I was diagnosed in March, 1999 at the age of 49.

Anne

I had all of the classic symptoms of ibc and was quickly diagnosed in March, 1999. I had a port implanted and started chemotherapy in April, 1999.   I was ER-, PR-, Her2/neu +3, and Stage IIIb.   All of my scans were clear which indicated that there was no apparent spread of the cancer.

I had CAF (Cytoxan, Adriamycin, and 5FU) every 3 weeks x4 doses, then I had Taxotere every 3 weeks x2 doses, then I had Herceptin and Taxol weekly x6 doses.  I had a complete clinical response to the chemotherapy, then I had surgery, and I had a complete pathological response (meaning that there were no active cancer cells in the breast tissue or the 6 lymph nodes that had been removed).

I was about to have hdc/scr (high-dose chemo/stem cell replacement) when the South African study was revealed to have had fraudulent aspects to it.   Instead, I had 12 more doses of weekly Herceptin and Taxol.   I decided to save radiation in case I develop a recurrence.

I'm especially interested in the potential genetic aspect of ibc because one of my paternal aunts died from metastatic breast cancer, and I have numerous female relatives.

I also had a mammogram that showed "no suspicious abnormalities" at the same time that my breast indicated all of the classic symptoms of ibc.

I, personally, feel that stress can exacerbate, and possibly precipitate, this disease.   I also feel that reactivating your faith in a higher power helps a person to become accepting of his/her fate - whatever ultimately occurs.

Please click on the title of the song in order to hear the music.

I Hope You Dance

Click on the vocal file of this song, but it takes longer to download.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leaves you empty handed

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out, Reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion, always)

I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Daaaaaaaaance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance
(Time is a wheel in constant motion, always)

I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance
(Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder)

I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

Dance
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder

Dance
Where those years have gone

* * * * * * * * *

Recorded by Lee Ann Womack
Written by Mark Sanders and Tia Sillers
Backup vocals by Sons of the Desert