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02-05-2007, 08:28 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 182
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kk1 home after liver resection
Just thought I would let you know that I made it through the liver resection and I am now back at home. The surgery went well but there were a few surprises. The 2 tumors were too close to the vein so they ended up removing the entire left lobe,rather than just the section VIII wedge, to ensure that they had clear margins. The also found a small tumor on my stomach which they removed. The good news is preliminary path report said the stomach tumor was benign and they think they got clear margins in the liver. On thursday I see the surgeon for the follow up and we will get the final path report...keeping my fingers cross.
I think I am doing very well all things considered. I had the surgery on monday morning and came home saturday night, which was a big relief for my kids. My 16 year old son left sunday to washington D.C. for the week for a school trip (freezing his tush I bet) and I know it gave him comfort to see me home before he had to take off.
I can walk around the block very slowly already, but the surgery is no picnic and sleep most of the day. It is really difficutly to eat very much due to the stomach surgery.....good thing I have the extra 35lbs I gain during my last chemo treatment as a buffer  .
Before I went into surgery a friend of mine gave my fantastic book to help heal and recover. My Granfather's blessings: stories of strength,refuge, and belonging. by Rachel Naomi Remen M.D. Anyone who comes to this site should find a copy.....it brings such a smile to my face and gives me so much hope for myself and all of you every time a read a page or two.
chow from the recliner
kk1 |
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02-05-2007, 08:46 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 2,104
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KK1,
So good to hear that your surgery went well and that you are home now. I guess you're relieved that the tumor in the stomach was benign. Here's hoping that you have clear margins in the liver. I'm sure everything will be fine. Sounds like you're getting around pretty good - keep up the good work. It's always great to hear good news.
__________________
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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02-05-2007, 09:29 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,014
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Take is easy and recoop, I know it's good to be home with the kids..sherryg683
__________________
Sherry
Diagnosed: December , 2005 at age 44
13+ positive lymph nodes
Stage IV , Her2+, 2 small mets to lungsChemo Started: Jan, 2006
4 months Taxotere, Xeloda, Hercepin
NED since April 2006!!
36 Rads to follow with weekly Herceptin indefinately
8 years NED now
Scans every year
Life is not about avoiding the thunderstorms, it's about learning to dance in the rain!
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02-05-2007, 11:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Misty woods of WA State
Posts: 4,128
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WOW!
Kim, I am so glad to hear from you, and that the news seems to be in your favor. A major surgery like that is tough on us, but seems that you are managing now.
I could not have resection due to tumor wrapped around main hepatic vein, so I am glad that they were able to get what they needed in your case.
Are you on any chemos or just Herceptin?
Will look for that book. Keep us posted.
__________________
"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.
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02-06-2007, 02:14 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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Kki
Sounds like a difficult surgery but am so pleased it went well.
Be sure to spoil yourself and get plenty of rest.
Hoping for good results on the margins for you too!
Tricia
__________________
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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02-06-2007, 04:42 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 153
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It does me so good to hear good stories like yours. Here's hoping that everything comes back fine on Friday.
All the best
Dawn
__________________
Dawn
Mar 2006Stage IIIA, Her2/Neu 3+++, Er & Pr positive, 8 of 18 pos 03/14/06: Mastectomy 04/19/06 started Chemo adriamycin, chlophosphamide, taxotere 25 rads
Nov 1, 06: 3 years Tamoxifen, Herceptin (1yr)
Jan 2009 Femara mets to bone aromasin and aredia
June2009: Full Histerectomy
2/22/2010 6 spots in liver 2 mm-10 mm: switched to xeloda and Herceptin will continue with Aredia J
Scan February 2011 new onc, switch to abraxane
April 2011 NED clear organs, 3 spots on bone scar tissue.
Scans August 2mm spot on liver and lungs. now on to tykerb/xeloda
Dec 2011 scans nothing on lungs, liver down to 1 2 mm spot. j
une 2012 another spot on liver on to cisplatin/gemzar.
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02-06-2007, 08:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 1,516
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Kk1
So glad to hear the surgery went well...now REST UP. Take care and God bless.
Rhonda
__________________
Rhonda
Dx 2/1/05, Stage 1, 0 nodes, Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+ (3.16 Fish)
2/7/05, Partial Mastectomy
5/18/05 Finished 6 rounds of dose dense TEC (Taxotere, Epirubicin and Cytoxan)
8/1/05 Finished 33 rads
8/18/05 Started Herceptin, every 3 weeks for a year (last one 8/10/06)
2/1/13...8 year Cancerversary and I am "perfect" (at least where cancer is concerned;)
" And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."- Abraham Lincoln
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02-06-2007, 08:41 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 63
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Speedy recovery to you.
Dear KK1,
All the best for a quick and full recovery. Keeping my fingers crossed for your path report also.
Hugs,
Anne
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02-06-2007, 09:05 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Northern Calif.
Posts: 981
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I am happy that all went well with your surgery and that you are home recovering. Try not to over-do it.
Hugs,
Lexi
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02-06-2007, 09:41 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ft. Collins, Colorado
Posts: 546
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been thinking about you
I'm so happy to hear from you and your news seems pretty darn good right now. I'm impressed by your recovery. Keep up the good work by not working too much and letting everyone else help. Rest well and best wisshes to you!
__________________
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
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02-06-2007, 11:46 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 131
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KK
I am glad to see you are home and recuperating. Your surgery sounds like it was a success, I am happy for you. I hope you are getting your rest now. Sending Prayers for a quick recovery. Good Luck on Thursday.
__________________
Lala
DX Fall05 Stage 4 er+ pr+ her2+ liver and bone mets
DX Fall06 Brain mets, Brain mets gone Spring 2007
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02-06-2007, 06:11 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,756
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Gosh KK1, sounds like you're doing fantastic!!! It really helps to know how well you're doing, gives some encouragement to those of us who might have to face this surgery ourselves. Thanks for taking the time to post, and take good care.
<3 Lolly
__________________
Sept.'99 - Dx.Stage IIIB, IDC ER/PR-, HER2+++ by IHC, confirmed '04 by FISH. Left MRM, AC x's 4, Taxol x's 4, 33 Rads, finishing Tx May 2000. Jan.'01 - local/regional recurrence, Stage IV. Herceptin/Navelbine weekly till NED August 2001, then maintenance Herceptin. Right Mast. April 2002. Local/Regional recurrence April '04, Herceptin plus/minus chemo until May '07. Gemzar added from Feb.'07-April '07; Tykerb/Abraxane until August '07, back on Herceptin plus Taxotere and Xeloda Sept. '07. Stopped T/X Nov. '07, stopped Herceptin Dec. '07, started Avastin/Taxol/Carboplatin Dec. '07. Progression in chest skin, stopped TAC March '03, started radiation.
Herceptin has served as the "Backbone" of my treatment strategy for over 6 years, giving me great quality of life. In 2005, I was privileged to participate in the University of Washington/Seattle HER2 Vaccine Trial.
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02-06-2007, 09:20 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,055
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Hoping for continued good news, Yes, quite cold in DC area. I knew those hot flashes would come in handy sometime. I've been driving around with my windows open. My fingers are frozen but the rest of me is toasty. Good luck. BB
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02-07-2007, 10:52 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 624
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So glad to know that your surgery went well. Also, glad to know that the tumour in your stomach was benign! I hope your recovery continues to go well for you. Best wishes, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
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02-07-2007, 02:36 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northshore suburb of chicago
Posts: 1,093
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Thinking of you and praying for an easy recovery for you and a good post op report.
__________________
~Rina~
Dx:3/06 had a lumpectomy April 19, 2006
Her2+ er/pr- Stage I Grade 3 tumor size 1.4 cm, node negative
AC 4 dense doses
34 radiation treatments including booster doses
receiving herceptin every 3 weeks since late August 2006 for 12 months
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02-07-2007, 04:20 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 212
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kk, glad to hear the surgery went well--I have also read Rachel Naomi Remen's My Grandfather's Blessings book and agree that it is so warm and comforting. Next you have to read her other book, "Kitchen Table Wisdom"--lots of great stories about her work with cancer survivors. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
__________________
Audrey
diagnosed July 2001, at age 36
large tumor, 11+ nodes
Stage IIIb, er/pr-, Her2+
treated with A/C, weekly Taxol
radiation, + year of Herceptin
on clinical trial. double mastectomy
followed by reconstruction
NED!!
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02-07-2007, 10:46 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oregon
Posts: 715
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Kki, Welcome home. Nothing better than your own recliner. Take care and rest alot. We will all hope and pray for good news and a smooth recovery.
All the best, 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
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02-10-2007, 08:22 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 484
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Glad everything went well with your surgery, keep us posted, I'm interested in hearing how your recovery goes.
The liver resection was not a possibility for me originally in 2004, because my liver was so covered in tumors there would not have been anything left after the resention.
But it may be a possiblity in the future, should it become necessary.
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