 |
|
05-05-2008, 09:17 AM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 764
|
Love you, Kate
I will always remember Kate's beautiful smiling face. May we all find comfort that she is now no longer in any pain or suffering and is with her beloved son. But still, my heart breaks for her family and for us, who loved her.
__________________
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
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 09:25 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 889
|
I am so sorry to hear Kate has lost her battle. It brought tears to my eyes this morning when I read your post. My deepest sympathies to Kate's family and friends. She was truly an inspiration to many, many people and a fighter till the very end. May she have peace at last and watch over all of us.
__________________
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
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 10:13 AM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 305
|
I am so sorry to hear this, my prayers are with her family and friends.
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 10:35 AM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 556
|
very sad
I am so sad from the news. I was hoping and praying that she would be alright after coming back from hospital. This is not the news I wanted to hear. My hearfelt condolences to Kate's family.
Julie
__________________
Diagnosed in Sept 2004 while pregnant with the second child. Stage 3b, tumor 4.5cm, 4 auxillary and supraclav node positive. Her2+++ FISH 9.4 and er-,pr-.
Had dose dense neoadjuvant AC,Taxol then mastectomy,radiation+xeloda+Herceptin.
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 10:54 AM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
|
My heart hurts.
I have been thinking all winter and spring that Kate's doctor may have been remiss in not giving her a pneumonia vaccine. With the increase of this illness, they have been giving it here for a few years now. I had mine and so does anyone else at risk that agrees to take it. Just wish this complication to her treatment could have been prevented.
Kate, hover over us and show the researchers the way to a cure.
__________________
"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 11:05 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 63
|
So sad. I met Kate two years ago and we spent almost a whole day talking. She was so wonderful and always so brave. I will remember this about her. She talked about her 2 daughters and I will remember how devoted she was. She fought till the end. I hope she did not suffer.
Anne
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 01:13 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
|
Sad!!!!!!!!!
Kate has been in my thoughts for the past few months. I was also given the pneumonia vaccine this year for the first time. I was later glad that I had it because a few teachers in my school ended up with pneumonia. Nevertheless, we can't really know for sure why Kate lost her battle. I feel so sad for her and for her family. Please accept my sympathy.
Barbara H.
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 02:17 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
|
Thank you Karla
For being such a dear friend and our link to Kate. I can't say much more than what has been said by so many beautiful people here. Please share with her family that I am one more person who loves Kate and will miss her deeply. My prayers and the warmth from my heart left by her are to be given to her family.
With tears,
Joy
__________________
with love and gratitude,
joy
dx stage I 2/2000*er/pr+; her- per IHC*lumpectomy*4 rounds A/C*30 rads*tamoxifen*dx stage 4 5/2002*huge mets to liver*tiny mets to lungs*stopped tamoxifen*5/02 taxotere/xeloda*her 2 checked with FiSH-her2+++herceptin *2/03 stopped chemo femara w/herceptin*zolodex*04 switched to aromasin w/herceptin*05 high estrogen tx*11/05taxol/carbo*7/06 stopped chemo; megace/herceptin*9/06navelbine/herceptin*5/07tykerb/xeloda great response*4/08 progression in liver; ooph/ faslodex /herceptin
6/08 began Herceptin DM-1
9/08 progression
|
|
|
|
|
05-06-2008, 02:14 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
|
Kate
Hi,
I am very sorry to hear about Kate. She will be missed at our "her2 club." Sympathy to her family.
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2008, 07:02 AM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Watkinsville, Georgia
Posts: 356
|
I just mailed dear Kate a note last Saturday and was so frightened that she wouldn't be able to read it....this is just heartbreaking. I don't know what to say. She didn't seem to have a chance on trying new treatments with all of the complications.
I know she is an angel watching us and cheering us on. She was such a sweetie and will be missed greatly. Life is hard to understand at times like this.
__________________
[/SIGPIC]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diagnosed 6/03 nursing daughter
Dose dense A/C 4x
Modified rad mast 8/03
IDC; 3 cm; 10+/16 nodes; ER/PR-; Her2+++
Weekly taxol w/Herceptin (off label) 12x's
40 weeks Herceptin
Radiation 33x
Reconstruction w/ implants 05 & 07
NED
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2008, 02:04 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
|
So sad, so sad, just away a few days and much bad
news. God bless Kates family.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
05-07-2008, 08:54 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 157
|
I talked with Kate's daughter, and she said her Memorial Service will be tomorrow, Thursday, May 8th, at 10:00 AM ET, at Saint Joseph Church, Murrieta, Georgia.
Take care, and God bless you all.
KarlaV.
|
|
|
|
|
05-08-2008, 11:00 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
|
wings for Kate
My condolences to Kate's dear family. I have been out of town, and just signed on to learn about Kate. There are so many beautiful posts for our dear Kate. I hope she hears them. We all loved her and we will all miss her.
With tears, Catherine
__________________
Catherine
Found my own lump in the shower
April 2006 at the age of 58
Stage IIB, ER- PR- HER2+++ multi focal tumors, largest 2.3cm
Chemo first: AC/Taxol over 16 weeks
Bilateral mastectomy Sep 06
33 rads after the surgery
1 year of Herceptin completed Dec 07
15 years and no recurrence as of April 2021
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 10:07 AM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
|
It's like being robbed of precious jewelry. That head strong, so kind, living that Kate showed us over and over was a wonder to behold. I always saw Kate as the captain of a ship, standing against the wind in a storm. What an example, what a gift she has been to us. Sending you love in heaven, mighty warrior. May your family and friends continue to be blessed by having known you and learned from you. 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!
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 01:28 PM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
|
None of us will ever forget Kate, I am glad she is at peace. She is so very special, and will always be with us in our hearts.
__________________
Chris in Scotts Valley
June 2002 extensive hi grade DCIS (pre-cancer-stage 0, clean sentinal node) Mastectomy/implant - no chemo, rads. "cured?"
9/2004 Diag: Stage IV extensive liver mets (!) ER/PR- Her2+++
10/04-3/05 Weekly Taxol/Carboplatin/Herceptin , complete response!
04/05 - 4/07 Herception every 3 wks, Continue NED
04/07 - recurrence to liver - 2 spots, starting tykerb/avastin trial
06/07 8/07 10/07 Scans show stable, continue on Tykerb/Avastin
01/08 Progression in liver
02/08 Begin (TDM1) trial
08/08 NED! It's Working! Continue on TDM1
02/09 Continue NED
02/10 Continue NED. 5/10 9/10 Scans NED 10/10 Scans NED
12/10 Scans not clear....4/11 Scans suggest progression 6/11 progression confirmed in liver
07/11 - 11/11 Herceptin/Xeloda -not working:(
12/11 Begin MM302 Phase I trial - bust:(
03/12 3rd times the charm? AKT trial
5/12 Scan shows reduction! 7/12 More reduction!!!!
8/12 Whoops...progression...trying for Perjeta/Herceptin (plus some more nasty chemo!)
9/12 Start Perjeta/Herceptin, chemo on hold due to infection/wound in leg, added on cycle 2 &3
11/12 Poops! progression in liver, Stop Perjeta/Taxo/Herc
11/12 Navelbine/Herce[ptin - try for a 3 cycles, no go.
2/13 Gemzar/Carbo/Herceptin - no go.
3/13 TACE procedure
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 01:32 PM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: East Central Illinois
Posts: 89
|
Sad news about Kate, but glad she is now at peace and no long suffering.
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 01:42 PM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 154
|
This is so sad. Kate was one of the first people to say a kind word to me when I first arrived here and was scared to death.
This just isn't fair.......*tears*
__________________
Diagnosis and Treatment: DX 12/07/07
Male Diagnosed with DCIS at age 39
Mastectomy on right breast
Tumor Stage pt1b NO MO
DCIS Tumor size 1.5 x 1.x .6cm
Infiltration tumor size .25X.17 cm
Bloom-Richardson Grade 3(score 8)
Nuclear Grade 3 with comedo necrosis
Estrogen+/Progestrone+/HER-2/Neu +++
FISH ratio 4.31
Lymph node removal scheduled 1/07/08
17 nodes tested and all negative 1/08/08
Started Tamoxifin 1/29/08
Oncotype DX score 52 (off the charts, according to my onc!!!)
Starting TCH 3/14/08
BRCA I Positive BRCA II Negative
Finished TC 6/27/08 continue Herceptin
8/1/08 Herceptin stopped due to low Muga score
Mastectomy on left breast 11/10/08
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 02:16 PM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 105
|
So Sorry
I am sorry to hear about Kate. She always took the time to respond with kind words. My heart goes out to her family.
Lisa
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 03:33 PM
|
#19
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,519
|
No no no. My heart is shattered. I can barely type this through the tears. I will miss my sweet friend and beautiful Georgia belle. I can't imagine our site without her. But I know she is keeping God in stitches with a plethora of Irish jokes... I love you sweet Kate, you are and will always be one of my true inspirations.
__________________
Brenda
NOV 2012 - 9 yr anniversary
JULY 2012 - 7 yr anniversary stage IV (of 50...)
Nov'03~ dX stage 2B
Dec'03~ Rt side mastectomy, Her2+, ER/PR+, 10 nodes out, one node positive
Jan'04~ Taxotere/Adria/Cytoxan x 6, NED, no Rads, Tamox. 1 year, Arimadex 3 mo., NED 14 mo.
Sept'05~ micro mets lungs/chest nodes/underarm node, Switched to Aromasin, T/C/H x 7, NED 6 months - Herceptin only
Aug'06~ micro mets chest nodes, & bone spot @ C3 neck, Added Taxol to Herceptin
Feb'07~ Genetic testing, BRCA 1&2 neg
Apr'07~ MRI - two 9mm brain mets & 5 punctates, new left chest met, & small increase of bone spot C3 neck, Stopped Aromasin
May'07~ Started Tykerb/Xeloda, no WBR for now
June'07~ MRI - stable brain mets, no new mets, 9mm spots less enhanced, CA15.3 down 45.5 to 9.3 in 10 wks, Ty/Xel working magic!
Aug'07~ MRI - brain mets shrunk half, NO NEW BRAIN METS!!, TMs stable @ 9.2
Oct'07~ PET/CT & MRI show NED
Apr'08~ scans still show NED in the head, small bone spot on right iliac crest (rear pelvic bone)
Sept'08~ MRI shows activity in brain mets, completed 5 fractions/5 consecutive days of IMRT to zap the pesky buggers
Oct'08~ dropped Xeloda, switched to tri-weekly Herceptin in combo with Tykerb, extend to tri-monthly Zometa infusion
Dec'08~ Brain MRI- 4 spots reduced to punctate size, large spot shrunk by 3mm, CT of torso clear/pelvis spot stable
June'09~ new 3-4mm left cerrebellar spot zapped with IMRT targeted rads
Sept'09~ new 6mm & 1 cm spots in pituitary/optic chiasm area. Rx= 25 days of 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the tumors.
Oct'09~ 25 days of low dose 3D conformal fractionated targeted IMRT to the bone mets spot on rt. iliac crest that have been watching for 2 years. Added daily Aromasin back into treatment regimen.
Apr'10~ Brain MRI clear! But, see new small spot on adrenal gland. Change from Aromasin back to Tamoxifen.
June'10~ Tumor markers (CA15.3) dropped from 37 to 23 after one month on Tamoxifen. Continue to monitor adrenal gland spot. Remain on Tykerb/Herceptin/Tamoxifen.
Nov'10~ Radiate positive mediastinal node that was pressing on recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing paralyzed larynx and a funny voice.
Jan'11~ MRI shows possible activity or perhaps just scar tissue/necrotic increase on 3 previously treated brain spots and a pituitary spot. 5 days of IMRT on 4 spots.
Feb'11~ Enrolled in T-DM1 EAP in Denver, first treatment March 25, 2011.
Mar'11~ Finally started T-DM1 EAP in Denver at Rocky Mountain Cancer Center/Rose on Mar. 25... hallelujah.
"I would rather be anecdotally alive than statistically dead."
Last edited by hutchibk; 05-05-2008 at 03:35 PM..
|
|
|
|
|
05-05-2008, 04:19 PM
|
#20
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Oregon City
Posts: 856
|
Dear Friends:
I am so sorry to hear about Kate. She was one of the first people to answer my first post here. She was so alive and willing to help that i was shocked to hear that she passed away. She was so full of energy and her heart was big enough to allow room for perfect strangers and to help them.
I am sad to see her go, but she had a life well lived. I can only hope to be as brave and giving as she was. She will be an inspiration to me.
Lee
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:19 PM.
|
Hybrid Mode