Class of 2004

Member_of_the_Club

Class of 2004

Member_of_the_Club

We can't be left out of the roll calls here. I was diagnosed 9/30/04 (just in time for breast cancer awareness month, like I needed any more awareness). Stage IIb. The road since has had some bumps But I'm doing great.

Hattie

Glad to hear that. I was trying to get dx in 2004 (Nov.), didn't get dx until 2005 (July). quite a long time, but I'm here and doing well.



Take care,

--Hattie

Towanda2

Wow, Hattie, that's a long time to wait.  I'm sorry you had to go through that.

I was dx in February, 2004, stage IIb.  Lump, chemo, rads, Herceptin, Arimidex (2 more years). 

I'm doing fine but still have those "waiting for the other shoe to drop" days.  Today I finally had a colonoscopy, which I've been putting off for more than a year, I thought  because I was afraid of the prep (serious hemorrhoid issues).  But yesterday morning I had a meltdown because - what if they found something?  Fortunately, everything was normal.  And the prep wasn't bad at all.

jo50

Diagnosed April 2004. PR/ER-, Her2+. In one node. Lumpectomy, AC/T, rads. On Herceptin trial but drew the non-Herceptin arm. April 2005 they closed the trial because of good results and I started Herceptin May 2005. Finished all treatment May 2006. Doing well (fingers crossed!). So glad I found this site so early. Great to have a place where strange symptoms/side effects are validated, after docs (wonderful as all mine have been) have said "oh, that couldn't be from chemo/rads...etc." Great to have unconditional support from the only people who can understand this very strange journey. Best wishes, good health and a happy Thanksgiving to all. Jo

celia088

I was dx'd at the end of October 2004 (radiologist told me) and on November 1, 2004 i was officially told by my surgeon.  After 6 surgeries in one year--2 lumpectomies, one mastectomy, and 2 implant surgeries (one to put it in and one to take it out), and missing sutures, seroma, infections, one traumatic anesthesia wake-up on the operating table, then 2 months of EMDR therapy for PSTD, i am doing ok.   I am reclaiming my life, and getting artwork done.  However, i sure don't want ANY further surgeries!!

BethNY

I hope other 2004'ers will post.  It's good to see old faces.  Was dx 8-31-04, and now it seems like ages ago when I had no hair, and no nipples...

I do remember the original her2 girls, and how we all stressed out about not being able to get herceptin-- and thank god for the ASCO mtg, the FDA finally agreed to give it to us.  I finished my last herceptin 7-06.

In 2004 I wondered if i'd make it to 30.

In 2004 I was dumped by a guy I thought was "the one" and I was devastated.

In 2004 I thought cancer would bankrupt me, and I didn't know how I could continue working at a job where I was overworked, underpaid, and stressed out beyond belief.

Fast forward to 2007.  I'm 30, living in a great house, with my incredible boyfriend for the last year and a half, and I can say with certainty, HE'S THE ONE. 

I got the dream job of a lifetime, and I get paid to wake up every day, and make a difference in the lives of women with breast cancer.  In 2007 I am far from bankrupt.  I am DEBT FREE (hallelujah), and I have a NEST EGG, and a  financial plan, in case I ever get cancer again.

I never would've gotten through 2004 without my sisters who were dx right along with me...

I love you guys so much!!!

Fitztwins

Officially dx 12/04...but knew it  in November. Just turned 40. My twins just turned 4.  Found out my path in 1/05 with my mast/reconstruction.

Still kicking! meet with the oncologist tomorrow, hoping to move to 6 month appointments instead of 4.

Great group here.

Anonymous

I'm in! Biopsy on 9/30/04 and officially diagnosed 10/4/04 - happy breast cancer awareness month to me, I guess. I had just started graduate school (after a 16-year hiatus) so I timed my bilateral to coincide with Thanksgiving break so I wouldn't have to leave school altogether. I remember walking into my first class after the surgery feeling like a mutant because I was probably the only one in the room without nipples, lol (got used to it, though; didn't get nipples until last month). I started rads in December and one week before they were done, my 62-yr-old dad died of a massive heart attack. It was a very rough and very dark time...



But, I did get my master's degree - through rads, expander fills, traveling 70 miles each way to get to class and working for the absolute boss lady from hell. Even had a perfect 4.0 g.p.a., I might add )...



Looking back, I still can't believe I made it through all of that craziness. It most definitely feels good to be on this side of Cancerland!

Member_of_the_Club

We are the first broad herceptin class, aren't we? I was not her2neu pos but I remember waiting for my pathology results and my onc telling me that if I was her2neu positive, the only way to get herceptin would be through a clinical trial and then I would only have a 50% chance because I could be in the control group. I remember being really, really stressed about this and starting to think about scrounging up the money to pay for it out of pocket when i found out it wouldn't be necessary. I was so excited when they opened up the trials for everyone -- I would have been in that group and much relieved.



I believe I was also in the first wave of dose dense outside of clinical trials. My sense is that dose dense is falling somewhat out of favor. Weird thing to get nostalgic about.

Hattie

Thanks for looking back and pointing out that things really have been changing, MOTC. Good to appreciate, and I hope we'll be much farther ahead when the 2010's look back.

Take care,

--Hattie

juanita63

Dxd 9-04, but knew it when I found the lump 8-04.  Some things we just know.

SandyAust

Ok I will join in!  It was July 7, 2004 and like Janis my twins were four. 

I don't say much around here but I am always checking up on all the wonderful ladies on these boards.

I really feel that I am moving beyond.  I am no longer terrified of leaving my children.  I am not quite making retirement plans yet but I am making progress.

I didn't have my breast reconstructed.  I now think I might.

My general health is "not great" so I feel like I have been a patient for a very long time.  Despite this I am really grateful for what I have.  I love my husband and boys so much and we are very, very happy.

Take care ladies.

Sandy xx

Larry44

I was diagnosed April 30, 2004 at 10:35 am with IDC stage 2 grade 2.   I had lumpectomy and node removal, chemo, radiation and am taking Tamoxifen.   I just had my 6 month checkups and have no evidence of disease, NED.

Fitztwins

Okay Gary, why are you larry now?? just curious

spar2

I was diagnosed Jan. 2004 with ILC.  Right mastectomy.  Am still NED and just now doing reconstruction and feeling good.

Caseysmom

I was dx with IBC in July 2004 had left mastectomy with tram flap. 2 years out and still NED.

cebr2004

I lost access to my previous username when they changed the site. So it will show me as a brand new member, but I'm not.

I was diagnosed in May 2004 at age 56. Had 2.4 cm IDC, nodes negative, er+, HER2+++, lumpectomy, and then mastectomy to get better margins for some dcis. Finished EC-T (MA21 trial) in Feb 2005, then did Herceptin from June 2005 for a year. On Arimidex now.

Haven't bothered with reconstruction. My prosthesis is very satisfactory and now I almost feel as if I was born with only one breast. For me, the reconstruction doesn't seem worth the interference with my life.

I have had an excellent 3 years. For some reason, I just don't worry about the cancer. My children (19, 22, 24) are getting independent, my husband is the same as always (!), my job is going well, I've traveled many interesting places. My health is generally good but there are a few details that might have been caused by chemo. However, nothing that many others my age don't also experience.

One after-effect of cancer is that I am not waiting for retirement to do certain things. I am more likely to do them now. I think I am wiser now, and happier. I don't know how much is because of cancer and how much simply due to "maturity" or the fact that the stressful years of having adolescent children is over (with good results). I remember asking on this forum when I might expect the "epiphany" of the wonderful things one might learn from the cancer experience. Well, I still haven't had that epiphany, but I am pleased that my life has absorbed the experience pretty well. 

I am still in contact with several friends from the August 2004 Chemo group, and have even met with them. 

Best wishes to all. 

- Clare 

quiltmom

I was diagnosed in Sept of 04 at age 47.  Just had my yearly scans and all is fine thankfully.  This has been some ride.  I guess it is an endless ride with lots of ups and downs.