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08-23-2008, 09:53 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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The Kindness of Strangers.
Yesterday I was making an overnight shipment of books to a friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. The gal behind the counter at the post office was wearing a bejeweled breast cancer support pin. I told her I was a survivor also and was sending the books to a friend.
Today my friend received the books and thanked me for the PIN as well!! But I had not sent one. It had a note attached saying it has worked miracles. The gal at the post office had sent HER pin in the package!!!! Isn't that amazing????
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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08-23-2008, 10:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,809
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I received my first breast cancer pin from a lady working in the hospital. She noticed how deranged I was just getting the diagnosis and offered me her pin. I wore it on my cap through out the treatment. The spirit of our sisterhood in this ordeal is truly amazing.
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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08-24-2008, 05:37 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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What a wonderful story Bonnie. Thanks for sharing a story about one of God's Angel's with us. Awesome!
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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08-24-2008, 05:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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That is amazing Bonnie and it speaks volumes about our
sisterhood. Thanks for sharing this story - very heart
warming. I was overwhelmed by the kindness shown to
me when I was first diagnosed ... it came from friends, family,
strangers and people who have fought or are still fighting this
disease. Obviously, that post office clerk "gets it".
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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08-24-2008, 10:57 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,747
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That's a great story, Bonnie! When I was bald, in the midst of chemo, I went into a little boutique near our house. The woman behind the counter asked if I was going through chemo. I said, yes, breast cancer. She was a survivor too and told me to pick out any hat that I wanted in the shop! How to brighten someone's day!!
__________________
 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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08-24-2008, 04:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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What great stories from all of you! Those are what we need to hear more of.
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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08-24-2008, 04:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Maybe this will turn into another "joy column" type thread.
I can add that the new hairdresser I started going to after treatment would not charge me for my first haircut.
__________________
Bonnie
Post menopause
May 2007 Core biopsy, Rt breast
ER+, Pr-, HER2 +++, Grade 3
Ki-67: 90%
"suspicious area" left breast
Bilateral mastectomy, (NED on left) May 2007
Sentinel Node Neg
Stage 1, DCIS with microinvasion, 3 mm, mostly removed during the biopsy....
Femara (discontinued 7/07) Resumed 10/07
OncoType score 36 (July 07)
Began THC 7/26/07 (d/c taxol and carboplatin 10/07)
Began Herceptin alone 10/07
Finished Herceptin July /08
D/C Femara 4/10 (joint pain/trigger thumb!)
5/10 mistakenly dx with lung cancer. Middle rt lobe removed!
Aromasin started 5/10
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08-24-2008, 07:54 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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People are wonderful
A lady from my church who I did not know very well, came over before chemo and cleaned my house. She also check for evidence of mold. She brought me tons of healthy things to eat, tea, a seperate set of towels and a chemo bag to take to infusions. I cried because of her kindness. Her young daughter had battled cancer and she totally got it.
People never cease to amaze me with kindness. Thanks for sharing this story. Not only was it heart-warming but it reminds me of times people have been so kind to me. Good memories.
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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08-24-2008, 08:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,077
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The Lord does work in mysterious ways. Bear with me. I got home tonight and needed to put some food away into a plastic/tupperware container. I put the food into the container on the counter below the cabinet where I have 92 tupperware containers and lids, all mis-matched with no semblance of order. I was rooting around for a few minutes in the cabinet for the lid and could not find it. I gave up and then reached down to scoop the food into a container that I had a lid for, but Lo and Behold, the right lid was laying perfectly atop atop the container on the counter. All I had to do was was snap it shut and say a prayer of thanks. Then, I needed some AA batteries for a music player, and as I was rooting through a drawer, I discovered a beautiful breast cancer pin I had never seen or heard of before. It is pink (duh) and gold with a rose/leaf type thing in the middle as a knot. It is a beautiful piece of actual jewelry. Sweet Bonnie, your post has warmed me up. Love ya, Bill
__________________
For Nicola
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08-24-2008, 08:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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The kindness of strangers
What wonderful experiences !! I found kindness from strangers since my diagnosis when I least expected it.
Today I experienced some kindness from my niece who I have not heard from in many years and who was afraid she would "catch" breast cancer from me when I was diagnosed 9 1/2 years ago. I got an e-mail telling me she thinks I am a very strong woman today. Her very best friend who she grew up with and with whom she is still close has been fighting uterine cancer for 2 years. My niece "gets it" now. I am hoping my niece and I can be be friends from now on.
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08-25-2008, 12:30 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Thats a great story Bonnie, my experience was at times stranger's can be more supportive than family! We have only to look at the threads, support and love here on this board to see how heart warming that can be.
__________________
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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08-25-2008, 11:02 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 3,000
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Bonnie
Priceless>>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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