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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / October 2006Roll Call for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc history. It's easy to forget who's who. I'll start by saying that I'm an English woman, now 67, was diagnosed with bc in 1998, had a lumpectomy and radiation and medication for five years. I don't know what the medication was because I was taking part in the ATAC research programme. ATAC is Arimidex or Tamoxifen, Alone or in combination. It was a world wide programme and was, I'm told, one of the best ever and very successful. The only remnant I'm left with so far is a very neat scar in a slightly smaller breast and occasional slight lymphoedema. I have annual checkups with a mammogram every year and feel that I've had excellent treatment and care from our National Health Service. Life is good! Mary > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have > taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc > history. It's easy to forget who's who. OMG, roll call time again already. Tim Jackson, also English, and like Mary originally from Yorkshire, (you can always tell a Yorkshireman, but you can't tell him much!) but living in Lancashire. I'm 55 and a freelance electronic engineer. My wife died of breast cancer in March 2000. The story is on my website at www.tim-jackson.co.uk/cancer.html At that time this group was a great help and comfort to me, so I stuck around to try to give back some of the things I had learned in the process. Our daughter Natasha was 6 at the time, now she is approaching her 13th birthday and is far too quickly growing into a young woman. My wife's son, my stepson, is in the British Army, enjoying it, and hoping to get his first stripe next year. And for those who have been following these things, my engagement didn't work out, and we are back to the quiet life. Tim 9 year soon to be a 10 year survivor here. Also the garden type of cancer IDC. Treated with mastectomy, tram flap, 4 rounds of AC. I work as a registered nurse. It is funny to see where Mary and Tim are, My son in now at school at York St John in York and he is spending the day in Lakes region in Lancashire other then food he is having the time of his life in England. Alex >> It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers >> have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Tim >9 year soon to be a 10 year survivor here. Also the garden type of cancer >IDC. Treated with mastectomy, tram flap, 4 rounds of AC. I work as a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > St John in York and he is spending the day in Lakes region in Lancashire > other then food he is having the time of his life in England. The food does vary wildly but we eat extremely well! The Boston Globe even had a report of our table once ... Mary > It is funny to see where Mary and Tim are, My son in now at school at York > St John in York and he is spending the day in Lakes region in Lancashire > other then food he is having the time of his life in England. Do have him pop in and say hello sometime when passing between those places. My geographical address etc. are on my website www.tim-jackson.co.uk. Tim Thanks, I will let him know, I am hoping to meet Mary Fischer this November when we go over to visit my son. I think he is having a wonderful time in York. I am stil trying to understand the British Educational system, he is only taking 3 courses ( usually he takes 5-6 courses). He is trying to travel each weekend. He is 20 and is enjoying the fact the drinking age is 18, I am glad he does not have access to a car and when he turns 21 the thrill of drinking will be over. Alex Hello all. My name is Amy, I am 35 years old. I was first diagnosed in 2000 and then again with a separate and new cancer in the other breast in 2003. I had mastectomies both times and opted not to have reconstruction; a decision I am still happy with. I went through chemo both times, A/C and Taxol, and then CMF. (the second time was oral cytoxan- that was probably the worst part of it all) I tested positive for BRCA2 so I opted to have an oophprectomy with a full hysterectomy in 2004. Besides the occasional hot flash brought on by surgical menopause, life is GREAT! I am back in school pursuing my degree in Early Childhood Education. I have an almost 8 year old daughter that makes it easy for me to forget the battle, but reminds me with every breath why I have to win this war. I could not be happier!!! Amy > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Mary > Hello all. My name is Amy, I am 35 years old. I was first diagnosed in > 2000 and then again with a separate and new cancer in the other breast in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > I could not be happier!!! Amy, what country do you live in and is it the same country where you received treatment(s)? Marsha >> Hello all. My name is Amy, I am 35 years old. I was first diagnosed in >> 2000 and then again with a separate and new cancer in the other breast in [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Amy, what country do you live in and is it the same country where > you received treatment(s)? I live in the United States, Ohio to be exact. Yes, it is the same country that I recieved treatment in... > Marsha >It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have >taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc >history. It's easy to forget who's who. I'm also an Englishwoman, 62 years old who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2005 and had a mastectomy in September 2005. Lymph nodes taken at the same time were clear. I had some problems with a seroma, followed by a breast abscess both of which took ages to clear, probably because I'm also a TYpe 2 diabetic. Finally I had chemotherapy, which finished in March, and it's taken me all this time to recover from that. I'm now trying to work through depression brought about by the issues of not having two breasts and the repulsion I feel for my prostheses, but I'm feeling much more cheerful now, even though I haven't yet really adressed those issues. My doctor recommends counselling, but I'm not sure I want to go down that path. Time will tell. I'm very grateful that I found my lump when I did, the prognosis could have been far worse if I hadn't found it then. I found it purely by accident, the normal method of self-examination didn't show it up. As Mary said, life is good. Geraldine >>It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have >>taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >As Mary said, life is good. I forgot to say that I'm now taking Arimidex daily and shall be doing so for another five years. Luckily for me it doesn't seem to have much in the way of side-effects, although I do feel nauseous occasionally. I have six-monthly visits to the breast care clinic and six-monthly visits to the oncologist. There is some talk of tidying up my scar when it finishes softening up. I live in Fort Mohave, Arizona, with my older daughter and two cats. I heard those dreaded words, "You have breast cancer," on Oct. 5th 2000. Hey, just realized this is my 6th anniversary! First I had a lumpectomy, but when the doctors discovered unclear margins, a 7cc tumor, and a positive sentinel node biopsy, within a month I had a mastectomy. Despite my daughters urging otherwise, I opted not to have reconstructive surgery (after all, I was 73 at the time) and I've been content with a prosthesis ever since. (Paid for by Medicare, by the way, along with the mastectomy bras.) I had eight what the doctor called "aggressive" chemos: Andriamycin, cytoxan, taxol. They truly knocked me flat. Without my daughters' help I don't know what I would have done. The Taxol was the worst. I had a lot of bone pain, but percodan helped a lot. Also, the taxol affected my feet , and I hate to say it, but it still does. It's hard to explain, but my feet are both numb and sensitive at the same time. Getting a pedicure hurts so much I take a pain pill before I go. After 6 years, I guess it's a permanent condition, but a small price to pay. I also had 35 radiations. I took tamoxifen for two years, then femora for two years. Then I stopped because of the side effects. So far so good. Also, I've been very careful with my left arm, and so far there's no sign of lymphesema. I am now 79, active and happy. I'm a published writer and currently am completing another novel. One more thing. To those who claim their cancer is a "positive experience": are you nuts? Get real. Have you lost your minds? Baloney!! Sure, I've coped and I'm happy, but when I look back over these past six years at all the trips to the oncologist, the little scares, the bone scans, MRI's, cat scans, that awful time my blood work showed a big increase in my alkaline phosphotase and I thought for sure my bc had metastasized to my bones, and I went around numb for days... I would not wish what I've gone through on my worst enemy. S.K. Hi all!...I'm another lurker... I live in Berea, Ohio a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. March 25, 2004, I found a lump deep in my right breast. Let it go because I didn't have any insurance. Last summer the lump started to grow and by Thanksgiving, I knew that I had to do something. My cousin is a nurse, so I went to her to see if she had any contacts. It just so happens that she knew of a clinic at our local hospital, Southwest General that would help me. Right after Christmas, I went to the brest center and had a monogram. When it was looked at, I was told to get to a surgeon right away. I saw the surgeon on January 10th and she did a biopsy. Then things started to happen very quickly. She sent me to the for a blood test, cat scan and a MUGA test. Three days later on Friday the 13th, I was at the Ireland Cancer Center, which happens to be at SWG. An hour after I first met with the oncologist, I had an IV in my arm and was receiving the first of six chemo rounds. Two weeks later, I was put on arimidex. I consider myself one of the lucky ones. The only real side effect I've had was the extreme fatigue. And the only time that I got REALLY sick was when I took antinausea meds. As soon as I put them in my mouth they made me throw up...Go figure! I may be one of the few to actually put on weight during chemo. Didn't care if food did taste right, I still ate it...It must be the Italian in me. Not much stops us from eating... During chemo I wanted spicy things the most. Can't tell you how many pots of jambalaya I ate...THAT I could taste and with the more hot sauce, the better. Anyway, as soon as I was taken off of house restriction and when I got my energy level back, I started walking as much as I could. At least a couple a miles a week, or more. I do the stair climber too. I try to keep myself going and won't let myself go down physically or mentally... Six months after the last of the chemo, I'm doing okay. I do have ups and downs but that's to be expected...Even when I have really good days, and feel my old self, my doctor reminds me to remember that I still do have cancer. So far no surgery. According to my oncologist, I could live without having the masectomy. If I do have it, there is no way to get to the lymph nodes in my chest. She made it very clear to me when we first met, that we will be able to control the cancer but not cure it. I see the oncologist every eight weeks. She does a cat scan every twelve to sixteen weeks. The last one showed that the mass has shrunk almost in half. I'll go to see the surgeon in January to see what she has to say. If the two doctors think I have to have the surgery, then I'll have it. As I said, I consider myself one of the lucky ones. So many people are in worse shape then I am... I have good doctors and my family, and I can live with that! Glor >...One more thing. To those who claim their cancer is a "positive > experience": are you nuts? Get real. Have you lost your minds? Baloney!! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > bones, and I went around numb for days... I would not wish what I've gone > through on my worst enemy. Neither would I - but when life hands you lemons you can either make lemonade or walk around puckered about the lips all the time. I choose the former. I'll add my two cents to the roll call later ;-) Hi! I've been lurking here since I was diagnosed with DCIS in July of 2005. I had a wide excision followed by six weeks of radiation. No drugs since my DCIS was ER and PR negative. It also was Grade 3 with comedo -- which concerns me greatly. In June of 2006, my mammogram showed calcifications again. I had an open biopsy which showed more DCIS. A had a total mastectomy a week ago. My first post op visit will be today when I'll see the pathology report. I'm 62 and live near Buffalo, NY. I guess I"m wondering why the radiation didn't catch the remaining DCIS and I'm concerned for my remaining breast. I"ve learned a lot from this group and thanks to all who post with information and support.......Sue > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of > their bc history. It's easy to forget who's who. Ann Thorsen, central lower Michigan, USA. Age 50, widowed-orphaned-only-child, recently retired from a management job in information technology with the local University. Diagnosed Sept. 2000, locally advanced BC, stage III - 5 tumors in left breast (largest 3.1 cm), 1 in right, 1 positive node. Bilateral mastectomies, 3 months AC, 3 months Taxol, 6 weeks radiation, 2(ish) years Tamoxifen, Arimidex since. No reconstruction - perfectly satisfied being evenly flat (OK, slightly concave), and *don't* want more surgery! So far, NED. Biggest boon in my recovery was the happy accident of a breast cancer survivors' rowing team (crew) starting up right here in our town, about 4 years ago. I've made lots of new friends, some of them now quite close, and feel stronger & better physically than I have in *decades*. Rowing has truly changed my life, and I don't say things like that lightly. We'll have an exhibition race on 10/22 as part of our BC awareness month celebration. Life is very good indeed. Ann T. Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email I'm Marilyn in Canada. I was diagnosed in 1992, had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation and am now taking Arimidex. So far, so good. "Something" has made me gain 20 pounds, probably a combination of my natural sloth and a feeling of entitlement because I'm "sick" and not the Arimidex. Marilyn, pets lovely and helpful Arimidex > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Mary I have missed the past few roll calls but am now back as a sometimes poster. I am 48- working as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I was diagnosed with IDC ("garden variety cancer", my surgeon told me) at 42 in 10/2000. This was 8 months after my mother died unexpectedly and 5 months after my father died. Mammogram was normal 12/99- but some how in Oct 2000 I had a 1.7 cm mass- the docs all said the extreme grief/stress may have affected my immune system... and Voila! cancer. Not sure I believe that, but it may have been a factor. Anyway, after lumpectomy, CMF/radiation/CMF (oral Cytoxan is nasty) I decided, as many of us do, to really live. Took some chances-at the urging of friends, I went on match.com- as a confirmed bachelorette and loving my single status, I was skeptical. To make a long story short, I am typing this sitting across from my soon-to-be husband. We have bought wonderful home together. No, everything is not perfect. We have our issues and problems. But overall I am quite happy. I would never had taken such a leap if I had gone on about my usual life sans cancer. So, while I hate being a cancer patient/survivor, it has been a gift of sorts. Jeannette > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have > taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc > history. It's easy to forget who's who. I live in California (US), and am a retired electronics engineer. My wife died of breast cancer in March of this year. Her original BC diagnosis was four years ago, and we learned of the metastases to her liver only 66 days prior to her death.  SignatureJohn Richards > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of > their bc history. It's easy to forget who's who. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 cancer three years ago. I had a mastectomy - no lymph node involvement. Because of my age (75 at the time) I was not given chemo but prescribed Arimidex. After a few months on the drug I began to experience side effects and stopped taking it. However after discussion with members of this group a few months ago, I decided to resume taking the drug. To my great surprise, when I went to my oncologist to renew the prescription, he advised against it. He stated that the time period that poses the greatest danger for recurrence is the first 2 to 3 years after diagnosis and that the benefit to me of taking the drug at this point would be small relative to the risks associated with the side effects Tamoxifen or Arimidex. I think he cited 3% as the reduction in risk for me at this point. I literally skipped out of his office for it seemed I had dodged both chemo and drugs up to this point. There was an interesting article a few months ago regarding the value of chemo for early stage breast cancer. The article acknowledged that not all early stage patients required chemo, but it was impossible to predict those who could skip it, consequently it is routinely given to all. It remains to be seen if the avoidance of chemo and drugs will be successful in my case (I absolutely am NOT recommending this!). I see my onc every 4 months for a tumor marker test and keeping all my fingers crossed. I also had a lumpectomy to remove a benign lesion in the remaining breast a few months ago - while these calcifications are known to have low risk of becoming cancerous, the risk increases with age. Knocking wood, fingers crossed, etc. Lois Hi, I'm Chantelle and I'm from Ontario, Canada. I was first dx'ed in October, 2000. I'd found a lump in my breast in August of that year. When I went to the doctor, he told me to go off coffee for a month and the lump would surely go away. I guess he felt that it couldn't be cancer because I was only 31 at the time :) The lump didn't go away, of course, and a mammogram showed a mass with microcalcifications that was highly suspicious of malignancy. I had a mammography-guided core needle biopsy, and once that confirmed the presence of infiltrating ductal carcinoma, I had a lumpectomy. The margins weren't clear, and so I had a second lumpectomy a few weeks later. 3 of 7 lymph nodes tested positive for cancer at that time, and so I had chemo. The tumour was HER2-, and I wound up having 4 cycles of AC and 4 cycles of Taxotere in a clinical trial. I was quite neutropenic and I had to have Neupogen for 6 of those cycles. I didn't like that at all - that was easily the worst part of the treatment I received back then. Once I finished chemo I had 35 rounds of radiation over 5 weeks. The tumour was ER/PR positive, and so I also took Tamoxifen for 4 1/2 years. I was taken off it early because I had developed crystalline structures in my corneas, which are apparently a sign of Tamoxifen toxicity. In February of this year, I started to develop mild lymphedema in my surgery arm for no apparent reason. An MRI picked up a suspicious mass in the breast, and that mass turned out to be infiltrating ductal carcinoma again much to everyone's surprise. So I had another lumpectomy; fortunately, this tumour was quite tiny. A bone scan showed a hot spot on the sternum, and a CT scan showed something that looks like cancer there. I had a biopsy of the spot but it came back inconclusive because they didn't get a good sample. I had another biopsy last week and I'll get the results on Tuesday. I expect that I have bone mets. I do have a LOT of pain in that area, and we've spent quite a bit of time getting that under control. I'd wanted to avoid the narcotic painkillers, but ultimately they were the only things that worked to kill the pain. My treatment, if I do have bone mets, will be removal of my ovaries followed by one or another aromatase inhibitor plus bisphosponates. How lucky can a girl be? :) I've been happier these last 6 years than I had been in the previous 31 before I had cancer. Cancer was a wake-up call for me - I now have a rich and fulfilling life, which I was lacking before. I don't know whether I would have had this great of a life if I hadn't had cancer. Take care, Chantelle > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of > their bc history. It's easy to forget who's who. I'm a 43 year old employment lawyer, prickly by nature. I live in the south England, work in an advice centre in London. Half Spanish so also have a temper. Diagnosed February 2004, lumpectomy, Tamoxifen and Zoladex, opted out of the chemo. María I am another lurker who usually responds to roll calls. Dx 1992 with fast growing estrogen negative tumor. Lumpectomy, all nodes removed. Radiation started immediately and then they found one node positive so they started me on chemo two weeks into rads. I had 6 cycles of CMF. I also have rheumatoid arthritis so my white cells took longer to get back to an acceptable level so generally I had the infusions monthly. Now suffer from lymphodema unfortunately but wear a sleeve as much as possible to keep it under control. No fun in Sydneys summer. Hi to everyone. Jo > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Mary Responding to Roll call on Awareness Month: I had my Lumpectomy Sept. 2002 at the age of 60. I went through radiation treatments, opted out of chemo, and take arimidex. I had another biopsy in May of 2005 which turned out to be clear. In November 2005, 6 mo. mammogram had them wanting to send me back for another series of mammograms. This time I opted not to do that. Now its time for another mammogram this week -- not sure why it is that just knowing its time to check again, makes all fears return! I am more than bit nervous about this one and will certainly be glad to have it behind me. It's more than the returning cancer that I fear....its spending 1/2 of my annual salary beyond what the insurance pays out of my own pocket! I am so tired of giving everything I make to doctors and hospitals, Sure it's fantastic to be alive! I just would like to have some money left to be able to enjoy it!!! (If I could just hold off for 1 1/2 years medicare and supplements insurance would pay the bill.) Two years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I guess now we know that it ran in the family....just that the daughter (ME) found it first. The good part of my life since becoming a cancer "survivor"/patient...is that we have bought a house, celebrated being married 30 years, my youngest becomes a chiropractor next week, my granddaughter made me a great 'gramma' last month and I am slowly retiring from work. Celebrating all of the groups successes, achievements, and milestones while also being painfully aware of all of the losses and hurts during the four years that I've been a 'member' of the group that 'no one wants to join', and at the same time so happy that each of you are there when the need is so great. Yes, Roll Call comes around fast (time travels faster it seems, the older we get!), but I am thankful to be here for another Roll Call! I'm glad you are here too! Lady Boot Hi everyone. I'm Barb, a soon to be 58 year old wife, mom, grandma and kindergarten teacher. I was diagnosed almost 23 years ago with stage II bc. Slightly more than half of the nodes that were removed were malignant, so I did a modified radical mastectomy, followed by a year of CMF chemo. Thankfully, I've been NED since. In these twenty three years, I've raised my children, been blessed with five beautiful grandbabies, taught many hundreds of five year olds, and been wife to my dear husband. I live in rural Pennsylvania, where the Fall foliage is really beautiful right now. For a long, long time after my diagnosis, I didn't think that life could ever be good again.......I'm so glad that I was wrong! Hi Everyone, there seems to be a new development in the field of Breast cancer . I was reading about it on http://www.epsdrugstore.com/10-09eps-Exercise-helps-breast-cancer-and-anemia.htm which says Moderate but regular exercise can help women avoid some of the side-effects of radiation treatment for breast cancer. Researchers studied 20 women with breast cancer, and found the women who walked briskly 20 to 45 minutes three to five times a week during radiotherapy treatment maintained their levels of healthy blood cells. I thought I would share this info with you. Maybe you would want to read about it there. Regards Sherry bove > Hi everyone. I'm Barb, a soon to be 58 year old wife, mom, grandma and > kindergarten teacher. I was diagnosed almost 23 years ago with stage II bc. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > For a long, long time after my diagnosis, I didn't think that life could > ever be good again.......I'm so glad that I was wrong! Hi Barb, I live in Pittsburgh but we went hiking in the mountains this past weekend! The foliage really beautiful right now. Take care. Tamara > Hi everyone. I'm Barb, a soon to be 58 year old wife, mom, grandma and > kindergarten teacher. I was diagnosed almost 23 years ago with stage II [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > For a long, long time after my diagnosis, I didn't think that life could > ever be good again.......I'm so glad that I was wrong! Greetings Tamara! We are in north central PA in the Endless Mountains. Leaves are at peak right now. Soon the snow will fly! We tease our school superintendent, who is from Pittsburgh, that when the snow is higher than her spike heels, she heads for Western PA. :-) > Hi Barb, > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >> right now. For a long, long time after my diagnosis, I didn't think that >> life could ever be good again.......I'm so glad that I was wrong! Wow - the Endless mountains!!! We were hiking at the World's End State Park - looking for some bear to photograph but with 2 dogs and a 9 year old - all we saw was a garter snake:). Nice to know someone's in the neighborhood. Take Care, Tamara > Greetings Tamara! We are in north central PA in the Endless Mountains. > Leaves are at peak right now. Soon the snow will fly! We tease our [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >>> didn't think that life could ever be good again.......I'm so glad that I >>> was wrong! Good gracious, Tamara...You were within a few miles of our home! I travel through World's End State Park every day on my way to school. There are bears around, but not when you expect to see them. Used to live in a Ranger Station where one came into the yard regularly. You really did see some of Pa's best Fall foliage on your trip to our neck of the woods. I understand they rent the cabins at World's End all year round, so that some folks stay at Christmas. Would be primitive, but beautiful. If you are ever back, I'd love to meet you! > Wow - the Endless mountains!!! We were hiking at the World's End State > Park - looking for some bear to photograph but with 2 dogs and a 9 year [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tamara Hi Barb, We wanted to camp or rent a cabin but we hike and camp with our dogs and they don't allow pets to stay overnight in the park :(. Maybe if we ever go back (it was a longish trip) I would like to meet you too. If you are even in my neck of the woods in the Big City, please let me know. Tamara > Good gracious, Tamara...You were within a few miles of our home! I travel > through World's End State Park every day on my way to school. There are [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >> >> Tamara > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers have > taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of their bc > history. It's easy to forget who's who. Hi all I usually lurk but have posted a few times recently about my upcoming reconstruction. I was dxd a year ago with stage 2, 3 cms, N0, ER neg, Her neg, had a bilateral mastectomy on Oct 3rd, did 3 FEC, 3 Taxotere. No radiation. I just turned 38 on Oct 8th so while last year's birthday sucked :-) this years was a bit better. I live in Toronto, Canada. I'm having my reconstruction on Friday and I'm so excited. I'm doing a free DIEP so I get a tummy tuck also. Helpful after the 2 kids! Moz Hi Moz, Hope everything goes well for you. Please let us know. Tamara >> It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers >> have [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Moz Best wishes to you, Moz. I've always been glad I did my reconstruction. While I was uncomfortable for a while following, I didn't mind. Really wanted the reconstruction! Hope all goes well for you. Barb " > >Hi, Pam, ....dx'd in dec '04 , stage 2 er +, had lumpectomy in Jan '05... 6 rounds of FEC chemo finishing in June '05 , then 20 daily rads (Mon - Fri) all thru August '05...back to work mid September....not an hour off sick since (touch- wood).... lots of scares...aches and pains...is it or isn't it??? ultra sounds, chest z-ray and endoscopy...but NED yet....Just living each day as it comes....Have cried and laughed with the group..... can empathise with you all, have lost dear friends this year... funny how, before me being dx'ed I only knew one person with cancer, then all of a sudden, I know 4 or 5..... dangerous age 50 ish ...... Have wonderful doctor and supportive family and friends...(use the 'chemo-brain ' thing all the time) not many perks to this road........good luck to all...will keep lurking....unless I have anything relevant to say, but am sending good vibes to all, thnx to all who have answered my queries, (how-ever daft they may have been) Most done with understanding and kindness, God- bless.............Pam allan here - and I rarely capitalize my first name ;-) Spouse to Deborah the Miracle, who has been a Stage IV breast cancer survivor for more than seven years. Let's see if I can run down her history - We got married in May 1999 and she was diagnosed in August of that year. 5.5cm primary tumor, 7/28 nodes positive, mets to both lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes. Tiny little tumors in her lungs. After mastectomy we had 13 month of joy with a rather large seroma but finally got that under control. Four courses of chemotherapy - AC+Taxotere in a clinical trial, two courses of Navelbine and a course of Abraxane. Except for one brief period of remission she's had pretty much constant Herceptin once she got done with the ACT trial. Hormonals? Three years of Tamoxifen, then maybe six months of Arimidex and currently doing Faslodex + Herceptin. Markers are climbing slightly now and at the end of this month I think we're gonna get to make another treatment decision. We're looking at a Tykerb + Xeloda expanded access trial that sounds real promising and since Xeloda would be next up for us anyway it seems to be a good choice. Peripheral neuropathy from the Abraxane is still an issue but I *think* it's getting better and the mediastenoscopy they did to biopsy lymph nodes in her chest changed her voice permanently - sometimes she can be a little hard to hear if you're not careful. She's had problems with her mediport almost from day one, but since it looks like the next course of chemo for us will be oral we don't have to look at that quite yet. Port's tipped and you pretty much have to stand her on her head to get a needle in it. And Mary's right - life *is* good. Not sure I'd trade with anybody ;-) hugs to all - Signatureallan we don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. -- Anais Nin Hi all, I will admit that I contribute less than I use to simply b/c I need to escape this way of life every so often. In addition to my wife, my mother-in-law, was dx'd with stage IV lung cancer in Oct 2005. My wife Sharon was originally dx'd March 1995 with recurrance to her brain and lung in Oct 2001 (5 yr anniv just passed) She was treated with WBR, stereotactic radiation, neurosurgery. She started out on Herceptin & Femara, navelbine was added for a time. She is currently taking Xeloda and doing great (next scans are in Jan). They dropped the Herceptin, Femara and Navelbine over the last 5yrs at different intervals. She was on Herceptin the longest (4 yrs) and may be able to get back on it if the disease progresses again. We're in sort of a sweet spot right now and trying to enjoy what life has to offer while we try to make the most of the time with her mother. On a personal note, I've set a goal of raising $100,000.00 from the sale of BC jewelry and I'm about half way there. We've donated all the proceeds from our signature BC pin to The Susan G. Komen BC Foundation www.komenboston.org As far as not trading this life, well I'd disagree pretty quickly. We've been married for 21 yrs and Sharon has been sick for half of that time. Just when you're supposed to be hitting your stride we got hit with this. We are positive people and have made the most of the situation we're in. We have garnered a perspective on life that you just can't get unless you walk this road. We know breast cancer on an intimate level, yet given the chance, we'd trade it away in a heart beat to have our old lives back. We appreciate the perspective we've gained, but we miss so much of the things we use to do together. This is our life, however, and we will make the best of it. No one knows what tomorrow will bring, so we try to enjoy each day to the fullest... My two cents anyway... Mark > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Mary "Mary Fisher"wrote : > It's October and each year while I've been around hear many subscribers > have taken the opportunity to introduce themselves and remind others of > their bc history. It's easy to forget who's who. Marsha, age 52, from Memphis BC dx 4/26/06 needle core biopsy - initial dx Grade 1/Stage 2B; modified radical mastectomy of left breast 5/11/06; final dx Grade 2/Stage 3A; 6 of 34 underarm lymph nodes positive; ER+/PR+ and HER-2 neg CT scan 6/8 revealed right adrenal gland tumor aprox. size of a softball. Needle biopsy 6/14 pathology showed cancerous (not BC mets; a 2nd cancer likely older than the BC) July 10, 2006 - adrenalectomy; final report that entire adrenal was removed, no other organs involved and all margins negative. Aug.3,2006 - porta-cath (what's the right verb? installed? ;-)) Beg Aug.8,2006 - began 4 A/C every 2 weeks also take Neulasta shots Returned to full-time work Sept.29 Current: Oct 5,2006 - began 4 Taxol every 2 weeks WOW did that cramp my lifestyle or WHAT? (see separate post on Taxol if interested) THEN Rt 30 sessions THEN anti hormone pill (aromasin or similar) Marsha |
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