Topic: Roll Call November 2007

Howdy, I'm Felicia - and I'm a BC survivor ;o)

History of fibroadenomas since age 16

Diagnosed 10/4/04 at age 37

Multifocal DCIS w/microinvasion, node negative, much of area close to chest wall

bilateral mastectomy + radiation (36 treatments)

BRCA negative, but "mutation of unknown significance" detected

Tamoxifen since 3/05

Mother diagnosed stage III in '88 (age 44), died at age 49 from brain mets

Aunt diagnosed w/DCIS 9/03

IGAP reconstruction 6/07 - nipples 10/07 (almost done!!)

This is a rough road, but I'm still able to smile everyday. God is sooo good!

Hey Sherry, I forgot you were from Philly. I went to Temple in the late 80s and stayed in Philly for a few years after graduation. I try to go back a few times a year.

I am Kat from Central Florida but originally from Jamaica.

Diagnosed 4/23/2004

Mastectomy ( right side) immediate reconstruction

Chemo

Lymphadema

Tamoxifen 2years

Zoladex shots to shut down my ovaries

Now on Femara

Sister was diagnosed at 36 had bilateral mastectomy and then we lost her due to liver Mets a few years later.

Aunt diagnosed at 37. Died due to lung Mets.

Felicia thanks for the PM. Sorry I didn't reply but I was having some issues with blood pressure meds and was off the boards for a few weeks. It is very nice to meet you.

Hello Ladies,

Rakesha - age 30

Mother - diagnosed at age 36 again at age 53.  Now has metastic cancer to her bones and pelvis

1st Aunt - diagnosed at age 48, died at 50

2nd Aunt - diagnosed at age 60.  Now has metastic cancer to her bones, pelvis, spine

This is a rough road for me watching all the women in my family go through this, but GOD is GOOD all the time and my mother and aunt are FIGHTERS. 

Hello Kat,Dawn and Rakesha,

I welcome you warriors with a sad but open heart, wow what a family history Rakesha,I am so sorry for your loss . I would be interested to know if you have BRCA or "mutated gene" I hope your Mom , Aunt and you are doing as well as can be expected, God is good and he is a healer and a deliverer.How are you Dawn ?Strong family history also Kat,I am also sorry for your losses.How is your lymphedema? I too have right side and edema.Hoping everyone is well and has a great weekend . Benita   

Happy2bme,

Thanks!  All is well, I am blessed and grateful to be here.  I appreciate all the kind and encouraging words from everyone. 

D

Hello Cheryl Hello Sabrina,

I pray for your continued blessings Happy Thanksgiving to all..

Benita

Hello All

Just wanted to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving.  For we all know we have a lot to be thankful for.  I know I do.  My life and having it more abundantly.

Be Blessed my sisters

Sabrina

Welcome, Crystal. Sorry you had to find us, but glad you did. Sorry to hear about your mom, but this is a wonderful site full of wonderful people who are so caring and willing to share. If you post anywhere, someone will answer you/offer a hearty hello. It truly is a wonderful community.

The "African Americans w/BC" section was started after one of our sisters posted in a panic about the bad survival rate statistics for Black women. The amount of support and information she got from the women here was amazing. We asked to have it moved from where it was because of the fear that the great info would have been missed had it remained where it was...

Please feel free to send me a private message if you want to chat. Big hugs to your mom!

HELLO LADIES,

MY NAME IS LINDA--I WAS DIAG. WITH BREAST CANCER NOV. 17, 1998.  I HAD A LUMPECTOMY, LEFT BREAST, AND THE COCKTAIL OF ADRAMYCIN AND CYTOXIN, THEN TAXOL: RADIATION 34 TREATMENTS; AND SAILED ALONG TIL 2002, IT CAME BACK AND I HAD A MASCETOMY OF THE LEFT BREAST, AND 3 WEEKS LATER A LUMP WAS FOUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE, MALIGNANT, SO I OPTED TO HAVE THAT BREAST TAKEN .  DIAG. IS HER2--SO I HAVE HAD TO DO CHEMO EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS--HERCEPTIN AND NAVELBINE---RADIATION AGAIN LAST YEAR, IT DID NOT HELP, THEN HERCEPTIN AGAIN.  THE CANCER CAME BACK IN THE SKIN OF MY CHEST, IN 2003, AND I FEEL BLESSED THAT, IT IS ONLY WHERE IT SHOWS ON THE SCANS.   I HAVE HAD 5 OCCURANCES OF THIS CANCER.   I HAVE GIVEN GOD A LOT OF THINGS AND TAKE THEM BACK(IN MY MIND)THIS I HAVE HAD TO GIVE IT TO HIM AND I MEAN TOTALLY--HE GOT IT ANYWAY---BUT YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN--AND I HAVE PRAYERS ACROSS THE NATION AS FRIENDS AND MORE FRIENDS PRAY FOR ME.  AS OF SEPTEMBER I AM NOW ON TYKERB AND NAVELBINE AND THE PLACES ON MY SKIN LOOK FAINT AND NOT THE WICKED RED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AND I AM A BELIEVER---I WANT TO ALWAYS BE AN INSPIRATION TO PEOPLE TO MOVE ON AND HAVE STRIVED TO DO JUST THAT IN THESE PAST 9 YEARS, NOW I HAVE HAD MY DOWN DAYS, AND ALLOW FOR THEM, AS IT HAS A WAY OF COMING OUT IN OTHER WAYS--YOU NAME IT---OK I GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH THE ROLL CALL--LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM EVERYONE--TO ALL OF US--MY MOTTO HAS BEEN "THE CANCER WILL HAVE TO CATCH ME RUNNING AS I WILL NOT LAY DOWN FOR IT"--ARE YA WITH ME??!!!

SINCERELY

LINDA

Hello all,

Sharon from San Antonio

Age 39

DX 10/09/2007

IDC, HER2+,3.1cm,Stage IIIc,12/15 nodes positive

Lumpectomy with nodes disection 10/24/2007

Total Left Mastectomy 11/09/2007

Chemo start date 11/14/2007; TAC/HERCEPTIN

Nice to meet everyone

Welcome Sharon! We were diagnosed almost three years apart to the day. Hoping your treatment is going well : - )

Linda, have you thought about testing for BRCA? There are only two genes they look for: BRCA1 and BRCA2, but there are more than an handful of Black women here who tested negative for those genes, but had some other gene variant of "unknown significance." Not sure how much research is going on to find out what the heck that means, but it might be good information to know - especially for your daughters and granddaughters.

HELLO SHARON AND WELCOME:

HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU AS YOU START THIS NEW CHALLANGE,  HANG IN THERE, AND COME VISIT US, SO WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER ALONG THE WAY!!!

LINDA

Mel, your video was awesome! You are beautiful, as is your little guy. What a lovely tribute to your journey!!

I'll submit a photo shortly!