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08-08-2008, 10:21 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 154
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Joe, wondering how christine is doing?
i've been off line for awhile. Very busy at work. I'm wondering how Christine is doin? I hope i didn't miss any important posts. I'm doing well, going to Vegas in 3 weeks to celebrate my 5 year cancerversary! I told that to my onc. and he asked if I made that up!! He must not read alot of survivor stories!
__________________
Michele Ulmer
Dx.2003 Stage 3b 35 pos nodes
Dx August 2003 Stage 3B with 35/35 nodes IDC age 39
Lumpectomy
A/C x4 Taxol x12
35 radiation tx
1Year Herceptin in trial
HER2 vaccine trial Seattle
3 months Tykerb off label
NED
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08-09-2008, 12:36 AM
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#2
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Founder - HER2 Support Group
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 361
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Heard my name and here Iam...
Hi Michell, I've been busy celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in NJ, then going to baby showers for relatives in the CA area. , Oh! and celebrating my 60 th B-Day on Aug 4th. Joe bought tickets for us to see one of my favorite Broadway musical 'THE PHANTOM OFTHEOPERA". It was really an evening to remember. I would venture to say it was better than the NYC performance. The music and sound effects made it a real treat for me.treat for me.
My health is going well. I have off Herceptin for 5 months and have not progressed . Iam using the Her2serum test ELISA to follow my progress every 2-3 months. I also have good liver, kidney function and all my organs are fine . My radiation Onc has me on a 6 month MRI survielance of my brain and feel very secure about my health status.
With all the advocasy we have been doing for the past 8 yrs, I finally achieved public recognition. Recently a PR firm contacted me to do some Photoshoots with me, Joe and my 2 girls. It was a very great event , and treated me like a celebrity. They piced us up in a trailer with my name printed on the door. Inside there was a lounge, a makeup seating area and a makeup artist to follow me around . They wanted the photos in 3 different locations, the onc & me, The home shots, and pics of me with Joe and my 2 daughters. It was an all day affair. They also videotaped an interview of me.
The grand finale of it all was.... all will be shown on Times Square in NYC in Sept/ OCT this year.
So here I am busy doing well for me, you and all on our world wide web.
Hugs,
Christine
__________________
1990, July DX 1.1cm er-, pr-
Lumpectomy, 5U4, radiation
1999, June mets to chest and brain
HER2 3+++, er- pr-
AC, Taxol, Herceptin, Gamma Knife (3 treatments) WBR
NED July 2001
December 2001 - Founded HER2 Support Group
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08-09-2008, 03:14 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 309
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Hi Michele and Christine
Hope you dont mind me butting in here ladies - but you are both so inspiring to me!
I have recently been diagnosed with 'numerous' mets to my lungs and it looks like one to the brain - with whole brain radiation being spoken about - and it looks like Im switching to Tykerb/Xeloda (in Australia you cant be on Herceptin & Tykerb at the same time).
So another phase of the journey to come to terms with and Im feeling surprisingly positive about this - I guess it's true I AM INSPIRED BY YOU AMAZING WOMEN!!
Thank You for sharing your journey.
Blessings
Hermiracles
__________________
2003 L/DCIS –> LWE: High G./Comedo - 6 nodes clear 6 wks Rx
04/07 2 miracles born ~ very grateful
06/07 Susp areas L/b
09/07 Stage 2 bilat. mastectomy R/ b. clear extens DCIS/IDC Paget’s 8 nodes clear ER(<5%) HER2+++ CT clear
11/07 Portacath - FEC
15/11/07 Stage 4 Emerg op - hip replacemt #NOF bone mets H/Taxotere
12/07 Rx to 'spots' on spine/R/hip/femur 3wkly H
2008 H+T mets to rib/sternum? Aredia CT clear! Cont. H + Aredia 07/08 1 wk Palliative Care - mets to lungs + ?1 to brain
09/08 Stop H complete Epirubicin 1wk PC new brain mets
10/08 2wks WBR 1wk PC 22/10/08 Tykerb/Xeloda 12/08 6 CEREBRAL METS COMPLETELY GONE! Rib mets down to <1cm.
01/09 Tumour markers normal! Rx to L/arm
03/09 LUNGS CLEAR (ALL NODULES GONE!), brain clear, liver clear. Bones stable! ~ THANK YOU GOD
07/09 Repeat CT Scan ~ ALL organs clear apart from bones which remain stable. I walk in gratitude.
***************
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08-09-2008, 07:33 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
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Hello Christine,
Glad to hear your health is going well.
Congrats on the well deserved recognition - we'd all be lost without this site and our HER2 "family."
Happy anniversary and Happy Birthday!
Hope we'll get a chance to see the video
Stay well, stay happy
sarah
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08-09-2008, 07:58 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 27
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Christine,
I am so happy to hear the latest in your life - just wonderful!
How nice about the public recognition! Is there any way there could be a link here to the pictures? I would love to see them.
Thanks so much to you and Joe for your work, and belated happy birthday!
We cancer survivors are ones who NEVER complain about birthdays!!
Best wishes,
Joan
__________________
diagnosed 1/07;
ER+, PR+, HER-2 +;
4.2 cm. invasive ductal carcinoma;
mastectomy 2/07;
SNB negative :-) ;
chemo (AC, followed by Taxol); herceptin scheduled until 6/08 but stopped 11/07 due to LVEF drop)
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08-09-2008, 09:02 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
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Christinte,
Wonderful news - congrats on your 60th, your 25th anniversary and on finally being recognized as the celebrity you and your wonderful family are!!
Best of all- your health is good. And as we all know, if you've got your health, you've got your wealth.
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
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08-09-2008, 10:31 AM
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#7
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Webmaster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home of the "Flying Tomato"
Carlsbad, CA
Posts: 2,036
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Here are some pictures:
__________________
A Proud webmaster to the internet's most informed, educated, COMPASSIONATE and caring group of breast cancer survivors.
Illegitimi non carborundum
My Album
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08-09-2008, 11:03 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: PA
Posts: 27
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^^ Lovely! Thanks so much for sharing them -- please let us know when the interview is available!
Appreciatively,
Joan
__________________
diagnosed 1/07;
ER+, PR+, HER-2 +;
4.2 cm. invasive ductal carcinoma;
mastectomy 2/07;
SNB negative :-) ;
chemo (AC, followed by Taxol); herceptin scheduled until 6/08 but stopped 11/07 due to LVEF drop)
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08-09-2008, 11:21 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Great, thanks for sharing and congratulations
Christine.
patb
__________________
patb
Diagnosed June, 06, Stage I, Grade3, ER+PR- Her2positive, No Nodes. A/C X 4. Radiation 33 with boost, Herceptin every two weeks until Nov.
07, Arimedex for 5 years. Mugas and Echo and chest xRay. Bone scan of whole Body, and Back of Brain and spine MRI.
CT scan of Lungs every six months
due to two small places. December
2009, bone scan due to bone pain.
Follow up test in 2010.
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08-09-2008, 12:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Christine,
That is so cool! Great pictures and I know that you gave an ispiring interview! Anxious to hear it!
With the movie being done on her2+ bc, I really think it would be awesome to have you and Joe recognized for the advocate work you do for thousands. Truly inspiring!
Lexi
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08-09-2008, 01:20 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Joe, wondering how christine is
Aloha,
Happy Birthday Christine !! Congratulations on good health and a long survival. We are proud of you for that and for all the wonderful work you do.
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08-09-2008, 01:45 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: I live in Christmas, MI - located on the shores of Lake Superior.
Posts: 606
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How wonderful! Thanks so much for the pictures.
__________________
Barb
10/03 Radical Mastectomy 3 cm tumor - 1/17 Nodes Stage II B, Her 2 +++ ER-/PR- 11/03 4 AC 4 Taxol 12/05 Stage IV - Lung met , Bone mets - Carbo, Taxotere, Herceptin 9/06 - 2 cm brain tumor 10/06 - Tumor removal surgery - Herceptin Halted 12/06 gamma knife tumor base.1/07 Navelbine/Herceptin 4/07 Rads to R femur 5/07 Stereotactic - new 2 cm brain tumor 4/07 Start Xeloda 5/07 Tykerb added 7/07 Brain MRI clean 10/07 .055 cm brain met found. 12/07 Stereotactic -1 cm brain tumor Start Tykerb 11/07 Abraxane/Herceptin 5/08 Cisplatin, Gemcitabine/Herceptin 6/08 Stereotactic to 1cm 9/08 Stereotactic repeat (growth). 11/08 Pet Scan Good but new tiny met on L lung/dead Brain surgery (no cancer cells found/scar tissue) 1/09 Chemo restarted 2/09 Pet Scan Bad - R larger very active/active L active lymph nodes both sides of chest MRI- mets slight increase 2/09 Start Doxil/Tykerb Treatment
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08-09-2008, 04:25 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Poland Ohio just a little south of Youngstown.
Posts: 473
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This is so awesome! Christine, you look absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for posting the pictures of your family, they're great.
__________________
Susan
Age: 61
dx: 5/25/06
2 cm/ 0 nodes
Lumpectomy rt breast on 7/26/06
ER/PR- / Her2+++
A/C x 4
finished taxotere 2/07
finished 33 rads
Herceptin finished 12/07/07 Yippee!
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08-09-2008, 05:46 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
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Great to hear from y ou Christine, you are for sure an inspiration to many of us. Also Cogratulations! for all the events going on in you life. The pictures are terrific, I can see you guys had a wonderful time. All my love
Paty
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
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08-09-2008, 05:55 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Well, the world just might catch up with how much a celebrity you truly are! Christine, that is so wonderful. A beautiful family, good health, the opportunity to impact even more people and get credit for all the people you continue to bless. I'm so happy for you and wish you the very best for lots and lots more years to come. How did you decide to stop the herceptin? ma
__________________
MA in TX.
Grateful for each and every day....
Diag. 12/05 at age 60
Stage II, Grade 3, 4.5 cm primary tumor
ER/PR- Her2 +3 strongly positive
Her2 by FISH 7.7 amplified
vascular invasion
Ki67 20% borderline
Jan - March '06 Taxotere/Adriamycin X 3 to try to shrink tumor - it grew
April '06 Rt Modified Radical Mas, 7 of 9 nodes positive
April - Aug. '06 Herceptin/Taxol/Carboplatin X 8 (dose dense)
Sept - Dec. '06 Navelbine/Herceptin x 8 (dose dense)
Radiation & Herceptin Jan. 22 - March 1, 2007
Finished Herceptin Dec. 10 '08! One extra year.
Port removed August, 2012.
8 1/2 years since diagnosis! 5 1/2 Years NED!
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08-09-2008, 06:08 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 48
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Christine, thank you for posting. How refreshing, to have someone recongnized, that is an advocate of survivors. You truly know how to move forward in a positive light. Bless you,
Hugs,
Diana.
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08-09-2008, 06:45 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Hi Christine, When are you moving to Hollywood! This is really wonderful news. I'm so happy you're doing well. You're such an inspiration. Thanks for the photos, and please let the HER2 guys and gals in NY know when the showing is scheduled at Times Square. I'd love to see the video. Best, 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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08-09-2008, 07:01 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 438
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I am so happy to hear you are doing well Christine.
Hugs,
Karen
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08-09-2008, 07:18 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 183
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Michele,
It is great to see your post again!! Congratulations on your 5th year cancerversary!! Cheers!! Here is to 50 more!! Have a wonderful time in Vegas!!
Christine, will they air the video at some point? If not, is there a way that it can be shown on this site?
Thank you so much for all you and Joe do and have done for all cancer survivors!!
__________________
Anita
er, pr-, Her2+++
Stage 2b, grade 3
negative nodes
4 rounds AC
3 months of weekly taxol
1 yr of Herceptin
Finish Herceptin May 2007
35 rounds of Radiation
Reconstruction completed Dec 2007
Implant replaced due to infection Mar 2008
4 Years NED!!!
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08-09-2008, 09:45 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Christine,
Its great to "see" you on the boards. Happy belated birthday! We all know what a star you are, and its about time everyone else recognized it too.
Thanks to you and Joe for creating this safe haven and place of knowledge for us.
__________________
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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