 |
|
02-15-2013, 02:14 PM
|
#1
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 2,267
|
Eight is GREAT!!!
Today I celebrate eight years of my second life! I do feel as if I was given a second life through Herceptin, the information I gained from this site, and my wonderful onc.
Thanks to all for your support, friendship, knowledge, chocolate, spray cheese, commas, etc ..................
__________________
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!
Last edited by sassy; 02-15-2013 at 02:17 PM..
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 02:21 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Go, Rhonda!!!
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 2021 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!!
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 02:21 PM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Ireland
Posts: 3,463
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Congratulations Rhonda!!! I know we had a similar dx and similar treatments too and I'm hot on your heels this coming summer and yes, eight is great!! 
__________________
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!
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 02:30 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 418
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Yeah!!! Wonderful - and thank you so much for all you do for others. A quick question - what date do you celebrate? - diagnosis, finish of treatments? I've asked my onc but he just shrugs. You must not be too far from me if you're in the mtns of VA - I'm in East Tn only about 30 minutes from Bristol.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 03:24 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Thornhill Ontario
Canada
Posts: 266
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Wonderful Sassy. Best wishes and thanks for giving us such great news.
__________________
August 2008
Lumpectomy left breast
1 tumour 0.9 cm
Her2 negative
lymph nodes negative
venous/lymphatic invasion absent
ER+PR-
Stage I Grade 2
Radiation and Femara
November 2008
Lumpectomy right breast
2 tumours .03 cm and .05 cm and extensive DCIS
.05 tumour Her2+
lymph node negative
venous/lymphatic invasion "indeterminate"
ER+PR low postive
Stage 1 Grade 2
January 2009
bilateral mastectomy
chemotherapy taxotere
Herceptin one year
Femara
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:23 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 'Burbs of Atlanta, GA
Posts: 172
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Sassy and others - please don't ever stop bragging on years of NED. I am only at the beginning of my second life with only one chemo under my belt which absolutely brought me to my knees.
I hold onto your kind of post - knowing I can get there also. Thank so much and much love and happiness to you.
Pam
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 04:38 PM
|
#7
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,477
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Rhonda,
You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Many congratulations and best wishes (as always) to you.
Love,
Karen Z
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 05:56 PM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 508
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Horray, Rhonda!
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 09:09 PM
|
#9
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Congratulations Rhonda! Let's keep counting! Sending you hugs and love.
Paty
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 09:18 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Port Hedland, Australia
Posts: 382
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Hurrah from down under x
__________________
Diagnosed Nov '10 IDC whilst pregnant with 2nd child
Her 2 ++ ER/PR + but weak and patchy 50% + 5%
Left mastectomy Dec '10, 6cm tumour 1 of 2 lymph (micro mets)
Clear margins but lymphovasculer invasion
Stage 3a Grade 3
Fec 100 x 3 Jan '11 Taxotere X 3 and Herceptin X 1yr
Staging scans - CT brain & body and bone - May '11 - NED!!
Start Femara - in chemo induced menapause
25 Rads June '11
Dec '11 Menstruation resumed - zoladex inj monthly and Tamoxifen
Feb '12 Back on Femera and Zoladex
March '12 CT brain & body & bone scan all clear
Zometa x2/yearly
April '12 - Oopherectomy
Praying the Herceptin is as good as its hype!!
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 10:01 PM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 585
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Yay! Happy dance, happy dance! Congratulations, and here's to many more celebrations to come!
__________________
Diagnosed in October 2011 Stage IV with metastasis to liver.
January 2012 after double mastectomy, started taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin.
Clear.
December 2012 was diagnosed with five brain mets, and had whole brain radiation.
Around July 2014 two mets in brain, one a residual spot and one new one growing in size. Received Cyberknife on both areas
Clear/NED
April 2015 remain NED
|
|
|
|
|
02-15-2013, 11:10 PM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 92
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Congratulations!! Here's to many more years.... Thanks for the encouragement and laughs we shared in SA.
Love, Mel
__________________
Dx June 2010
ER- PR+ Her2+++, Stage 3C
A/C x 4
Mastectomy 8/18 nodes+
Taxol/Herceptin x 4
35 rads
Continue Herceptin for 1 year
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 05:57 AM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,808
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Congratulations! The beautiful smile on your profile picture always cheers me up. Here's to many more years of NED!
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
H w x 4 MUGA 51 D, J 49 M
Diastasis recti
Tamoxifen B. scan
Irrtbl bowel 1'09
Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
hptc hemangioma
Vertigo
GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement （600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
Last edited by Jackie07; 03-07-2013 at 02:16 AM..
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 07:21 AM
|
#14
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Congratulations Sassy! I remember "way back" when we were both newbies, finishing chemo and hoping we would be here. Eight is great! Onto Nine is divine.
__________________
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"
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 08:18 AM
|
#15
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Yay Rhonda!! Thanks so much for sharing this joyful news with all of us. It's just what I needed this morning!!
Heres to many, many more!!
Tricia - looking forward to celebrating with you soon too!
Joni - it's a long story...but in the end, I chose the day I was diagnosed as my Cancer-versary because it was the day I first decided that cancer was not going to beat me. Ironically, it also happened to be my birthday...sad that year, but HAPPY every year since then!!
(Originally I chose NED day...but sadly later realized that I may never have actually been NED, and may never be NED at all.) Different survivors choose different days, I know...but I wanted *credit* for every single day I've been fighting this beast! And...I'm still not planning to let it win! Soooooo looking forward to posting my 8th Cancer-versary someday...that would get both of my boys into adulthood WITH a mom!! In fact, today is my "baby's" 14th birthday!
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 08:26 AM
|
#16
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 418
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Denise - that's what I've been doing so far and your thinking on it is exactly right. So many dates that I can't seem to let go of-March 1 (found lump), March 9 (got diagnosis), March 31st (bi-lateral mx), May 25 (started chemo) - etc. But I like the idea of counting from that first day when the battle began. March would be my most unfavorite month but it also contains my mom's birthday, our wedding anniversary (42 this year), and my best friends birthday so it ain't all bad. But isn't that they way life goes - guess it's all about balance. I once complained that 2010 was the worst year of my life and my daughter reminded me that it was the year that I beat cancer. She said " I think that makes it the best year of your life". Smart girl.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 08:32 AM
|
#17
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Philly Suburbs
Posts: 1,709
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Joni - your daughter sounds like she's a chip off the old block! And, since 2010 is the year you joined this group...I think it was pretty great too! So glad you're here!
Rhonda - I was so excited for you in my first post...I forgot to tell you how much I like your *second life* metaphor! So true! Life since BC is NOT the same as before it...each day is to be treasured! Sounds like you've been doing that....keep going!!!
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 08:58 AM
|
#18
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Somerset, NJ
Posts: 487
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Happy Anniversary (plus a day), Rhonda.
(I've put it on my calendar so I won't be late next year.) |
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 09:27 AM
|
#19
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: france
Posts: 1,648
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
congrats!!!
as my Norweigan friend says "life is too much fun!" she's an HER2er and had a recurrence but also still here and having fun.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
02-16-2013, 11:25 AM
|
#20
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Thornhill, Ontario
Canada
Posts: 2,320
|
Re: Eight is GREAT!!!
Big congrats to you Rhonda - sending big hugs from the Great White North!!
all the best
caya
__________________
ER90%+/PR 50%+/HER 2+
1.7 cm and 1.0 cm.
Stage 1, grade 2, Node Negative (16 nodes tested)
MRM Dec.18/06
3 x FEC, 3 x Taxotere
Herceptin - every 3 weeks for a year, finished May 8/08
Tamoxifen - 2 1/2 years
Femara - Jan. 1, 2010 - July 18, 2012
BRCA1/BRCA2 Negative
Dignosed 10/16/06, age 48 , premenopausal
Mild lymphedema diagnosed June 2009 - breast surgeon and lymph. therapist think it's completely reversible - hope so.
Reclast infusion January 2012
Oopherectomy October 2013
15 Years NED!!
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
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 07:13 AM.
|
