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07-27-2012, 03:42 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Just found out that Christine, Our Founder of her2support is still in the rehab center...maybe we could shower her with cards and posts here to keep her spirits up....without her, we would not have each others support. This was her idea, her vision, and look how far its come...WE OWE HER!!!!!
Christine Druther
Emeritus of Carmel Valley Room 185
13101 Hartfield Avenue
San Diego , CA 92130
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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07-27-2012, 06:16 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Thanks for the heads up Sheila and please would you pm me an addess to send a card to? Sorry to know you're not well Christine and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers! xx
__________________
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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07-27-2012, 07:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Thanks to Sheila for posting this reminder that Christine needs all our love and support. She may never get a lot better, but she is cognizent and will appreciate notes and cards.
__________________
"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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07-27-2012, 09:42 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Sheila,
Thanks for sharing the address for Christine in your post.
Lets all show Christine how much we appreciate what she and Joe did for each of us in their creation of this wonderful website filled with knowledge and support. It has been a lifeline for me and I am sure for many others here too.
__________________
Rhonda (Sassy)
dx age 45
DX 2/15/05 Stage IIb (at surgery)restaged IIIa
Left mast .9cm tumor 5 of 14 nodes
Triple Positive
4 DD A/C
12 Taxol/Herceptin
33Rads
Strange infect mast site one year aft surg, hosp 1 wk
Herceptin for total of 18 months
Lupron Monthly 4 yrs
Neurontin for aches, pains and hot flashes(It works!)
Ovaries removed 11/09 stop Lupron and Neurontin
Arimidex 6 yrs (tried Femara, no SE improvement)
Tried Exemestane-hips got so bad could hardly walk
Back to Arimidex for year seven
Zometa 2X Annual for 7years, Lasix
Stop Arimidex 5/13
Stop Zometa 7/13-Bi-lateral Stress Fractures in Femurs from Zometa
5/14 Start Tamoxifen
3/15 Stem cell transplant to stimulate femur bone growth/healing
5/15 Complete fracture of right femur/Titanium rods both femurs
9/16 Start Evista stopTamoxifen
3/17 Stop Evista--unwelcome side effects!
NED and no meds.......
14YEARS NED!
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07-27-2012, 10:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,173
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Thank you Ladies! I'm writing the card now! I am so greatful to Christine and the three of you Ladies! Gods blessings to all of you! I do keep you in my prayers.
Your friend,
Nancy
__________________
dx 11/12/09 IDCI
Stage 3a
ER 98% PR 80%
Her2 +3
4/12 nodes
6 rounds TCH
Herceptin 12 months 3weeks
Rad. 30 tx
Tamoxifin 6 months stopped
Arimedex stopped 9/12 (side effects)
Aromasin 10/12
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07-27-2012, 11:01 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,210
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Done! Thanks for the information. Hope she is soon home.
__________________
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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07-28-2012, 07:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Sheila,
Thanks for letting us know about Christine. She has been on my mind ... and I had just emailed Debra about her yesterday. Christine started this wonderful group, and for that I'm ever grateful to her.
Joan
__________________
Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
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07-28-2012, 09:26 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Good golly, YES - Thanks for sharing that, Sheila!
A.A.
__________________
Dx 2002 age 51
bc for granny, aunt, cousin, sister, mother.
ER+/PR+/HER2+++, grade 3
IDC 1.9 cm, some DCIS, Stage 1, Grade 3
Lumpectomy, CAFx6 (no blood boosters), IMRT rads, 1 3/4 yr tamoxifen
Rads necrosis
BRCA 1 & 2 negative
Trials: Early detection OVCA; 2004 low-dose testosterone for bc survivors
Diet: Primarily vegetarian organic; metformin (no diabetes), vitamin D3
Exercise: 7 days a week, 1 hr/day
No trastuzumab, no taxane, no AI
NED
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07-28-2012, 10:04 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Hello,
thank you Sheila for keeping us informed. This is sad news. I do hope she is not in pain.
Will definitely get another card out to her. She's such a special person as was Joe. Certainly this site is a lifeline for us all and a place where we know we have friends to turn to. I would certainly feel lost without it and the great and varied people on it.
health and happiness
sarah
__________________
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07-28-2012, 11:34 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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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Sheila doh!! I just saw you posted the address lol, thank you!
__________________
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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07-28-2012, 01:35 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 858
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
I will send another card from Paris on Monday. Christine is our "head of family". I am so grateful.
Joe and Christine gave their time and love to create the HER2 support Group. For us, for me. I still hope she will get better. Michka
__________________
08.2006 3 cm IDC Stage 2-3, HER2 3+ ER+90% PR 20%
FEC, Taxol+ Herceptin, Mastectomy, Radiation, Herceptin 1 year followed by Tykerb 1 year,Aromasin /Faslodex
12.2010 Mets to liver,Herceptin+Tykerb
03.2011 Liver resection ER+70% PR-
04.2011 Herceptin+Navelbine+750mg Tykerb
06.2011 Liver ned, Met to sternum. Added Zometa 09.2011 Cyberknife for sternum
11.2011 Pet clear. Stop Navelbine, continuing on Hercpetin+Tykerb+Aromasin
02.2012 Mets to lungs, nodes, liver
04.2012 TDM1, Ned in 07.2012
04.2015 Stop TDM1/Kadcyla, still Ned, liver problems
04.2016 Liver mets. Back on Kadcyla
08.2016 Kadcyla stopped working. mets to liver lungs bones
09.2016 Biopsy to liver. no more HER2, still ER+
09.2016 CMF Afinitor/Aromasin/ Xgeva.Met to eye muscle Cyberknife
01.2017 Gemzar/Carboplatin/ Ibrance/Faslodex then Taxotere
02.2017 30 micro mets to brain breathing getting worse and worse
04.2017 Liquid biopsy/CTC indicates HER2 again. Start Herceptin with Halaven
06.2017 all tumors shrunk 60% . more micro mets to brain (1mm mets) no symptoms
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07-28-2012, 09:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Thank you Sheila. I have not been on the site for a month or so, but glad I found your post tonight. I am writing a card right now. Christine and Joe were a vision of hope for me, when I just entered the BC space. You and the other people on this site are still my buddies and my heroes. When I meet someone new to the cancer world, I tell them to get on line and find their online home and support.
All the best,
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
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07-29-2012, 07:50 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Boulder Colorado as of January 2013
Posts: 391
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
I too want to thank Christine for this site. It is worth noting that there have been several women whose lives were saved by what they (or people close to them) read on this site. There is no greater pride you can have than knowing you have helped hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Our debt to Christine and Joe can never be repaid, but by helping others were can Pay it Forward as we should.
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07-29-2012, 07:54 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 105
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Our case, to do IT herceptin, was inspired by Courtney and then Rolepaul.
Thank you Christine, you saved us. We would have never done this procedure without this site.
Mario
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07-29-2012, 09:43 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
So sorry to hear this and I was just thinking of YOU!!!! Will definately send Christine wishes and I hope you are well also. Huggs to all. Take care everyone.
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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07-29-2012, 10:34 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 88
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Will do! Several of us asked about her on
a post about her in the caregiving section -
but there were no replies.
SO - I'm grateful to know how she is doing
at least.
Kim
__________________
------------------------------
Dx Stage 3C 2005, triple +, tons of lymph nodes as well. FEC, surgery, TCH, rads, herceptin 1 year. And, Aromasin.
2007 - recurrence to medistinal lymph node, Abraxene and Herceptin - took it down 50%
2008 - on Arimidex/Herceptin - stable lymph node.
2009 - stable on Arimidex/Herceptin
2010 - lymph node progression and liver mets.
2010 - went on Gemzar, Navelbine, Herceptin - Navelbine and Herceptin took liver mets down. lymph node slightly progressed.
2010 - did Xeloda & Tykerb - MAJOR progression in liver in only 6 weeks.
Dec 2010 - present - Ixempra/Avastin/Herceptin/Fasoldex - regressing
June 2012 - chemo break
Sept 19, 2012 - start t-dm1. Chose this over going back on Ixempra.
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07-31-2012, 02:55 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 432
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Thanks Sheila.If I send a card it will take a fortnight.Can you just send one from Hema.
__________________
PBK
huband of Hema
Metstatic Breast Cancer Stage 4
Left breast cauliflower 25x20cm
ossousmetstatis in vertbrae secondaries L4=L5secondary
nodules in both liver lobes secondary
Diagnosed 10th March 2010
ER/PR-ve
Her 2 neu +++
Taxotrne Zylotec started 16th March
Herceptin added 5th April.9th Herceptin over on 20th Sep '10.Started on Tykerb and Xeloda on 22nd Oct2010TYKERB 4 TAB A DAY XELODA 4 TAB A DAY ONE WEEK ON ONE WEEK OFFZoletrust infusion every 4 months.Lesion in Brain 3D CRT Radiation started on 1st Feb'12 for 20 days ,5 days a week for 4 weeks.Devloped a small lump in breast.Xeloda stopped from 11th April '12.On Taxol.After 3 cycles of Taxol Taxol stopped.Back to Xeloda regime from 3rd July
Herceptin started again on 27th Dec 2012.Xeloda stopped Navelbin added on 7th February 2013.Now on Tykerb Herceptin and Navelbin
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07-31-2012, 12:13 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 510
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
Just sent her some nice flowers. Hope they brighten her day.
__________________
ER+ (30%)/PR-/HER-2+, stage 3
Diagnosed on 02/18/09 at 38 with a huge 12x10 cm tumor, after a 6 month delay. Told I was too young and had no risk factors. Found swollen node during breastfeeding.
March-August 09: neo-adjuvant chemo, part of a trial at Stanford (4 DD A/C, 4 Taxotere with daily Tykerb), loading dose of Herceptin
08/12/09 - bye bye boobies (bilateral mastectomy)
08/24/09 - path report shows 100 % success in breast tissue (no cancer there, yay!), 98 % success in lymphatic invasion, and even though 11/13 nodes were still positive, > 95 % of the tumor in them was killed. Hoping for the best!
September-October 09: rads with daily Xeloda
02/25/10 - Cholecystectomy
05/27/10 - Bone scan clear
06/14/10 - CT scan clear, ovarian cyst found
07/27/10 - Done with Herceptin!
02/15/11 - MVA-BN HER-2 vaccine trial
03/15/11 - First CA 15-3: 12.7 and normal, yay!
10/01/11 - Bone scan and CT scan clear, fatty liver found
now on Tamoxifen and Aspirin
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08-01-2012, 03:55 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,843
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
You are a star Christine. I hope you feel much better very soon. (-:
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08-01-2012, 05:20 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Re: Christine, Our Founder Needs Our Support
I have my fingers crossed for success !! It doesn't matter how slowly you do it just keep going and you will have succes.
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