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07-13-2007, 10:58 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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My new look....for now
Just thought it was time to update my picture with the new me...and my girls, Sophie and Sadie...I remember when I had black hair like them! So far the treatments are going good, 4 down, 8 more to go....the good news is, the nodes are now 90% gone in the neck. The Dr was shocked. I am having a little bit of a problem with my B/P increasing though, so I do have to watch that...very common from the Avastin. By the time its almost back to normal, its time for another treatment. The Dr. also thinks the Avastin is causing the nosebleeds. So far my counts have been great....my hemaglobin was 14.9 yesterday....the Dr. said thats what athletes strive for...by white count has dropped a little but still in the normal range. Other than the sore mouth and gums and occasional nosebleed, I feel good. Oh and then there is the legs that ache at night, but all very tolerable.
__________________
"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Hugs & Blessings
Sheila
Diagnosed at age 49.99999 2/21/2002 via Mammography (Calcifications)
Core Biopsy 2/22/02
L. Mastectomy 2/25/2002
Stage 1, 0.7cm IDC, Node Neg from 19 nodes Her2+++ ER PR Neg
6/2003 Reconstruction W/ Tissue Expander, Silicone Implant
9/2003 Stage IV with Mets to Supraclavicular nodes
9/2003 Began Herceptin every 3 weeks
3/2006 Xeloda 2500mg/Herceptin for recurrence to neck nodes
3/2007 Added back the Xeloda with Herceptin for continued mets to nodes
5/2007 Taken Off Xeloda, no longer working
6/14/07 Taxol/Herceptin/Avastin
3/26 - 5/28/08 Taxol Holiday Whopeeeeeeeee
5/29 2008 Back on Taxol w Herceptin q 2 weeks
4/2009 Progression on Taxol & Paralyzed L Vocal Cord from Nodes Pressing on Nerve
5/2009 Begin Rx with Navelbine/Herceptin
11/09 Progression on Navelbine
Fought for and started Tykerb/Herceptin...nodes are melting!!!!!
2/2010 Back to Avastin/Herceptin
5/2010 Switched to Metronomic Chemo with Herceptin...Cytoxan and Methotrexate
Pericardial Window Surgery to Drain Pericardial Effusion
7/2010 Back to walking a mile a day...YEAH!!!!
9/2010 Nodes are back with a vengence in neck
Qualified for TDM-1 EAP
10/6/10 Begin my miracle drug, TDM-1
Mixed response, shrinking internal nodes, progression skin mets after 3 treatments
12/6/10 Started Halaven (Eribulen) /Herceptin excellent results in 2 treatments
2/2011 I CELEBRATE my 9 YEAR MARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/5/11 begin Gemzar /Herceptin for node progression
2/8/2012 Gemzar stopped, Continue Herceptin
2/20/2012 Begin Tomo Radiation to Neck Nodes
2/21/2012 I CELEBRATE 10 YEARS
5/12/2012 BeganTaxotere/ Herceptin is my next miracle for new node progression
6/28/12 Stopped Taxotere due to pregression, Started Perjeta/Herceptin
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07-13-2007, 11:19 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: So California
Posts: 223
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You are beautiful
You more beautiful than ever Sheila. Keep up the fighting spirit. You are half way through your taxol which is definitely worth celebrating.
__________________
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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07-13-2007, 11:43 AM
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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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He Sheila,
I was so thankful for your update. I've been thinking about you and hoping things were going well for you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful "new" self with us all. Not surprising that you are just as beautiful. Not only physically beautiful but your inner beauty jumps off the page and touches each of us. AND...................those beautiful dogs....................well, my goodness................what beauty's. I am a dog lover so really appreciated seeing those babies. We have an almost 7 year old sheltie named Murray and I know what love they can bring to us.
Now, for the greatest news of all............................those nasty nodes of yours are 90 PERCENT GONE...................................SUPER, DUPER, ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! Thank the Lord in Heaven.
Please continue to keep in touch. Prayers for God's Peace to surround you today dear friend.
Mary Jo
"Romans 8:28"
__________________
"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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07-13-2007, 11:46 AM
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#4
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Guest
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Sheila, You have such a lovely face, so who cares about the hair, at least for now.
Congratulations on this great news. It's relatively easy to manage BP with medications. I've been doing it for years, but if you don't have a machine you might want to get one. My cardiologist recommend Omron and its seems to be very accurate, as I measure its numbers against those in my doctor's office.
Keep up the remission work. You're doing a great job.
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07-13-2007, 12:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Newton, MA
Posts: 951
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Hi Shiela,
Thank you for posting such great news. I'm so glad to hear that this treatment is working. You also look very stylish without your hair. The updated picture is great. I hope that this treatment gets you to NED and that you stay that way for a long time.
Best wishes,
Barbara H.
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07-13-2007, 12:19 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 138
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Sheila,
You look great! So happy to hear about the nodes shrinking.
Stay strong.
Karen
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07-13-2007, 12:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: RHODE ISLAND
(Ed getting me a latte on 2nd Cancerversary Cruise 2008)
'BELIEVE': To accept as true or real, To have faith in, To presume
ALWAYS BELIEVE
Posts: 2,999
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Simply Gorgeous
I do not think I have ever seen you more beautiful. The picture shows the spirited fighter and the determined soul that you are. When I look at you without your black hair like your babies, I feel it allows me into your life a little more. I thank you for sharing your journey and pictures at this very trying time in your life.
The picture surely lets all of your best qualities rise to the surface and shine through!!!!!!!!
Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous
And again, thanks for sharing, you are such a special person, Sheila.
Waiting For A Miracle...and expecting one soon..>Believe51
__________________
9/7/06Husband 50yrs=StageIV IBC/HER2+,BoneMets10/06TaxotereX10,'H'1X wk,Zometa,Tamoxifen4/12/07Last Tax5/18/07Pet=Rapid Cell Activity,No Organ Mets,Lytic Lesions,Degeneration,Some Bone Repair5/07ChemoFail6/01/07Pleural Thoracentisis=Effusions,NoMalignantCells6/19/07+7/2/07DFCI
6/25/07BrainMRI=BrainMets,Many<9mm7/10/07WBR/PelvisRad37.5Gx15&Nutritionist8/19/07T/X9/20/07BrainMRI=2<2mm10/6/07Pet=BoneProgression
10/24/07ChemoFail11/9/07A/Cx10,EndTam12/7/07Faslodex12/10/07Muga7512/13/07BlasticLesions1/7/08BrainMRI=Clear4/1/08Pet=BoneImprovement,
NoProgression,Stable4/7/08BrainPerfect5/16/08Last A/C8/26/08BrainMets=10(<9mm)9/10/08Gamma10/30/08Met=5mm12/19/08Gamma5mets5
12/22/08SpinalMets1/14/09SpinalRads2/17/09BrainMRI=NoNewMets4/20/09BoneScan5/14/09Ixempra6/1/09BrainMRI=NumerousMets6/24/09DFCIw/DrBurstein6/26/09Continue
Ixempra/Faslodex/Zometa~TM now lower7/17/09Stop Ixempra By Choice9/21/09HOSPICE10/16/09Earned His Deserved Wings And Halo=37 Month Fight w/Stage 4 IBC, Her2+++,My Hero!!
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07-13-2007, 12:58 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
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THREE beautiful girls!!!
Sheila you look terrific with or without the hair and I'm delighted the nodes are shrinking so fast!! I have to get a pic soon as the the most recent one I have is wearing my wig during chemo, I was'nt so brave when it came to going topless
Sadie and Sophie are drop dead gorgous even from behind lol!!
I hope you continue to do so well and this is all behind you soon..
__________________
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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07-13-2007, 01:05 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,207
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Sheila, you look terrific, as always! I'm so glad to hear how well the treatment is working already. It's great to astonish our oncs with good news!
I hear you on the BP thing - mine was getting a bit elevated at times (usually after running 3 blocks from the parking lot to the infusion center after the 2 hour drive in rush hour traffic!) so I finally gave in and am taking a low dose antihypertensive. Other than that, no problems with the Avastin - although I have a bit of a sensitive nose, too!
P.S. - Tricia - don't get Sheila started with talk about "going topless" - she's a pretty wild woman already!
Thanks for the update!
Chris
__________________
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
Last edited by chrisy; 07-13-2007 at 01:07 PM..
Reason: ps
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07-13-2007, 03:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Louisville KY
Naples FL
Posts: 665
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Sheila
The news is great and I love the picture with the doggies. What would
we do without them. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.
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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07-13-2007, 03:40 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lincoln, Rhode Island
Posts: 371
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Shelia,
I am so happy the treatments are working! And you look beautiul keep up the good work, and god bless.
__________________
Love and Hope
Karen
IDC
DX 1998 STAGE I ER+/ PR+
AC CHEMO TILL FEB 1999
Tamxofin till 2001
2001 exstensive liver mets and mets to lungs
Started weekly taxol
Jan 2002 found out I was strongly HER2POS+++ started herceptin continued with taxol and herceptin till June 2002 then from June 2002 till Jan 2005 just herceptin and Arimidex
2005 Navelbine herceptin had RFA Then back on taxol with herceptin
April 2006 progression again went on clinical trial with tykrerb/herceptin progressed on the started Xeloda/ herceptin
Feb 2007 started Doxil
August 2007 Taxotere,Carboplatin and Herceptin exstensive mets to liver and pancreas
October 2007 Had to stop Carboplatin due to sever allergic reaction
Jan 2008
Stopped Taxotere due to progression now on Gemzar and Herceptin
March 2008 Starting Carboplatin, Abraxane, and Herceptin.
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07-13-2007, 04:16 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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I know how gorgeous you really are roomie! Nothing will change that. I do remember the achy legs though (from the Taxol) - its almost electric!
Soak in the tub, it helps. I am thinking of you often.
Love,
__________________
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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07-13-2007, 05:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 274
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Hi Sheila,
Thank you for posting the good news. Thank God the nodes are going bye bye. Let them keep going away. And thanks for sharing your girls. Sadie and Sophie look so attentive. You have them under control. I was lucky to get a photo of mine together as one always wants to go the other way. I think you all are beautiful and if your hair comes back curly, the girls will be jealous (lol). But its true, they are truly connected.
Enjoy the pups and keep up the good work.
With Love,
Liz J.
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07-13-2007, 07:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 236
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Mom you always have been and you always be beautiful to me.
Jennifer
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07-13-2007, 07:57 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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Sheila,
Your new look is fabulous. You are a beautiful person inside and out with or without hair. I'm happy to hear that the treatment is working for you. Soon you will be in NED category again.
__________________
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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07-13-2007, 08:07 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 3,154
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Sheila,
Your photo made me smile. What is better than playing with our dogs.
Oh, I know hearing nodes are 90% gone....
What great news keep up the fantastic fight.
Big Hugs,
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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07-13-2007, 08:40 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 247
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Sheila thank you so much for sharing your new pic. I still don't feel comfortable with my own head yet. (my pic is befor BC) Your strength is evident and inspiring. You look great, so do the dogs and the beautiful fireplace too. I am glad treatment is working. I so remember those leg cramps too. I am trying to remember if anything helped and it didn't. You can get through it. thanks once again for inspiring me.
__________________
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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07-14-2007, 01:50 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Hi Sheila! Well, yes, I agree with everyone else...just as beautiful as always! And wow, how much love must come from those sweet "fur friends" of yours! I'm so impressed with the 90% decrease in the nodes...that is so terrific! Sheila, you deserve that quick response to the drugs. Hope the last few treatments are totally uneventful! Love and prayers for 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!
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07-14-2007, 03:26 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: moved to Lancaster, Pa in June, 2010
Posts: 576
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Shelia, You look beautiful inside and out. You give me inspiration that I can keep going with my own battle. Wonderful news about your nodes 90% gone. Best of luck!
Debbie, North Carolina
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07-14-2007, 09:30 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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Sheila,
You are a beautiful woman hair or no hair. I love your pic with your furry babies. I can see they bring you much joy!
That's terrific news on your nodes shrinking! Wahoo!! Take that stinky cancer!
Hugs and Prayers,
Lexi
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