HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - rewrite breast cancer awareness message the way YOU want it to read

StephN · 10-06-2011, 10:07 PM

This is a wonderful thread!
Being away I missed the start of it and just now had the time to get through it. Everyone should read this. There are truths in each post.

Some use more words than others to say essentially the same thing, but the reasoning is very important.

I have just today been offered participation in a vaccine trial that is for HER2 patients (from stage II to IV) who have had Herceptin and are in remission. Seriously considering it, as I know that this disease and its repercussions are lurking around any corner waiting to pounce when we least espect it.

I have heard it said that C-U-R-E is a 4-letter word. It is true for some, but a pipe dream for so many.

This disease has had a hardening effect on me in the aspect that my gut is always on guard. I am always on Sentry Duty.

Early detection is better than late detection in most cases. The less we have to undergo in order to reach remission, the better the recovery and energy reattained.

We need EVERY month to be Breast Cancer VIGILANCE month. Awareness is worthless if the knowledge is not acted upon.

10-06-2011, 10:07 PM	#16
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: rewrite breast cancer awareness message the way YOU want it to read This is a wonderful thread! Being away I missed the start of it and just now had the time to get through it. Everyone should read this. There are truths in each post. Some use more words than others to say essentially the same thing, but the reasoning is very important. I have just today been offered participation in a vaccine trial that is for HER2 patients (from stage II to IV) who have had Herceptin and are in remission. Seriously considering it, as I know that this disease and its repercussions are lurking around any corner waiting to pounce when we least espect it. I have heard it said that C-U-R-E is a 4-letter word. It is true for some, but a pipe dream for so many. This disease has had a hardening effect on me in the aspect that my gut is always on guard. I am always on Sentry Duty. Early detection is better than late detection in most cases. The less we have to undergo in order to reach remission, the better the recovery and energy reattained. We need EVERY month to be Breast Cancer VIGILANCE month. Awareness is worthless if the knowledge is not acted upon. __________________ "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.