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07-06-2007, 06:03 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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getting back to the swing of things
Hi everyone, thanks for thinking of me while I was gone! We had a great and somewhat adventerous trip. We (meaning my ex and our 2 girls- 11 and 8) drove from Ft. Collins, CO to Lubbock, TX the first day and had fun on the drive. Then we drove to San Antonio and spent 3 days there. LOVED the Riverwalk and that city's dogged preservation of the past. We shopped and strolled and learned and swam and ATE.
Then we headed to Lake Amistad outside of Del Rio right on the Texas/Mexico border. On the way we drove through the Texas Hill Country-if you can ever go it is really lovely. Some great little towns too. I was so impressed. Our favorite part was when we were driving on the highway out of that area toward the lake. We saw an ostrich running on the side of the road with THE most determined look on its face. I'm sure he/she had made a break for it from a farm-we cheered it on and cracked up.
We got our houseboat, which let me tell ya-those have changed since the last time I did a trip like that on Powell-I was 15. It was quite swanky compared to the old. Anyway, there is always a learning curve when attempting to operate a new 'vehicle'. the ex was nervous, but did quite well. Our biggest adventure was our first night. We had found a nice little area to moor and had fun swimming, etc. Around 3 in the morning I woke up to this INTENSE lightening off in the distance. It was amazing and I watched it as it progressed over the lake and then the rain stared-again very lovely, and then the wind and waves and thunder came and around 5:30am things stared flying out of the cupboards and breaking and the kids woke up terrified. And with our only source of light being the lightening we figured out we had become unmoored on one side and we were just slamming into the rocky shore. By about 6 it started to abate and we tried to pull up the rope which still had the humongous stake attached. My ex couldn't seem to get the thing to move from the lake bottom. So we were all outside in the rain, in our jammies pulling on this rope. Then we realized it was hung up on a tree in the water. My ex had to put on his suit and goggles and free it from underwater in the rain.
We spent the next day cruising the canyons to find a more enclosed spot. It was fun and frustrating though as the terrain on shore is somewhat formidable. We tried to moor 3 times and could not find a spot to drive the stakes in. My ex even broke the sledge hammer. Sometimes while trying to moor he got attacked my very bitey small ants forcing him in the water. We also chipped the propeller trying to maneuver out of a canyon. Long story, longer-we ended up at our first spot, moored really well (had a lot of practice) and stayed there the rest of the time. We swam, fished, played board games, drank beer, watched sunsets, moonrises, clouds and stars. We listend to cicadas, frogs, birds. We had tons of dragonflies (and spiders) of all different shapes and colors. We also had turtles that would surface their heads and watch us all day every day. We named it Tortuga Cove.
When we left there, we drove as far as we could with a late start and spent the night in Roswell, NM. Being a former X-files fan I was having a blast. And there actually was a UFO convention happening-we had a hard time finding a room. It was classic. I laughed a lot at the alien craziness. then we drove from Roswell to Ft. Collins the next day. Our kids were such perfect angels the whole trip-we are so very proud of them. Quiet and busy in the backseat for hours and hours, troopers on the boat, fun to play games with and read to, great to swim with and goof around in the water. Wonderful young ladies in restaurant. Oh-I just love them!
Missed all of you and trying to catch up with your lives too!
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
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07-06-2007, 08:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,744
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It sounds like you had a wonderful time...and that is what life is all about...sharing wonderful times with those we love!!! Welcome "home"!!!
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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07-06-2007, 09:45 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Wilmington, Del.
Posts: 1,126
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You sure know how to take a vacation. EnJOY.
__________________
MJO
IDC, Stage I, Grade 2
Oncotype DX Score 32
Her2++ E+P+, Node Neg.
Lumpectomy 11/04/05 Clear Margins
3 Dose dense AC (Couldn't tolerate 4)
4 Dose dense Taxol & Herc. (Tolerated well)
36 weeks Herceptin (Could not complete one year due to decrease in MUGA score)
2 years of Arimidex, then three years of Femara
Finished Femara May 2011
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07-06-2007, 10:26 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Oh my Joy,
Your family sounds like great sailors! Thanks for sharing your vacation.
You have turned me on to a house boat!
Hugs,
jean
__________________
Stage 1, Grade 1, 3/30/05
Lumpectomy 4/15/05 - 6MM IDC
Node Neg. (Sentinel node)
ER+ 90% / PR-, Her2+++ by FISH
Ki-67 40%
Arimidex 5/05
Radiation 32 trt, 5/30/05
Oncotype DX test 4/17/06, 31% high risk
TOPO 11 neg. 4/06
Stopped Arimidex 5/06
TCH 5/06, 6 treatments
Herceptin 5/06 - for 1 yr.
9/06 Completed chemo
Started Femara Sept. 2006
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07-06-2007, 04:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Hi Joy,
I missed your smiley face while you were way. I think the smile got bigger since your vacation though as it sounds as if it was simply fantastic. I'm so happy for you.
Welcome home.
Mary Jo
__________________
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Dx. 6/24/05 age 45 Right Breast IDC ER/PR. Neg., - Her2+++ RB Mast. - 7/28/05 - 4 cm. tumor Margins clear - 1 microscopic cell 1 sent. node No Vasucular Invasion 4 DD A/C - 4 DD Taxol & Herceptin 1 full year of Herceptin received every 3 weeks 28 rads prophylactic Mast. 3/2/06
17 Years NED
<>< Romans 8:28
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07-06-2007, 07:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,380
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Joy,
That is the most romantic sounding vacation I have ever heard of someone taking with their "ex." I really enjoyed reading your post, I felt like I was right there with you in the lightening and the bug bites. You have made me want to look into a houseboat vacation!
Glad you are back,
Hopeful
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07-06-2007, 08:47 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 624
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So glad you and your family had such a wonderful vacation.
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07-06-2007, 08:48 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 247
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It may not of been the vacation trip of your dreams but I can guarantee the adventures you had you will never forget. It kind of reminds me of the movie vacation or RV. I am just imagining soaken wet PJ's and this ex of yours, wet,sweety, tired and frustrated when you knew all along what was wrong with the rope. Thanks for the visual. It made me smile.
__________________
Laurie
Diagonsed 8/10/06 (found own lump)at 35
Her 2 +++, er-/pr-
4 A/C 8-29-06 to 11-06
Lumpectomy, node dissection- 11/30/06
Pathology report stage IIIC
1 tumor 3 cm
10 of 15 nodes +
12 Taxol 12/18/06-03/06/07
Herceptin 12/18/06- 12/11/2007 done!!! yeah!!!
33 rads started 3/22/07, done!! yeah!! 5/07/07
Lymphedema diagonsed 2/1/07
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
port out 1/10/08
pregnant after 6 yeas of trying- due mid feb.
Ryder David Kessel Hunter born feb.6th 2009
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07-06-2007, 11:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
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Ummmm, Joy - you were basically in my backyard! San Antonio? The Texas Hill Country? Those are my stomping grounds! I have many relatives in Lubbock, too! I would love to have said hello! Sounds like you had a great time... Welcome back!
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
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07-07-2007, 02:05 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Hi Joy
sounds like you all had a lot of fun and you sound so happy...wish we could stay on vacation forever lol, welcome back!
__________________
Tricia
Dx July '05 IDC 1.9cm Triple positive 3/9 nodes positive
A/C X 4 ..Taxol/Herceptin x 12 wks then herceptin 1 yr
Rads x 36 ..oophorectomy August '06
Currently taking Arimidex..
June 2011 osteopenia/ zometa x1 yearly- stopped Zometa 2015 as Dexa show normal bone density.
Stopped Arimidex July 2014- Restarted Arimidex 2015 for a further two years on the advice of my Onc.
2014 Normal Dexa scan
2018 Mammo all clear, still NED!
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07-07-2007, 06:24 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Wow, Joy, what a wonderful adventure. Sounds like even the unexpected traumas were fun! I'm sure this was very GOOD for your body and soul. Laughter is the best medicine,a nd it wounds like you had a good dose. Try to hang on to the fun feelings and memories as you "re-enter" normal life!
Welcome back, we missed you!
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
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