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Looking back...how lucky we are!!
My parents just found a letter in their trunk that has been passed along to me. I just thought I would quote it here as I was shocked at how things have changed, and really how lucky we are today.
This letter was written on June 27<SUP>th</SUP>, 1933 (six months prior to her death) by my father’s mother. I believe she had breast cancer as it runs in her family but my father is not certain exactly what type of cancer it was as it wasn’t discussed with him. She died Christmas eve, 1933 when he was eleven. She was writing this letter to her daughter and discussed her illness and treatment.
“….I did not get up until the dishes were done this morning and then I didn’t want to get up very bad as I feel rather top heavy yet. I am getting Mrs. Piper to take me to Shedden to the Dr. this afternoon so I can get a blood test to see if it is getting along alright. I am only taking the tablets for my blood. As I am not getting any more appetite he said I may have to take some spirits to keep up my strength. I will take anything that will agree with me. He never comes so I will go to him today and if he does not give me a good examination today I will see someone else because I am getting tired of this.”
Reading this letter broke my heart as I realized that likely all she was given were iron pills for her blood. What spirits were I have no idea…..a brandy before bed? Unfortunately I'm sure many of us could look back on family members who were in similar positions as my grandmother.
<O </OCathy
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Cathy
Diagnosed Oct. 2004 3 cm ductal, lumpectomy Nov. 2004
Diagnosed Jan. 2005 tumor in supraclavicular node
Stage 3c, Grade 3, ER/PR+, Her2++
4 AC, 4 Taxol, Radiation, Arimidex, Actonel
Herceptin for 9 months until Muga dropped and heart enlarged
Restarting herceptin weekly after 4 months off
Stopped herceptin after four weekly treatments....score dropped to 41
Finished 6 years Arimidex
May 2015 diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Stage 1C
started 6 treatments of carboplatin/taxol
Genetic testing show BRCA1 VUS
Nice! My hair came back really curly. Hope it lasts lol. Well it didn't but I liked it so I'm now a perm lady
29 March 2018 Lung biopsy following chest CT showing tumours in pleura of left lung, waiting for results to the question bc or ovarian
April 20, 2018 BC mets confirmed, ER/PR+ now Her2-
Questions about the possibility of ovarian spread and mets to bones so will be tested and monitored for these.
To begin new drug Palbociclib (Ibrance) along with Letrozole May, 2018.
Genetic testing of ovarian tumour and this new lung met will take months.
To see geneticist to be retested for BRCA this week....still BRCA VUS
CA125 has declined from 359 to 12 as of Aug.23/18
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