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08-05-2009, 08:10 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Hi guys, I know you guys will understand this,
I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year.
My last trip to MDAnderson my friend and the sales lady convinced me to be fitted for new breast.
I have to tell you I was a little more than leery of strapping on a brassiere after 16 months of freedom.
But I have to be honest with my sisters; I do find myself looking in the mailbox each day for my new breast with great anticipation and excitement.
I told my breast cancer survivor-teacher-friend of the important, expected, shipment and…. that I didn't know if I would be able to wear a bra every day to school. It would be a big commitment.. to wear it everyday.
I told her of my concern of confusing the children…….
One week the art teacher has breast… last Tue she didn’t have breast.. but the next two Wed. she will have breast but the Fri. after that she won’t have breast….. Oh my…
We laughed. I told our fellow breast cancer sister that she and I would have to keep track to.... see if I am successful in wearing my breast …..most of the time. So she said we could keep track if I was "Al" or "Alice" for the day!!!!!! LOL. I said NO, NO, No I will not be Al!
I'm am sure we are both in store for many tears of laughter as I try wearing a prosthesis.
On a serious note... I have always worn jackets or over-shirts because my God given breast were very large. .. so I’m not going to worry about it…. the kids won't notice and if they do its ok. These kids and families are great. I worked when in chemo. I had the wig then the very short hair. They all know I had cancer and are on this journey with me.
Sometimes I just have to chuckle about this survivor journey,
Make it a great day,
Love and Hugs, Alice (not Al)
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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08-05-2009, 08:33 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,851
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Alice,
To help in the transition, you can probably find some clothing and accessories that can distract from your breasts. Wear brightly colored skirts, dye your hair purple, wear a shawl, adorn your ears with sparkling chandelier earrings, wear heavy eye makeup or flaunt the "smokey eye." Have fun!
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!!
Last edited by Joan M; 08-05-2009 at 08:37 AM..
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08-05-2009, 02:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Joan, Thanks, I love your ideas for distraction! Purple hair with chandelier earrings would be lovely! lol
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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08-06-2009, 05:40 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Posts: 731
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Alice - I'm laughing at this because I had this same feeling after my mastecomy 8 yrs ago. I chose not have reconstruction and so had the one fairly large breast and nothing to balance it. Having one lopsided breast flopping around under a large shirt felt odd to me and I almost wished I'd had a double mast. just to have symmetry. I thought the prosthesis felt "heavy" but felt better in a bra when I was out in public. So each day I'd ask myself "one lump or 2?" Now I strap on my bra & prosthesis daily (unless I'm just a home) and don't think a thing of it. As I've lost weight through these last 8 years I've gone down bra & prosthesis sizes & from a c to an a cup. I'm sure you'll find the right balance of what is comfortable for you. I think the purple hair is a must!
__________________
Pam
6/01 IBC er+ her2+stage IIIb; mastecomy
7/01 AC, taxol; radiation
2/02 tamoxifen
9/02 stage IV bone mets femara
1/03 taxotere/herceptin/aredia
6/03 herceptin, aredia & faslodex
1/04 navelbine, herceptin, aredia
2/05 herceptin/aredia
7/05 xeloda/herceptin/aredia
3/07 xeloda/tykerb/aredia
5/08 taxol/avastin/aredia
2/09 gemzar/herceptin/zometa
7/09 Taxol/Carbo/Herceptin, zometa
10/09 navelbine/herceptin & zometa
2/10 herceptin & tykerb & zometa
4/10 add xeloda &aromasin
10/10 dx with dermatomyiositis triggered by cancer
11/10 restart herceptin, tykerb, zometa
12/10 surgery-place rod in R femur to stabilize bone
1/11 radiation to R femur - 20 tx
2/11 2nd surgery - rod in Left femur
2/11 tx eribulen -- suspended dx brain mets
3/11 brain mets wbr 20 tx
4/11 halaven; discontine 8/11 not working
8/11 radiation to left femur 20 tx'
8-9/11 rad to lower spine
9/11 abraxane/herceptin/zometa
9/12 xeloda/herceptin/zometa
12/12 ablation of liver
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08-06-2009, 06:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Hey teacher, that's one way to see if they're paying attention. When I taught school (8th & 11th) I would make up outlandish things to tell them just to keep them awake and thinking. This totally tops!!! anything I did! I want to see the purple hair...with earrings! You'll be wonderful! 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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08-06-2009, 08:40 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Hey Mary Ann and Pam, one lump or two ... that's good!! lol Hey our new IBCer is going to see Dr. C at MDA next week. Keep her in your prayers. We have been pming. I will see if I may make a post for her on our IBC thread. . or if she will She is a very nice newbee
Mary Ann, Outlandish stories.. that great.. I bet you got pretty far along in your stories before some of them started listening.
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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08-06-2009, 08:42 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Elllllllliiiiiiii where are yoooooooooooooooooooooou?
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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08-06-2009, 09:05 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 2,357
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Alice....the scarest part was that some of them never caught me in my fairy tales!!!! But after a while they began to listen to be the first to catch my "lies"! It was fun and a great way to get them to listen up! 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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08-07-2009, 11:25 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
What a great attitude! I agree and have fun with it!
I only had about half of one breast removed, but at 44 I still find its strange - as my 34 "DD"... well, it is strange as one is overflowing the cup and one seems empty! UGH! I had a friend from England bring me a gel filler (couldn't find anything here on my island in Italy that catered to me - could have been the language gap!) - but she asked her friend at her "bra" store and said that many women use these ---it works great to make me feel like I'm not lopsided and my bras fit again. YAH-HOO!
Bummer is now I'm doing radiation and 5 weeks without a bra ---eeek! I miss my girls! And the filler!
So, even after only 2 months using the gel pack - I now miss her!
Keep it up - and thank you for the laugh! It helps!
Karen
Age – 44 pre- menopausal
No children
2-09 – Biopsy – Cancer
3-09 – Partial mastectomy Right – 3 nodes taken but not involved
Tumor results:
1.5 cm – Stage 1
Her-2 3+
Estrogen positive 80% - Progestin 10%
Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Started Herceptin (for 1 year every 21 days)
4-09 – 6-09 Chemo – 9 weeks of Navelbine
7-09 - 30 sessions of radiation (1/2 way finished!)
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08-07-2009, 05:56 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Morris, IL
Posts: 3,507
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
Alice
After going without for so long, make sure you dont leave it lying on the coffee table like I did one day...it makes for an odd shaped paperweight, but a heck of a conversation piece.....now, since I had reconstruction, I have a filler prosthesis, but with my implant leaking, I may need to get a bigger "symmetry shaper"!
__________________
"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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08-07-2009, 06:15 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 455
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
You girls are funny!!
I got the call!!! My two new paperweights are in the mail!!! lol
__________________
Alice
04/08 age 50 III IBC Her2+++ ER/PR-8cm 14/14 Double M, Body and Brain CT/PET clear, ? on spine,Muga 53
06/08, 4 A/C, Neulasta
08/08, Herceptin/tax 12 every week
10/08, CT/PET clear, ? on pelvis, hips, MUGA 43, started Enalaprial for heart, Herceptin every 3 weeks
11/08 33Rads; 12/08 MUGA 48
2/09 MRI spine and bone scan, old mets to spine, Chest x-ray, blood work, IV NED,regular CPAP use,Zometa x6, first -flue like symptoms 2 days;Herceptin x3; stage 2 lymphoedema..sleeve and glove
4/09 Brain MRI - CLEAR; MUGA 54
7/09 chest ultrasound,
10/09 PET, brain and spin MRI NED Herceptin only. MUGA 59!!!
1/11 Hip replacement 7/11 Hip 2 replacement
4/12 4 years!! Herceptin
6/12 start reconstruction finish in 12/12
2/14 Herception - 6 years!!!
1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it."
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08-11-2009, 07:32 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Naples FL
Posts: 1,747
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Re: I have decided to be a teacher with breast this year
I want a school picture!!!
__________________
 Suzan W.
age 54 at diagnosis
5/05 suspicious mammogram-left breast
5/05 biopsy-invasive lobular carcinoma with LCIS,8mm tumor,stage 1 grade 2, ER+ PR+ Her2+++
6/14/05 bilateral mastectomy, node neg. all scans neg.
Oncotype DX-high risk
8/05-10/05 4 rounds A/C
10/05 -10/06 1 yr. herceptin
arimidex-5 years
2/14/08 started daily self administered injections..FORTEO for severe osteoporosis
7/28/09 BRCA 1 negative BRCA2 POSITIVE
8/17/09 prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy
10/15/10 last FORTEOinjection
RECLAST infusion(ostoeporosis)
6/14/10 5 year cancerversary!
8/2010-18%increase in bone density!
no further treatments
Oncologist says, "Go do the Happy Dance"
I say,"What a long strange trip its been"
'One day at a time'
6-14-2015. 10 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!
7-16 to 9-16. Extensive (and expensive) dental work done to save teeth. Damage from osteoporosis and chemo and long term bisphosphonate use
6-14-16. 11 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
7-20-16 Prolia injection for severe osteoporosis
2 days later, massive hive outbreak. This led to an eventual dx of Chronic Ideopathic Urticaria, an auto-immune disease from HELL.
6-14-17 12 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!!
still suffering from CIU. 4 hospitilizations in the past year
as of today, 10-31-17 in remission from CIU and still, CANCER FREE!!!
6-14-18 13 YEAR CANCERVERSARY!! NED!!
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