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Old 08-11-2010, 11:40 AM   #32
StephN
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
Re: Trying not to panic

Dear Pam -
That was a hard post to write, I can see. But you know we all care and hope for the best no matter what is happening.

I hope you can get some answers to your various symptoms and can stop feeling like a freak show. With a bulge that large around your eye, dark glasses may not work.

Have you considered the possibility of c.diff ? It is a bacterial infection that is like having a long case of the runs. It needs a special test to diagnose. And needs special drugs to treat.

My sister got a case of this when she took antibiotics for a sinus infection. If your system gets thrown off balance, the c. diff can take hold. Anything can set up the conditions.

Could the rash be MRSA? The persistence of your rash makes me wonder.
__________________
"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.
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