Member Information Two
Hazelanne Lewis:
Diagnosed with IDC and tubular carcinoma in left breast at age 55 in April 1998. Had MRM and lat-flap reconstruction, took Tamoxifen for one year. Currently taking herbals as prophylactic and nothing else. NED since MRM.
Musa Mayer:
Diagnosed April 1989, Stage IIA, mastectomy with implant reconstruction, CMFx12, followed by 5 years of tamoxifen. Currently NED. Musa is the author of three books, the first about her father, Night Studio: A Memoir of Philip Guston, the second an account of her experience with bc, Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery, and the third, Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic Disease, an examination of the experiences of those with metastatic breast cancer.
Sara McKenna:
Diagnosed 05/98, aged 44, after prophylactic bilateral (family history, atypical cells on biopsy one year previous): 3mm (largest of several foci - size of others not recorded) well differentiated infiltrating ductal carcinoma in left breast; several areas of intermediate grade DCIS and LCIS in both breasts also. Strongly ER+, clinically node negative, started tamoxifen 13/05/99; NED since.
Louise Miller:
Diagnosed August 1990 with less than 1cm of lobular and ductal cancer in one breast. She writes: "When I heard the lobular might go to
the other one I knew I wanted it off. Incidently, I breast fed three children each over one year and still got bc. I also did not get my period until age 13. I am still ned, and still on tamoxifen."
Lynn Fieldman Miller:
Diagnosed at age 47 in 1986 with DCIS, stage "pre 1." Treatment was lumpectomy with no node excision, radiation and radiation implant. An attorney in private practice with husband Arthur. NED since finishing treatment.
NancyO Miller:
Diagnosed 11/97 at age 45; right MRM; 2/13 nodes positive; treatment, CAFX6, radiation X25, very seriously burned. Three attempts to take Tamoxifen, but seriously allergic. Liver biopsy 9/98, clear; neck utrasounds 11/98, clear; biopsy of right breast lump 1/99, lump removed 2/99, growth was the result of radiation.
Cheryl Moore:
Writes, "I was diagnosed July 1997 and have been NED since my BMT in Feb 1998. I was 39 years old at the time of diagnosis and have no family history of BC. My tumor was 6cm and I had 12/13 + nodes. I started with Chemo in attempts to shrink the tumor but this was unsuccessful. In September 1997 I had a mastectomy and a tissue expander put in so that I could later have reconstructive surgery. This was followed by 4 more treatments of Chemo prior to beginning the HDC/PSCT. I was hospitalized for 21 long days during the procedure. After that in 1 month I began radiation treatment for 29 sessions and have currently been on Tamoxifen for 1 year. Things are great and my life is finally returning to normal (if possible)." She is finishing reconstruction, with a new nipple, June 1999, so now everything will look normal too. To see her with her beautiful dog, click HERE.
Judy Niedzwiedz:
Diagnosed in 1976 at age 36 with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, 5.5cm tumor attached to chest wall, with 19 of 21 positive nodes. MRM followed by 52 weeks of high dose chemo. NED for 19 years. Recurrence in 1997, second MRM followed by tamoxifen. Because she tested BRCA1 positive and is a member of an American "cancer cluster" family decided to have a prophylactic oophorectomy. After 11 months of tamoxifen developed uterine cancer, had hysterectomy January 1999 and is currently NED. Founder of Cancer Survivors On Line. For her more detailed discussion of her history, click HERE.
Susan Pinedo:
Diag. 11/89, Age 47, Stage IIIb, 5cm infiltrating lobular (missed on
mammogram 2 months earlier), R mrm, 2/18+, 6xcmf, 5 1/2 yrs. tamoxifen.
Tram flap reconstruction 1992. Local recurrence in tram flap discovered by
mammogram and biopsy 1/96, 4xadria, L simple mastectomy and R tramectomy,
HDC/SCR 9/96, radiation, arimidex. Younger sister died of breast cancer
1993 after a six-year battle, two remaining sisters, two grown daughters.
Pat Ratcliff:
Diagnosed at age 52, October 1998, invasive ductal carcinoma, MRM left breast, 0/13 nodes, with mastoplexy of right breast and saline reconstruction, December 1998. Implant removed due to infection, January 1999, developed lymphedema in left arm. Finished AC chemo March 1999 and started tamoxifen. To read a more detailed version of her story, click HERE.
Jane Reid:
Diagnosed in October 1995 with infiltrating lobular, 1.7cm, ER positive. Lumpectomy, wide excision, axillary dissection, no positive nodes. Further treatment: radiation and tamoxifen. Currently NED. To see her gracefully pursuing her great passion, click HERE.
Lisa Ritchie:
Diagnosed on 9/18/98 at age 33, lumpectomy 9/24/98, 2.6cm IDC, grade 3/3, 0/14 nodes, er/pr+, ACx4 started 11/9/98, radsx36 started 3/99, Tamoxifen since 2/99. Mother of 3 children who were 10, 9 and 6 at the time of her diagnosis. There is no history of BC in her family. She is busy fixing her personal WEB SITE with photos of the family, and lots of other stuff, too. See a small sample by clicking HERE, or better still, go to her site for a visit.
Bobbie Rivere:
Diagnosed in December 1996 with a lump under the right arm that was malignant. "They told me I had lymphoma, but after careful study, they found the cells to be andenocarcinoma of the kind consistent with BC. After many tests and scans, they never found a primary site. They assumed it to be BC because of the lump location, and they took out 29 nodes, all negative. I had 8 rounds of CMF but refused radiation treatment as I felt there was nothing to radiate. I am currently NED."
Francine Schwieder:
Diagnosed at age 52 with invasive lobular carcinoma, 7.5cm tumor, June 1996. Treatment was 3 rounds of CAF, modified radical mastectomy, followed by 3 more rounds of CAF. Pathology report showed tumor had shrunk to 2.5cm and was ER+/PR+; 5 of 22 nodes were positive, but other signs were good. Began 5 years of tamoxifen in December 1996. Had gall bladder removed end of January 1997. The previously ailing organ had been finished-off by chemo. Finished 5 years of tamox, was off for over a year when my new oconologist announced he wanted me on Femara. Started five more years of hot flashes, reluctantly. Currently NED.
Norma Steele:
Diagnosed in June 1997, NED since treatment. She writes:
"At the age of 45 I found a lump in the right breast through BSE, core needle biopsy determined invasive ductal carcinoma. Quadrantectomy to remove 2.0cm tumor. AND determined 2/31 positive nodes. Due to extensive DCIS leaving me with dirty margins I had a subsequent MRM. 4 treatments with Adria/Cytoxan . Although radiation treatments are not the standard protocol for low numbers of positive nodes, I opted for 28 radiation treatments. It is my personal choice to not pursue reconstruction which is fine with my prince, my husband Gordon and my precious babies my 3 cats Spike, Yvette MewMew and Grover and two dogs, Brittany and Chesapeake. Because of my breast cancer diagnosis I was able to find my passion in life."
Shirley Tathwell:
"I was diagnosed August 18,1999. I had infiltrating residual ductal carcinoma, 1 cm., with one lymph node microscopically involved. Stage IIa, N1,M0,Grade II/III. I had a MRM (right) on August 25.1999...
I enjoy lurking, reading, and sometimes posting to the List. I am a retired nurse (RN). I have a Master's Degree in Medical-Surgical nursing and taught in several schools, the last one being Arizona State University. I was on their faculty for 6 yrs and then I went into private psychiatric nursing. I worked at the Arizona State Hospital and in the Maricopa County jail system. I retired in 1994 and have forgotten more than I ever knew. My Mom died in Feb.1999, of colon cancer. I live alone. I am Catholic in religion. My hobbies are reading, crocheting, knitting, tatting,and counted cross stitch. I have a little dog, Doobie, a terrier mix." What she didn't mentioned is that she has a title: Duchess of Nothing.
Sarah Webster-Eastman:
Diagnosed at age 53, November 1998 with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, histologic grade 1, well differentiated, nuclear grade 2, size 9mm, ER/PR positive. Partial mastectomy with sentinal node excision, 0/15 nodes, December 1998. Seven weeks radiation, no chemo, started tamoxifen. For a more detailed account, including info on her radiation experiences, click HERE.
Maria Wetzel:
Diagnosed February 1996, 3.5cm tumor, 3 positive nodes, had MRM and CMFx4 then CAx4. NED ever since. Opted for a simple mastectomy May 1999, "for symmetry mostly, but I am happy with the prophylactic aspect also."
Jere Williams:
Had MRM October 1994, has been NED ever since. Happy with her reconstruction.