Kathleen Carrico
Colorado Springs, Colorado
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I have been married for 25 years to the most supportive and wonderful man. We have four children and a dog. I am a semi-retired CPA who just works tax seasons. The rest of the year, I substitute teach (in between treatments, doctor visits and scans). I started seriously riding bicycles when a new friend we met when we moved to Colorado in 1997 suggested we join his group of 20+ people who do a four day circuit ride somewhere in CO every summer. My husband and I said sure and with our sorry cross bikes trained (sort of). The first day of that first trip we rode from Leadville to Aspen over Independence Pass and I was hooked. The next year we bought road bikes. We continue to do this ride every summer somewhere in Colorado, so I have most of the paved CO mountain passes under my belt. I have done the Bicycle Tour of Colorado the last two years, a few centuries and this summer the Triple Bypass (120 miles, 10,000 feet altitude gain, three mountain passes in a day). I ride with the Co Springs Cycling Club and get out there most every day (except when it snows). I expect to hit 10,000 miles on that bike soon. We spent many years in TX but love it here in Colorado.
Cancer Overview:
General Cancer Type: Breast
Specific Cancer Type: invasive ductal carcinoma, metastatic, ER-, PR, Her2Neu+++
Treatment Summary:
My diagnosis with breast cancer was in Oct 2002 at age 48. I had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, along with some reconstruction and work on the other side to even things out. An axillary node dissection turned out to be necessary a few weeks later and there was cancer in some lymph nodes. I did dose dense chemo (4 Adriamicin and Cytoxan/ 4 Taxotere) with shots of Neupogen in between and then five weeks of radiation. Things seemed fine for one year and then at the one year checkup, it wasn?t. I was diagnosed with metastatic cancer in August of 2004 with tumors in the liver. I went on a clinical trial with Gemzar, Carboplatin, and Herceptin for nine treatments then Herceptin alone. While all tumors went away during the course of treatment, while on the Herceptin alone one came back in the liver by May of 2005. So back on Carbo/Herceptin for four treatments, but that did not work, the cancer spread to a lymph node and a bone. Now am on Gemzar/Herceptin and holding steady. The good news is I have had few symptoms and have not been hugely affected by all the treatments I have had. I do use Neulasta shots to keep my white counts up. I am a much better cyclist since being diagnosed and even took a Carmichael Training Systems course last spring. And while losing my hair sucked, I did lose 40 pounds during that first course of chemo. Being a size 4 for the first time in my life was a treat. I didn?t stay there for long and unfortunately the next round included steroids which caused me to gain ten pounds in a short time but I kept the hair this time! It is possible to find something positive in the midst of this. I am considering another trial and hope to keep this at bay for a long while. I still have places I want to ride!
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