signature -- Herceptin was FDA fast-tracked at end of Sept '98. I was dx w/mets in Aug '98. How lucky I feel. There to save my life. I believe it keeps the mets at bay. Stable, NED since '99. Would never go off -- as long as my body and heart can take it (ECHO ev 6 mnths -- EF good), as long as I can psychologically stick w/the plan (I say Yeah! Thank you God for this life-saver, and, thank you Dr. Slamon -- who I've met and hugged and personally thanked for saving my life), as long as insur co doesn't balk (not once -- again LUCKY)... THAT'S THE ADVICE I GOT FROM SLAMON, FROM PEGRAM, HIS PARTNER IN DEVELOPING HERCEPTIN AFTER SLAMON ISOLATED THE HER 2 gene and found it to be the cause of 20% of bc. Also I have 3 other oncs who say -- don't go looking for trouble. Stay w/it. That's my view. Like insulin for a diabetic. Like meds for a person w/high bld pressure. It's a savior. Praying for continued good results for you and all the fabulous warriors on this board. I love them all. Soul Sisters to be sure. ANDI __________________ Andi BB '95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive... '98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!) + good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either... Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...