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Old 06-30-2007, 02:55 PM   #2
Andrea Barnett Budin
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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
Wink I'm With You

Karen, I too hope the rash stays away. It was likely a sign that your immune system was having difficulty. Which, in a way, is a good thing. Warning you to be alert.

When I recurred I had VERY SLIGHTLY elevated liver enz, picked up in ev 3 mnth comprehensive bld work. Doc called to say all was well, just this very slightly... I wouldn't worry about it. 3 mnths later, same exact conversation. 3rd time (6 mnths after it showed up) I asked for a "liver sono". You mean an abdom sono. Ok. I guess we could substantiate that. Then the radiol couldn't be sure he saw what he saw, sent me for a CT scan. Then came the liver biop and the rest is history. So, I am attuned to very slight change in my bld #s and my body in gen'l. I keep copies of every report ever written, every test and COMPARE. I believe I am being vigilant, not a hypochondriac, not obsessive, cautious -- as any sensible ca patient must be, now and forever. It's our new job. Full time. No one cares more about you than you.

Just stay attuned to your body and all "changes", with peace in your heart and full expectation of staying well and healthy. Let love and belief fill you up. FAITH AND FEAR CANNOT OCCUPY THE SAME SPACE! Fill yourself with loving belief in your ability to conquer this w/the help of the Universe and your docs and meds and trtments and the fear will dissipate. It will have no other choice. No room in your head for anything but loving belief! Sending you loving, soothing energy... ANDI
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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...
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