Dear Rikke's husband. I am so sorry for your loss. Would you say a few
words about her life, or paste in her obituary summary? We'd like to
make a tribute page for her in the tribute subforum, so her precious
life and all she suffered can be remembered by this community. Love, Denise
Edited by dmwolf - Today
at 3:32pm
DX 2/08@43 stg II IDC; gr2,no nodes. Neoadj chemo, first ACx2
(fail) then CarboTaxotereX6(better). Lump, Rads done 11/18/08;
Clodronate. False alarm queen: PetCT lung & TM marker & leg
lump. NED
Hey, I just went back to look at 'Dane's' posts to help me remember
her, and wow, what a fantastic person. She was always very encouraging
to others, very kind and forthcoming. She played her cards with a ton
of grace, that's for sure. Did she leave a whole lot of recorded
memories for her kids? She wrote about that here - they sound very
special. You and your kids were lucky to have her. If at all
possible, she will watch over you.
Love, Denise
DX 2/08@43 stg II IDC; gr2,no nodes. Neoadj chemo, first ACx2
(fail) then CarboTaxotereX6(better). Lump, Rads done 11/18/08;
Clodronate. False alarm queen: PetCT lung & TM marker & leg
lump. NED
I am so sorry for the loss of your wife and mother. Please know
that Rikke fought a great battle to stay here but it just was not to
be. I hope Rikke was able to make the recordings she wanted to leave
for you all. She was so concerned about not being here for you.
I believe Denise's request for Rikke's obituary is a good idea,
because Rikke (Dane) posted some very nice notes here on our TNBC Family
site and we would like to have a memorial page for her honor and her
fight with us...so if there is some way we could get a copy that would
be great.
Please know that we will keep you and your family in our thoughts
and prayers and we are here for you, should you have any questions or
concerns about Rikke's TNBC. God Bless you all,
Rikke's sister on the journey of TNBC, Helen in Nova Scotia, Canada
Helen in NS
Diag 57 TNBC 04/09
SN biopsy neg
2.5 cm Stage2 gr3 quad 05/09
TCx4 07/09 Comp 10/09
Rad x 16 12/09 Comp 12/31/09
CT 03/01/10 FU 03/31/10 rad/med/onc NED
GYN 04/23/10 oophorectomy?
She was my first breast cancer patient out of
fellowship and training. My first breast cancer patient where I was the
"doctor". No backup. Nobody to turn to for advice. I write the
orders, I explain the side effects. I hold the hands.
She was
only 33 years old when she was diagnosed 4 years ago.
She and
her husband had just moved from Denmark only months before for his
company. Something with maritime equipment that brought him to the
mid-Atlantic.
Then she found the lump. A small, 1 cm mass in
her breast.
So young.
Triple-negative. A bad prognosis.
But,
still stage I.
She got chemo, lots of chemo. bilateral
mastectomies. We took her ovaries out when we saw that she had a
genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.
All the
while, I learned a little bit about Scandinavian stoicism.
She
and her husband and their three children were amazing. Gentle,
intelligent, kind. So loving and so close.
Well, you know the
deal.
She relapsed only 7 months after therapy.
We
tossed the book at her. More chemo. Even salvage radiation to the arm
and neck.
Another remission.
Maintenance chemo.
And
then, home.
She went back 18 months ago.
She died two
weeks ago.
During her course, she became very philosophical,
as we all do during illness. She started to read about diet and about
this woman, Jane Plant, a British scientist who advocated dietary
changes to combat cancer. Who felt that much of breast and prostate
cancer is related to meat and dairy products and that we need a radical
way of overhauling our diet to better suit what we were evolved to eat.
She gave me a book, "Your Life In Your Hands", by Dr. Plant.
I
was rummaging around, rearranging my bookshelf today, and I came across
it. My patients know I love to read, so I have a little section with
gifts from them and here was R.N.'s book.
In it, she inscribed
that she hoped that I could learn something from this. That she wished
she had learned something about diet and lifestyle growing up, if only
to give her a slightly better chance of surviving.
That she
knew she might die. But, that she hoped that I would learn from this
book. That maybe I would incorporate some of the insights into my own
health.
But, mostly, that maybe I would spread this gospel to
others. That we CAN do something about our health. That our toxic
lifestyle and food supply is at the root of many of our medical
problems, both physiologic and psychologic.
I have striven to
live up to this for the past couple years. I preach health to patients
and friends. I have tried to change my own behavior, to live with less.
To eat and live consciously, for health, but also for animal rights
and for ecological reasons.
I have tried.
Rikke, I hope
you are at peace. You were one of my most memorable patients.
Thanks for the nice words, and yes she left a lot of movie and voice
recording where she tells about her childhood.. she now lives through
our 3 kids, and they have all the same nice personality. My love was
very very special and we will miss her a lot.
Our frends from USA, made this movie from the time they visited us
in Denmark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi-YdIx7E3w
Love,
Jan
07/06:33 BC ST.1 NO nodes
Chemo:AC-T
11/06:BRCA1+
02/07:Mastec
07/07:Hysterec.+recons.
03/08:Recur.supraclavicular
/axilla nodes chemo:Xeloda/Ixempr
09/09:Mets to bones & lungs.
You wife was a very special
woman and I have no brilliant words other than to say I am truly sorry
for the family's loss. I am BRCA1+ also and passed it along to my
daughter.
I lost my best friend of 50 years to
cancer several years ago. A bereavement specialist who helped me through
my friend's final journey suggested I get a book/CDs called "Graceful
Passages." There are different passages, some religious (various
faiths), many not and I found it to be very helpful as I grieved.
If
you send me a PM with your address I would be happy to send this to you
as a gift.
you have my sincere
condolences..thank you for letting us know.
Steve
I am a BRCA1(187delAG)+ grandson, son and father of women affected
by breast/oc-my daughter, inherited the mutation from me, and at age 36,
was dx 2004 TNBC
75%invasive quandrantectomy,PBM,LAVH/BSO
I just watched the lovely video of your Rikke and it was beautiful!
Rikke was very special to you, I can see that in her eyes. Be happy for
the times you have spent together and know that she will always be in
your heart no matter where or what you do. Do not let the grief take
over your life, live like she is with you always and enjoy your children
because they are a part of you both and she lives on in each of you!
Thank you for sharing this video with all of us,
With Love to you all, a sister on the journey, Helen in Nova
Scotia, Canada
Edited by
TNBC_in_NS - Today at 4:36pm
Helen in NS
Diag 57 TNBC 04/09
SN biopsy neg
2.5 cm Stage2 gr3 quad 05/09
TCx4 07/09 Comp 10/09
Rad x 16 12/09 Comp 12/31/09
CT 03/01/10 FU 03/31/10 rad/med/onc NED
GYN 04/23/10 oophorectomy?
Thank you for sharing your very special video.. I write this through
tears, tears for a woman I never met... tears for your loss... tears for
a woman who passed much too young. May God be with you and your
family... may you always feel her arms around you, and know that she is
always with you. Autumn
I just watched the you tube video and it was so beautiful. I still have tears running down my face. Your wife was a lovely person and I know you and your children will miss her dearly. Such a beautiful person and spirit.
Donna
DX IDC TNBC 6/09 age 49, Stage 1,Grade 3, 1.5cm,0/5Nodes,KI-67 48%,BRCA-,6/09bi-mx, recon, T/C X4(9/09) 11/10 Recur IM node, Gem,Carb,Iniparib 12/10,MRI NED 2/11,IMRT Radsx40,CT NED11/13,MRI NED3/15
My deepest condolences to you and the children. May God give you strength at this most tragic loss.
Linda
Linda - diagnosed at age 62
Diag 2/23/09 IDC 1.2 cent. IDC right breast,Stage 1, Grade 3,0/1 nodes - Triple Neg
4 DD AC every two weeks, 1 Dd Taxol, then 3 Taxotere every three weeks - rads x 33
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