Author Topic: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!  (Read 8306 times)

pjb

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #15 on: September 04, 2010, 09:00:13 am »
Kathy so glad to read a post from you thank God all the treatments for the BC is over.........You and your husband deserve more than a weekend but I am sure you are happy to settle with that......How are your children doing I am sure they are glad that the treatments are finished ... So sorry to read about your wound I hope the wound specialist will be able to help now that treatments are done and as you get stronger the wound will get to heal ...

You are a true inspiration to us all for what you have gone through and kept the faith, humor and your concern for us as well..

My sincerest wishes go out to you and your family ..

Pat
Diagnosed with a 1 cm. AN had Retrosigmoid
Approach surgery July of 2009, several problems after surgery.

Lizard

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2010, 01:16:53 pm »
Kathy,
Thanks for posting, what a journey you have been through.
Liz
Left AN 2.5CM,retrosigmoid 11/2008, second surgery to repair CSF leak. 
Headaches began immediately.  Dr. Ducic occipital nerve resection, December 2011!!!!!

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Kathy M

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #17 on: September 06, 2010, 07:51:19 am »
Thanks so much, guys, for celebrating with me!  One day at a time is the new phrase for me.  Steve and I had a fabulous, relaxed, weekend - just what we needed.  Today, it's a bit more relaxing since I'm returning to work next week (part time, but methinks I'll still be weary!).   But...there will be a smile on my phase and a lil'skip in my step this week.  I intend to celebrate things a bit more, laugh a lot more, and love my family and friends even more than before.  (can you feel the hugs going your way?)

Barring any unforeseen adventures, Steve and I will be at the symposium here in Ohio next August.  I hope to meet many of you there!!!! 

On our way to Amish country on Friday, we stopped at the infectious disease doctor so that he could culture the damn head wound again.  Can't wait to talk to him today and see what it grew out this time - can you believe this nonsense?  Since Jan. 09 - the original AN surgery, I can't go more than 3 1/2 months after the run of antibiotics (whether they are oral or IV) without the wound deteriorating back to its original state.  Methinks I may need to explore further avenues - different doctor (what should his/her specialty be?), different health care system (gotta be covered by my insurance!), a trip to a voodoo doctor?  How 'bout a voodoo doll - I could ask my husband to make one in my likeness, send them you guys - it will have the exact spot on my head marked appropriately.  Then you guys could apply various potions and lotions on it and it'll close up.  There HAS to be something out there!!!!

Ah well, nuff 'bout me - I'm off to get my day started.  Shower, laundry, then playtime!!!!

Love to you all!!!

Kathy
AN diagnosed 11/14/08, 3+cm, Retrosigmoid 1/13/09, Univ. Hosp., Cincinnati, Drs. Tew and Pensak
no facial nerve or eye issues!
3 more surgeries related to staph infections & osteomylitis over next 13 months.  New diagnosis of breast cancer.  Treatment completed 08/27/10.  Moving on!!!

CHD63

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #18 on: September 06, 2010, 07:57:24 am »
Kathy .....

You are such an inspiration with your upbeat attitude!  I know you have days when you would like to forget it all, but your ability to turn all of this to a positive is amazing.

..... and if voodoo dolls would work, we would soon have the medical profession out of business!!  Loved the thought of it, though.

Have a fun playtime today!

Clarice
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

Lizard

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #19 on: September 07, 2010, 08:48:50 pm »
Wow can't believe the wound won't close.  I had a hard time with my wound after my CSF surgery, but it was only a couple months of it.  There are wound specialists you could probably seek out, but not sure of the insurance implications.
Keep up the great attitude, but remember no to over do it, especially when it comes to work  8)

Liz
Left AN 2.5CM,retrosigmoid 11/2008, second surgery to repair CSF leak. 
Headaches began immediately.  Dr. Ducic occipital nerve resection, December 2011!!!!!

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on"
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

Soundy

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #20 on: September 07, 2010, 09:25:46 pm »
glad you had a good weekend ...

3mm AN discovered Aug 2004
Translab July 2 ,2007
3.2cm x 2.75cm x 3.3cm @ time of surgery

wendysig

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #21 on: September 08, 2010, 12:33:14 am »
Hi Kathy!

I've been out of the loop for quite a while, but have kept you in my thoughts and prayers.  I am so thrilled for you that your cancer treatment is OVER!  It must feel great.  I hope the wound specialist can help get your head to heal soon, once and for all.

Best wishes,
Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

Brendalu

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #22 on: September 08, 2010, 03:40:39 pm »
Congratulations, Kathy!

As a twenty-four year survivor of breast cancer and the treatment I remember well the day I was told "no more".  If I could have done hand stands I would have!  Start some new adventures and support all of the people you hear about going through the same thing.  It is indeed a sisterhood.

Hugs,
Brenda
Brenda Oberholtzer
AN surgery 7/28/05
Peyman Pakzaban, NS
Chester Strunk, ENT

Kathy M

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #23 on: September 11, 2010, 01:02:35 pm »
You got it, Brenda!!  24-year survivor - spectacular!!!!  The company I keep in the BC sisterhood and AN family is an awesome source of inspiration and support.  Thanks, all, for the well wishes!
AN diagnosed 11/14/08, 3+cm, Retrosigmoid 1/13/09, Univ. Hosp., Cincinnati, Drs. Tew and Pensak
no facial nerve or eye issues!
3 more surgeries related to staph infections & osteomylitis over next 13 months.  New diagnosis of breast cancer.  Treatment completed 08/27/10.  Moving on!!!

MLB57

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #24 on: September 12, 2010, 03:49:23 pm »
Kathy,

Congratulations to you for being the ultimate survivor--for making it through all you had to! My friend Ruth had breast cancer 5 years ago and the cancer is all behind her now.. Yes the treatment is nasty but I am so glad to hear you are well now and can go on with your life!!!

Best always,

Mary (aka Grammie "Mimi")  ;D
1 cm rt AN (retrosigmoid Jan 2001 UMASSMed Ctr/Worc, MA)
Residual left--continued growing--finished 30 FSR w/Dr Loeffler (Mass Gen/Boston MA) on Oct 22 2007... --April 2010--tumor shrank to 8mm and is a dark spot!!  Latest Update: April May 2017 scan shows no change!--Next MRI 2020!!  Life is good!!

Debbi

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #25 on: September 17, 2010, 08:18:27 am »
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
Debbi - diagnosed March 4, 2008 
2.4 cm Right Side AN
Translab April 30, 2008 at NYU with Drs. Golfinos and Roland
SSD Right ear, Mild synkinesis and facial nerve damage
BAHA "installed" Feb 2011 by Dr. Cosetti @ NYU

http://debsanadventure.blogspot.com

cindyj

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #26 on: September 17, 2010, 12:06:48 pm »
Kathy!  So glad you're finished!  You were amazing through it all - an inspiration to all!  With Breast Cancer month (October) coming upon us, this is perfect timing for a success story!  Hope all of you ladies have had your mammograms  ;D

Cindy
rt side 1.5 cm - Translab on 11/07/08 Dr. Friedman & Dr. Schwartz of House Ear Institute,
feeling great!

"Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing well those you do hold."  Josh Billings

Keri

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #27 on: October 06, 2010, 06:32:26 am »
Hi Kathy,
I took a long break from the forum (unintended; just got too busy). I've been on regularly for the last couple of weeks and have been wondering about you. I finally found this (buried under all the support group meetings!)
I'm so glad your treatments are over and I hope and pray by now more progress has been made with your AN incision site.
We are all so blessed and inspired by your outlook and hope!

Keri
1.5 left side; hearing loss; translab scheduled for 1/29/09 at Univ of MD at Baltimore
My head feels weird!!

Kathy M

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #28 on: October 12, 2010, 07:12:40 pm »
Thanks so much, Keri!  I'm not on the forum very often and it is hard to keep track of everyone!!!  I am so appreciative of the support from all of my AN friends!!!! 
AN diagnosed 11/14/08, 3+cm, Retrosigmoid 1/13/09, Univ. Hosp., Cincinnati, Drs. Tew and Pensak
no facial nerve or eye issues!
3 more surgeries related to staph infections & osteomylitis over next 13 months.  New diagnosis of breast cancer.  Treatment completed 08/27/10.  Moving on!!!

lori67

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Re: Breast Cancer Treatment is OVER!!!
« Reply #29 on: October 12, 2010, 07:59:30 pm »
Ok, why am I just seeing this under "unread topics" now????    >:(  Darn computer!!!

Anyway, Kathy, sooooooo good to hear from you and I'm so glad you're doing well!

Your attitude and energy is uplifting!  You are definitely SuperWoman!!!  Maybe Steve can knit you a cape?   ;D

Now to get that noggin healed....

Add some more hugs from me! 
Lori
Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.