SHADOW, I AM SO SORRY YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS CANCER ORDEAL, BUT YOU HAVE COME TO A GREAT PLACE HERE. I must agree with Penelope and all the Woman Warriors that have posted in response to your quest for input. I have been hanging around chemo rooms and onc offices for 12 yrs. I am stage 4, but I have seen a lot and met many a woman in your position.
This highly aggressive cancer came back in my case in 3 yrs. I did not have the benefit of Herceptin in 1995, not yet available. However, it has saved my life since my metastasis in '98 and it's fortuitous arrival for all met HER2 bc patients at the same time. Synchronicity can be a beautiful thing. You can see from my story below why I am grateful with each new day.
You with benefit of chemo and Herceptin from the getgo will do well, Shadow. Do it for yourself, and for those you love who love and need you. It is a very personal decision, not taken lightly. But w/no regrets you will have new eyes with which to enjoy being alive more than you ever imagined possible. As someone noted, we are all much stronger than we think we are. We are much braver than we imagined. Take control of your life, Shadow and move forward, well informed and fully armed! Keep us posted, please. We will be thinking of you...
Andi
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...
'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...
Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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Hybrid Mode
