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Old 07-04-2008, 01:43 PM   #1
Andrea Barnett Budin
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
Wink Harrie Canarie...

Hello Maryanne!

You have been on my mind. I think I owe you an email. No, I know I owe you one. You are such a sweetheart. And I love your spiritual quest. You go, girl!

When I was orig dx, in '95, I was considered *borderline* ER/PR. So they put me on Tamoxifen, hoping I would gain some benefit.

When I recurred in '98, I was ER-/PR-. I was told to toss the Tamoxifen in the toilet. No good FOR ME.

I also found out about the newly discovered HER2 neu gene, and tested 80% positive for that!

Paul and I had been keeping up to date re bc, so we requested that test. Herceptin was still in clinical trials. I tried to get into one, to no avail. Too much Adria in '95. HOWEVER, The FDA fast-tracked this life-saving drug that tens of thousands were being denied access to.

So I became metastatic (throughout my liver) in Aug of '98. And Herceptin became available to met bc patients Sept. 28, 1998! I was so lucky. In the right place at the right time.

Had I received Herceptin as newbies now can do, perhaps I never would have recurred. Or had to deal w/Taxotere.

Still and all, I am grateful for that horrid drug. It helped save my life! And put me into remission.

Now I remain on Herceptin (in my 10th year!!) -- keeping further mets at bay.

I feel so blessed.

Love your attitude, Harrie Canarie... HUGS TO YOU!

Happy 4th. We are free to be!!

Andi
__________________
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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