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StephN · 02-21-2010, 01:04 AM

Thanks, Joe & Christine, for coming up with those photos of Maryann at AACR 2 years ago. I was so in awe to be there with Dr. Ullrich that I paid no attention to posing for the pic!

We all had SUCH a wonderful time at that cancer researchers conference. Maryann was SO jazzed up at meeting people and talking with the doctors and scientists about her own life as a guinea pig. Their jaws would drop when they found out that she was a real live bone marrow transplant patient.

When I got to our hotel, Maryann was already there and announced that she had used a couple dozen antibacterial wipes all over the surfaces of the room and bath. She was quite concerned about contracting an infection after her transplant.

She was ignoring a developing problem with her liver at that time, just to be able to experience the conference. When she got back home her liver problems were addressed and steroids were part of that. She definitely was a "get out of my way" type when it came to her cancer interferring with her life.

Maryann's zest for life and grabbing every opportunity for a new experience will stick in my mind when I think of her. Thanks also to Liz for her post.

02-21-2010, 01:04 AM	#35
StephN Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Misty woods of WA State Posts: 4,128	Re: madubois(Mary Ann) Is An Angel Now Thanks, Joe & Christine, for coming up with those photos of Maryann at AACR 2 years ago. I was so in awe to be there with Dr. Ullrich that I paid no attention to posing for the pic! We all had SUCH a wonderful time at that cancer researchers conference. Maryann was SO jazzed up at meeting people and talking with the doctors and scientists about her own life as a guinea pig. Their jaws would drop when they found out that she was a real live bone marrow transplant patient. When I got to our hotel, Maryann was already there and announced that she had used a couple dozen antibacterial wipes all over the surfaces of the room and bath. She was quite concerned about contracting an infection after her transplant. She was ignoring a developing problem with her liver at that time, just to be able to experience the conference. When she got back home her liver problems were addressed and steroids were part of that. She definitely was a "get out of my way" type when it came to her cancer interferring with her life. Maryann's zest for life and grabbing every opportunity for a new experience will stick in my mind when I think of her. Thanks also to Liz for her post. Attached Thumbnails __________________ "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.