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07-26-2008, 06:16 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Posts: 2,582
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Sharing with those of you who get it.....
Good Morning her2 family........
I want to share with the "family" that "gets it!" (My other family thinks it's been over for a long time) My 3 YEAR cancerversary is Monday. Three LONG years already. Amazing!!! It's been quite a journey as each of you understand. The word "blessed" would describe it the best. That's not to say it's all been wonderful - OH MY GOSH ....NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, it is to say that I've learned much along the way and I believe God has used each day to bring me closer to Him and for that I feel blessed. I thank Him for each day and carry on as a SURVIVOR who loves life TOTALLY and COMPLETELY.
One of my BIGGEST blessings has been this site and each one of you who make up this site. Thank you for being a friend to me....thanks for listening to me.....supporting me.......encouraging me and being their who no one else understands. You are all the BEST.
I love you guys VERY MUCH! (and thank you Joe and Christine for making it all possible for each of us)
Mary Jo
__________________
"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
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07-26-2008, 08:02 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
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Congratulations on your 3rd cancerversary -
you are right in that people who haven't lived it don't get it.
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07-26-2008, 09:34 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Congratulations on the 3 year mark Mary Jo! Just think that 3 years ago today you could fathom that you'd have new perky breasts and a flatter tummy too. Joking aside, I believe that more personal growth occured in those years than would have otherwise. The human spirit, fed by God, family, friends and stranger becomes millions of times better - richer beyond what anyone but another survivor can imagine. The ying and the yang of cancer.
Enjoy the day
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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07-26-2008, 10:07 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
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We certainly understand the journey. Praising God for your three years of NED. I hope you do something fun on Monday to celebrate.
love to you,
Tonya
__________________
DX 02/01/07
2.5 cm, Er/Pr-, Her2+++
18/20 Nodes
03/07 CT & Bone scan - Clear
AC x 4, Taxol x 4, Added Herceptin
Radiation until 09/07
Herceptin every 3 weeks until 06/08
01/10/08 local recurrence -IBC
01/28/08 CT & Brain MRI - clear
02/08 - Navelbine & Herceptin
05/08 -MRM
05/08 - Gemzar & Herceptin - didn't work
09/08 - Hyperthermia rads
03/09 - Tykerb/Xeloda
05/10 - Tram flap to fix wound
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07-26-2008, 10:36 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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Many congratulations to you Marejo on your three years! I certainly do "get it"..last month when I celebrated my three years I told hubby we had to go out to celebrate and have dinner. He looked at me strangely and said "I thought you'd want to forget that rather than celebrate"!! Aaahhhhh...
He's generally quite good and has been all along but it just proved once again to me how no one can understand how we truely feel about bc.
(Except all you of course)
Have a great day 
__________________
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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07-26-2008, 10:46 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
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Congratulations! Now go out and celebrate!
__________________
dx aug 03 invasive dcis 1 cm
er/pr/her2+
bcs 8/4/03
bcs 8/21/03 0/16 nodes
tx 4x ca 36 rad tam
postmenopausal 06 aromasin
sept 07 biopsy node in neck
muga/pet/cat/bone mets to lungs nodes and liver stage iv
tx hki-272
tx not working switched to taxol herceptin
Taxol not working switched to navelbine
navelbine is causing bad neuropathy
starting gemzar
gemzar quit on me now on Ixempra due to increasing number and size of liver mets
another progression starting tykerb/xeloda
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07-26-2008, 04:51 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Congratulations, Mary Jo! And thank you for all that you bring to the support group. You are a very special person and a wonderful presence here. 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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07-26-2008, 06:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 2,193
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Yes marejo, this is the place that "gets it". Congrats on your three years. I'll be joining you in early September.
I often tell people that you can't understand this journey
unless you have traveled it. I always add that I do not mean
that people are uncaring or cavalier about what we are going
through. Even the very well-meaning, kind and considerate people
don't totally "get it".
Congratulations!!!
__________________
PinkGirl
Dx Aug/05 at age 51
2cm. Stage 2A, Grade 3
ER+/PR-
Her2 +++
Sept 7/05 Mastectomy
4 FAC, 4 Taxol, no radiation
1 year of Herceptin
Tamoxifen for approx. 4 months,
Arimidex for 5 years
Prophylactic mastectomy June 22/09
" I yam what I yam." - Popeye
My Photo Album
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07-26-2008, 06:46 PM
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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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Congratulations on three years. Everyone I know who
has not been on this journey or one like it seems to know that everything is fine with me and to just get on
with it. Little do they know, I am the new normal.
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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07-26-2008, 07:08 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
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Marejo,
Heartfelt congratulations on your 3 year cancerversary.
I think that a big part of what others DON'T "GET" is that we now celebrate life more than before BC, and probably more than those who have not had a similar experience. BC has affected my life more than most anything else---both positively and negatively.
Our cancerversaries are the celebration of another year of life---a life that had been threatened---but we have survived!
So lets all continue to celebrate with one another, and within ourselves. And Marejo, you are an inspiration to us all to do just that.
Here's to many more years of NED! Have a wonderful day Marejo!
__________________
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.......
14 YEARS NED!
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07-26-2008, 08:21 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: NY
Posts: 240
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Congratulations Mary Jo on your three year anniversary - and thank you for being so inspirational. You are absolutely right - we are all truly blessed on this journey especially since we have each other!
__________________
xxoo
Kathy
2/5/08 - dx age 53, post-menopausal;
IDC Stage 1, Grade 1
ER+ 90% /PR+ 90% /Her2++++, BRAC1 & 2 neg
3/5/08 - mast with muscle-sparing free tram;
0/7 nodes clear; Stage 1 lymphedema in right arm
3/11/08 - MRSA infection in abdomen causes large hernia
4/11/08 - Oncotype DX score 22 (intermediate)
4/12/08 - Muga score 67%
4/23/08 - Chemo, Navelbine and Herceptin every 2 weeks
8/20/08 - Last Navelbine infusion! Yay!
1/22/09 - First mammo since dx - unaffected breast CLEAR!
1/30/09 - Second Muga score 63%
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07-26-2008, 09:10 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 1,867
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Hey Sis DIEP! Congratulations!!! 3 yrs...NED....way to go!! ANd we all thank YOU for all the inspiration and support you give to so many here!!
HarrieCanareeeeeeeeeeee
PS...I really like your pic. You look really good!!
__________________
*** MARYANNE *** aka HARRIECANARIE
1993: right side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads
1999: left side DCIS, lumpectomy, rads, tamoxifen
2006:
BRCA 2 positive
Stage I, invasive DCIS (6mm x 5mm)
Grade: intermediate
sentinal node biopsy: neg
HER2/neu amplified 4.7
ER+/PR+
TOPO II neg
Oncotype dx 20
Bilat mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction
oophorectomy
2007:
6 cycles TCH (taxotere, carboplatin, herceptin)
finished 1 yr herceptin 05/07
Arimidex, stopped after almost 1 yr
Femara
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07-26-2008, 10:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Maryjo,
We all rejoice with you on your third year cancerversary,
you sure said it correct....."WE GET IT"...we love you and share your joy. It sure is great to celebrate these
important mile stones.
With Love,
Jean
__________________
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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07-26-2008, 11:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Shingle Springs, CA - near Sacramento
Posts: 295
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Oh Yeah!
We sooooo get it! Doing a happy dance for you here! Woo hoo! No one understands the same way we sisters (and some brothers) can!
Love to you, Donna
__________________
Donna in the Sierra Foothills of California
Diagnosed 6/7/06 invasive ductal carcinoma/ductal carcinoma in situ
Lumpectomy 6/21/06
Pathology: Er 99% Pr 10% Her2/neu 3+
DNA Index 1.0
S-Phase 3/High
Primary Tumor 2.4 cm Sentinel Node Tumor 2.1cm
A/C/T+ Herceptin + rads + Arimidex
stopped Herceptin after 7 mos. due to low MUGA
Surgery for thickened uterine tissue May 2008 - conclusion: side effect of Arimidex
Switched from Arimidex to Femara - joint/tendon problems significantly better!
2 year mark Pet scan and Echo shows all clear!
5 year mammogram with ultrasound shows no sign of cancer - yay!
11 years, 11 months new breast cancer - found lump
Mastectomy 4/30/2018
Pathology: Er99%, PR 28%, Her2 negative! (new type)
Faslodex
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07-27-2008, 01:52 AM
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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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Three years seems so recent and yet so far away. How exciting and yes, a reason to celebrate. Your smile tells how at peace and joyful you are. Thanks for sharing your special day but most of all for sharing all you kindness and joy. 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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07-27-2008, 11:34 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Sharing with those of you who get it..........
Congratulations on your 3rd year mark. Keep going !!
All those who are part of our her 2 community "get it"
Unfortunately other people don't "get it" until they get "it". We have to try to forgive them and keep going for ourselves.
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07-27-2008, 05:03 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: indianapolis, indiana
Posts: 1,544
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Congratulations!!!!!
__________________
dxd 9-04, lumpectomy,
st 1, gr 3, er,pr-, her2 +,
2 tac,33 rads,6 cmf
1 yr herceptin,
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07-28-2008, 04:21 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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I so "get it" I feel your joy! Congrats Mary Jo!
__________________
Debbie in North Carolina
Diag 10/2006-high grade invasive ductal carcinoma- mastectomy L breast
2.5 cm tumor ER/PR pos-Her2+++
4 rounds A/C, 4 rounds Taxol
Herceptin every 3 weeks until Jan. 2008
6/18/07 prophylatic mastectomy R breast
8/2007 started aromasin/stopped arimidex (side effects)
12/07 stopped aromasin due to side effects (now what?)
Finished herceptin 1/8/08
started tamoxifen for 2 years then will switch to femera
allergic to tamoxifen started femera 4/2008
June 20, 2008 portacath removed
Learnig to live life to the fullest!
Stopped Femera due to side effects
July 28, 2008 start trial for breast cancer vaccine
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07-28-2008, 12:05 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: So California
Posts: 223
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Congratulations Mary Jo
Congratulations on three amazing years Mary Jo. You have given so much of yourself to everyone over these years. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Lots of Love,
Lisa
__________________
Leslie's Sister (Lisa)
Diagnosed 5/17/06
Left breast Stage II
5 cm. Her2Neu+++, ER-, PR-
1 positive node out of six,
double mastectomy 6/9/06;
TCH started 7/12/06
last chemo 10/25/06
herceptin ended 6-11-07
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07-28-2008, 01:00 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Southern, CA
Posts: 2,511
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Mary Jo, Nobody gets "it" more then your her2 sisters. Today is officially your 3 year cancerversary...so BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you. I sure wish our family's and friends could fully understand how we feel but they don't. But you have us and we are thrilled to celebrate this day with you...wish we could all do it in person.
Go out and enjoy your day...treat yourself...do something special because you deserve it. This is a big milestone and here's to many more to come.
Chelee
__________________
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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