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04-19-2007, 04:07 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 153
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One Year
Well everyone, I reached another milestone today. One year since my very first chemo treatment. This time last year, I had no idea what to expect, no idea what was going on and scared to death. Since then I have become so educated when it comes to breast cancer and its treatments. I've faced my mortality and decided to make the best of my life for my kids, husband and myself. In a funny sort of way bc has helped me appreciate the smaller things in life you just don't have time to appreciate. I still have my moments when I wonder what the future holds, but the fear is no longer there. Human life can adapt to whatever is thrown at it, when in the beginning you think, " I can't do this!" So much has changed in a year, but most of all I have to say I truly found out what a wonderful, supportive, loving circle of family and friends I have around me. When the going go tough, I had the community I live in and I have to thank God for guiding me back home to be here at this time in my life. I don't think I could have gotten through the past year without them. And to you ladies, who have been my source of information, education and help with whatever I had on my mind. Christine and Joe, this support group was my lifeline through those long sleepless nights. Im only looking forward from here.
Thanks
Dawn
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Dawn
Mar 2006Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu 3+++, Er & Pr positive, 8 of 18 pos 03/14/06: Mastectomy 04/19/06 started Chemo adriamycin, chlophosphamide, taxotere 25 rads
Nov 1, 06: 3 years Tamoxifen, Herceptin (1yr)
Jan 2009 Femara mets to bone aromasin and aredia
June2009: Full Histerectomy
2/22/2010 6 spots in liver 2 mm-10 mm: switched to xeloda and Herceptin will continue with Aredia J
Scan February 2011 new onc, switch to abraxane
April 2011 NED clear organs, 3 spots on bone scar tissue.
Scans August 2mm spot on liver and lungs. now on to tykerb/xeloda
Dec 2011 scans nothing on lungs, liver down to 1 2 mm spot. j
une 2012 another spot on liver on to cisplatin/gemzar.
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04-19-2007, 05:17 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 247
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Congrats Dawn, My 1 year will not be until August. I have found myself already moving away from anxiety over this "challenge". I am going back to work in May and I am sure that will keep me occupied. I am scared to go back. No one from work has seen me since all this started and I am doubting my ability to perform my job how I did before. If I can't what happens then?
Whatever happens I know I have the Her2 suport group behind me 100%. Thank you all very much!!
__________________
Laurie
Diagonsed 8/10/06 (found own lump)at 35
Her 2 +++, er-/pr-
4 A/C 8-29-06 to 11-06
Lumpectomy, node dissection- 11/30/06
Pathology report stage IIIC
1 tumor 3 cm
10 of 15 nodes +
12 Taxol 12/18/06-03/06/07
Herceptin 12/18/06- 12/11/2007 done!!! yeah!!!
33 rads started 3/22/07, done!! yeah!! 5/07/07
Lymphedema diagonsed 2/1/07
BRCA1/BRCA2 negative
port out 1/10/08
pregnant after 6 yeas of trying- due mid feb.
Ryder David Kessel Hunter born feb.6th 2009
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04-19-2007, 05:29 PM
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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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Congratulations Dawn! You are right when you say breast cancer teaches us soooo much. It definitely wasn't a bad thing in my book. Like you, it made me face my mortality, it's strengthened my faith incredibly, and has also taught me to enjoy each and every day I have breath.
A blessing for sure.
Mary Jo
P.S. And Laurie - you will be fine. Not a doubt in my mind. Your co-workers will welcome you back with open arms and all will be well.
__________________
"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
Last edited by Mary Jo; 04-19-2007 at 05:30 PM..
Reason: wanted to add a post script
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04-19-2007, 07:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Yipee....
Dawn,
How wonderful! One year! Enjoy you cancerversary and just do something
great. Isn't it just amazing how one year can reorganize your entire mind?
You sound like such a fighter - I wish you continued success.
Hugs,
Jean
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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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04-19-2007, 07:36 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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Laurie,
I also want to wish you luck when you go back to work.
I am sure it will feel strange but after the first day it will
begin to shape right back in place. It reminds me of when my
son had to go back to school after a long summer break.
He would worry about the new teacher and if he would
have some old friends in the new class. I used to tell
him - once the initial first day is done - the second day
is a snap. First day jitters....we all have them.
I am sure everyone at work will be happy you are back
and welcome you warmly. Good luck.
Kind Regards,
Jean
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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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04-20-2007, 03:57 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Dawn, Big Congratulations! I can sure relate to all those feelings you had when your first started all this. How a year can certainly change things.  It really helps to have a great bunch of family and friends as you did to help you along the way. God bless them all. Here's to many happy years ahead, and may all your dreams come true.
Chelee
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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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04-20-2007, 04:36 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: IOWA
Posts: 243
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Dawn - congratulations on 1 year! May the next year go much better for you. I agree with you...this website is the greatest!
__________________
Andi
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Stage IIIC, 17 of 20 Nodes +, E+, Her2+++
Diagnosed 6/30/05
Lumpectomy 7/13/05
Dose Dense A/C x 4
Weekly Taxol + Herceptin x 12
Remainder of year Herceptin Every 3 weeks (completes 9/13/06)
Radiation completed 2/28/06
Currently on Tamoxifen
Dec 06 - Pleural effusion treated with pleurodesis
Now er/pr-, her2++
1/07 started weekly Navelbine plus Herceptin
Discontinued Tamoxifen
4/27/07 CTshowed progression
5/01/07 Began Tykerb/Xeloda + Zometa
5/22/07 Stopped treatment due to great progression
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04-20-2007, 04:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 96
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Good for you
Well Dawn, what a fabulous photo, full of life and love, it made me smile and feel cheered just to look at it.
Well done on not only surviving this past year but also finding the joy in living in the present, and in little moments. That's what this has given me, too. My anniversary was March 9th, and I felt such a mixture of emotions - astonishment at what I'd been through, and just where exactly did that year go?? How is it possible to have changed so much in one year? I wouldn't have wished for this to have happened to me, but I live very differently now, and intend to be around to practice the new me for a loooong time, because it's pretty good quite a lot of the time.
Thank you for sharing your happiness here and for reminding me about mine.
Caroline
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Caroline
Diag. March 10th 2006, aged 46.
Invasive ductal carcinoma, 2cm + multifocal. Stage 2, Grade 3
HER2+++, ER+/PR+
Right mast. May 2006. 6 of 20 nodes positive
FEC x 4, taxotere x 4; port implanted after 6 cycles
Rads x 25
1 year of Herceptin ended Nov 07.
Arimidex 5 years
Considering reconstruction, maybe soon...
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04-20-2007, 05:20 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Congratulations Dawn! Make sure you do something special for yourself.
Also congratulations to Laurie. And don't worry about returning to work. You'll do fine and your co-workers will welcome you with open arms!
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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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