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Re: Who We Are
I love this - we are so much more that the cancer that is in our bodies!
I am Amanda, 39 year old mother to three gorgeous kids - my daughters are 10 and 7 and my son is 5. I am married to a wonderful man and we have been together for 20 years in October.
I have done many things in my life - starting out as an Occupational Therapist and finding my way into sales and retail and marketing in the health sector. Upon having children and moving interstate away from family I decided to devote myself fully to raising my children but a few years ago saw me back studying - this time photography. Through image making I have discovered a new language, a passion for telling a story with an image.
I love music of all types, I play the violin and a little piano, I love to sing. I love riding my bike on the local trail, watching my daughter play basketball, listening to my daughter sing and play the piano, listening to my other son and daughter attempt the violin. I love going out to dinner and the theatre with my husband or simply sitting on the couch watching a movie together. I am an avid reader and lover of life and living!
I am very focussed on not being passive with this disease. About driving my own bus - I nurture my body with good foods and exercise, I nurture my soul with meditation and counseling and spiritual and self exploration, I help my body cope with treatments with complementary therapies, I keep myself up to date with the latest information and am a proactive advocate for women with stage 4 disease.
I too believe in "the Cure".
Nice to "meet" you lovely ladies.
__________________
Amanda xx
40 year old Mum to three gorgeous kids - son 5 and daughters 8 and 11
Wife to my wonderfully supportive husband of 17 years!
22 February 2011 - Diagnosed Early Breast Cancer IDBC Stage2b (ER/PR -ve, Her2+ve +++) - 38 years old
(L) skin sparing mastectomy with tissue expander, axilla clearance (2/14 affected) clear margins.
Fec*3, Taxotere and herceptin*2 - stopped due to secondary diagnosis
June 24 2011 Stage IV - Skin met, axilla node, multiple lung lesions
Bolero3 trial - Navelbine, Hereptin weekly, daily Everolimus/Placebo
February 2012 - July 2012 Tykerb and Xeloda - skin mets resolved, Lungs initially dramatically reduced but growing again
August 2012 (turn 40!) tykerb and herceptin (denied compassionate use of TDM1) while holidaying in Italy!
September 2012 - January 2013 TDM1 as part of the Th3resa trial - lymph nodes resolved, lungs slowly progressing.
January 2013 - herceptin, carboplatin and Perjeta (compassionate access)
April 2013 - Some progression in lungs and lymph nodes - Abraxane, Herceptin and Perjeta
July 2013 - mixed response - dramatic reduction of most lung disease, progression of smaller lung nodules and cervical and hilar nodes - ? Add avastin.
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