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StephN · 08-07-2006, 02:20 PM

Dear Val -
You wrote that article on breast cancer with such bravery and aplomb! I hope it is still "findable" on this site for those who did not know Val is a writer.

Glad you have been at least lurking - you will see that there is a lot of good news here lately as well as hope for those on the list to get Tykerb.

Facing our fears is always easier said than done. Coming here is doing a lot for many of us who are isolated in our diagnosis and want to interact and find others to talk with about what is happening to us. Recent patient privacy rules tend to serve to isolate us further from those in our cancer centers who may be suffering the same as we. Nurses are not supposed to say anything about other patients and it is not encouraged to chat in waiting rooms.

A feeling of impending doom is not unusual with aggressive cancers. It takes a lot of work to put that aside and move forward in some meaningful way.

See you again soon.

08-07-2006, 02:20 PM	#5
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Facing fears Dear Val - You wrote that article on breast cancer with such bravery and aplomb! I hope it is still "findable" on this site for those who did not know Val is a writer. Glad you have been at least lurking - you will see that there is a lot of good news here lately as well as hope for those on the list to get Tykerb. Facing our fears is always easier said than done. Coming here is doing a lot for many of us who are isolated in our diagnosis and want to interact and find others to talk with about what is happening to us. Recent patient privacy rules tend to serve to isolate us further from those in our cancer centers who may be suffering the same as we. Nurses are not supposed to say anything about other patients and it is not encouraged to chat in waiting rooms. A feeling of impending doom is not unusual with aggressive cancers. It takes a lot of work to put that aside and move forward in some meaningful way. See you again soon. __________________ "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.