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04-02-2007, 11:32 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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WOW, WOW, is all I can say!!!!
This is my third day on the Doxil and Wow! My skin met nodules are taking a beating!! I had my first treatment Friday afternoon and by Saturday night the nodules were on fire big time. Last night it felt like a knife cutting them out-had to take a pain pill to sleep. They have started to soften and have gone from a purple to a pink. This is so new for me I am so overwhelmed not sure what to think at this point except that I hope they are being poisoned, burned, and will die a horrible death! Now, how is that for thinking? I am more short of breath when up and moving around so hopefully, the pleura effusion is not getting worse but will watch and see what happens. I am not far from the hospital so if I need to go I can and will go. I thought it would be better by now with the way the nodules are acting. Will keep you all updated as this all matures. hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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04-02-2007, 11:56 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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WOW! again
Oh! Sandy, this is such great news that you can actually feel and SEE a difference in those nodules so quickly. I have heard that Doxil is a good drug for several stubborn cancers, so glad to find out it is so far effective in your case.
Are you off the Tykerb now or is this in combo??
Keep a watch on the shortness of breath. I got one of those good heart monitor watches so I can match my heart rate with my breathing and see if they correlate when I am active. I has been a good thing for me to see how my heart and lungs are working.
__________________
"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.
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04-02-2007, 12:04 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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AWSOME NEWS Sandy...
prayers will continue. Take care and God bless. BIGGGG huggs.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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04-02-2007, 12:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 87
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Take THAT you stinky old skin mets!
Reading your post I got this great image of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz tossing water on Elphaba-the Green Wicked Witch of the West! Remember, Elphaba gave one, last ear-piercing SHRIEK before melting away to nothing!
Hang in there, Sandy!
Rest well, heal well~
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04-02-2007, 12:48 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Sandy,
I think once those nasty nodules are gone (and they will be) you should buy a pair of red shiny shoes and click those heels.
Will continue to keep you in my prayers.
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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04-02-2007, 12:49 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Rowlett, TX
Posts: 138
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The 'wicked witch of the west' was my image too -- melting 'wicked witch mets'.... How amazing that you can SEE what is happening.
All the best!!! May this kick their virtual butts!!!
__________________
Janet in Rowlett Texas
Dx July 2006 IDC 1.8cm, ER-/PR- HER2+ (FISH 7), KI67 High (60%) grade 3, TOPO II neg
Aug2006: lumpectomy, SNB (4 nodes neg), Stage 1
Jan 2007: Finished 6 cycles of TCH (Taxotere, Carboplatin, Her ceptin). Then Herceptin every 3 weeks.
Feb 2007: Completed Radiation
May 2007: Stopped Herceptin due to low LVEF (49%)
July 2007: LVEF now 44% -- starting Coreg
May 2008: Heart NORMAL! Yippee.
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04-02-2007, 12:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Norridgewock, Maine
Posts: 778
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I am off Tykerb for good as we feel I was getting toxic from it, being so ill the last few days of taking it. The Xeloda never did much for me as I had been on that before. hugs, Sandy
__________________
Dx. 03/01, Rt. IBC
AC/Taxatere
Rt. MRM-with graft Lt. simple
5 rads-skin mets
Herceptin, taxol, carboplatin (taxol seem to be the magic drug)
Navelbine & xeloda (did not work)
topical miltex for skin mets
Tykerb/xeloda
thoracentesis x 2 left lung fluid shows cancer cells
Port removal (4 years) with power port replacement
Doxil
Updated 05-07 Scans show no bone or organ involvement we shall see!
I shall not pass this way again. Any good I can do or any kindness that I can show let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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04-02-2007, 02:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,747
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I, too, have a visual of those nasty skin mets shrieking one last terrible time as they melt away into nothingness!!! Keep us posted!!!
__________________
 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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04-04-2007, 02:17 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 63
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Sandy - toxic from Tykerb?
Sandy,
Would you mind expanding on what you mean by Tykerb becoming "toxic" for you?
With hope for continued healing.
Amy
__________________
Amy age 37 at dx
Feb 2008 Multifocal DCIS
Apr 2008 Bilateral Mastectomies
Sister to Laura age 37 at dx
April 2006
9 cm ER-/PR- Her2 +++/bone mets
neoadjuvant TCH plus Zometa
November 2006
bilateral mastectomy - Change to ER+/PR- Her2 +++
January 2007
innumerable tiny brain mets - WBR
March 2007
good response to WBR - some gone, all smaller
currently on Lapatinib and Xeloda
Feb 2008
Brain MRI: brain mets went from innumerable (jan '07) to 5 (june '07) to 3 (oct '07) to 1 that is getting less conspicuous(feb '08) PET/CT: Slight uptake in some sclerotic bone mets
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04-02-2007, 05:30 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Grand Terrace, Southern California
Posts: 114
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I am so sorry. Here are so ((((HUGGS)))
Rendi
__________________
04/97- breast bx. diagnosis breast cancer.
05/97- radical mastectomy; 5cm tumor & 11 lymph nodes.
10/97- City of Hope, high dose chemotherapy.
11/97- 36 radiation therapy.
01/98- NED; tamoxifen.
02/02- breast reconstruction.
08/04- recurrence; mets to rt lung; thoracentesis; femara.
09/04- thoracentesis; ER/PR +, Her2+++.
10/04- total abdominal hysterectomy.
02/06- mets to 9th rib; monthly zometa; arimidex.
06/06- medi port insert; weekly herceptin.
10/06- 3 weeks herceptin treatment.
02/07- mets to liver; arimidex
11/07-liver clear
02/08-chemo taxol/herceptin weekly treatment
12/08-taxol not working
01/09-navelbine/herceptin weelky
03/09-navelbine not working
04/09-xeloda/tykerb
09/09-30 radation to neck; xeloda/tykerb not working
11/09-Gemzar/herceptin weekly
04/10-tykerb/herceptin weekly
06/10-cancer spread to left lung;stop treatment; tap
07/10-right lung collasps; TDM1
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04-02-2007, 05:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Sandy, It sounds like that Doxil is making you a bit misrable....but at the same time I got a kick out of your comment that you are hoping your skin nodules die a horrible death. haha From the sounds of it...I think there is a very good chance of that. Maybe this will be the ticket to knock those down once and for all.
Sorry to hear about your breathing problem...I dealt with that once and it was very un-comfortable to say the least. But things did improve and I hope they do for you soon. You be careful and take good care of yourself. May that Doxil continue kicking come nodules butts.  Hang in there. Sending warm healing thoughts and prayers your way.
Chelee
__________________
DX: 12-20-05 - Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu, 3+++,Er & Pr weakly positive, 5 of 16 pos nodes.
Rt. MRM on 1-3-06 -- No Rads due to compromised lungs.
Chemo started 2-7-06 -- TCH - - Finished 6-12-06
Finished yr of wkly herceptin 3-19-07
3-15-07 Lt side prophylactic simple mastectomy. -- Ooph 4-05-07
9-21-09 PET/CT "Recurrence" to Rt. axllia, Rt. femur, ilium. Possible Sacrum & liver? Now stage IV.
9-28-09 Loading dose of Herceptin & started Zometa
9-29-09 Power Port Placement
10-24-09 Mass 6.4 x 4.7 cm on Rt. femur head.
11-19-09 RT. Femur surgery - Rod placed
12-7-09 Navelbine added to Herceptin/Zometa.
3-23-10 Ten days of rads to RT femur. Completed.
4-05-10 Quit Navelbine--Herceptin/Zometa alone.
5-4-10 Appt. with Dr. Slamon to see what is next? Waiting on FISH results from femur biopsy.
Results to FISH was unsuccessful--this happens less then 2% of the time.
7-7-10 Recurrence to RT axilla again. Back to UCLA for options.
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04-02-2007, 05:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sandy, Sounds like the Doxil is doing its thing! Praying that this will take care of the skin mets for good!
__________________
Kate
Stage IIIC Diagnosed Oct 25, 2005 (age 58)
ER/PR-, HER2+++, grade 3, Ploidy/DNA index: Aneuploid/1.61, S-phase: 24.2%
Neoadjunct chemo: 4 A/C; 4 Taxatore
Bilateral mastectomy June 8, 2006
14 of 26 nodes positive
Herceptin June 22, 2006 - April 20, 2007
Radiation (X35) July 24-September 11, 2006
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
Stage IV lung mets July 13, 2007 - TCH
Single brain met - August 6, 2007 -CyberKnife
Oct 2007 - clear brain MRI and lung mets shrinking.
March 2008 lung met progression, brain still clear - begin Tykerb/Xeloda/Ixempra
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04-02-2007, 07:17 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Greendale, WI
just outside Milwaukee
Posts: 211
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Sending postive vibes your way~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
__________________
04/05 Onset 49, DCIS, solid, Hist 2/3, Nucl 2/3, 7cm R Brst
04/05 E & P + HER2+++
05/05 Mediport
05/05 Cytoxan & Adriamycin every 3wk x4
08/05 Taxol every 2wk x 4, Herceptin every wk x1yr
10/05 Bilat Mast - my Choice
10/05 3/19 lymph nodes Pos, Stage IIIa
11/05 Rad x 37 Rx, R Brst & Axcilla
02/06 Herceptin stopped (L vent HF 40)
03/06 Started & Stoped Arimidex after 2 mos.-QOL side effects
05/06 Started Tamoxafin
06/06 Bilat Free Flap Reconstruction
12/06 Cardiomyopathy reversed-HF normal
01/07 Bilat Saline Implants
07/07 CA 27-29 steadily rising from 28 in 12/06 to 46 in 7/07
07/07 PET Scan NED, but inflamation at prev surg site.
09/07 Started Femara
10/07 CA 27-29 down to 39
06/08 CA 27-29 down to 32
09/08 Lg joint pain & QOL side effects from Femara, will live w/ to keep CA markers within normal range.
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04-02-2007, 07:43 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 943
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Sandy, I am so glad to hear that the Doxil is working wonders. I'll keep praying for you.
__________________
Robin
2002- dx her2 positive DCIS/bc TX Mast, herceptin chemo
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04-02-2007, 08:30 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Hope those nodules fry. I'm picturing more of a star wars light sabre end to them. Hang in there, Bev
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