Friday, March 23, 2012

To say it's been a long week in an understatement. Tuesday was test day at the hospital. We were there by 7:30 for the CT scan. Once again they made me consume about 2 quarts of a contrast for the scan in an hour. Then they put you on a table hooked up the IV pump with all this fluid bouncing around inside you. I must have used the facilities at least 8 times (and I am not exaggerating) from the time I left CT until I went up for my ECHO. I spent to whole day going back and forth the bathroom. I'm hoping on my next scan we could skip the fluids.

Wednesday was chemo day and I was to see the doctor before to get the results. As you could imagine I was a little up tight and nervous waiting. When we were in the exam room there was a knock on the door and in walks frick and frack (fellow and resident). Ok - they weren't that bad but I was a little taken back since my doctor always comes in and wasn't expecting a change. I gave them a little bit of a hard time since I really wanted to hear the news from Dr. Flemming since this has been a journey for both of us. Hindsight should have told me if it was bad news she would have come in herself (at least I hope so). Turns out the trial chemo was been working. The largest lesion (tumor) in my liver had grown to 8cm (3.15") and after two treatments had shrunk to 5cm (1.97") which is a 32% reduction. The activity in my lymph glands which had cancer cells now show clean. After I heard this all I could hear was blah blah blah - blah blah blah. I was so relieved I didn't hear much of anything else except that everything else looked stable with no growth. Hallelujah!!

Although I am very pleased and excited with this much progress in just two treatments I am trying to stay even keeled since I know how fast things can change. I'm not trying to be negative, just guarded. My next scan is May 1 so I hope this continues to work. Let's all keep positive thoughts. Not only is this great news for me but for the trial and all the women who hopefully will be helped by this new drug.

After that there isn't much else to say. I'll keep you informed as things move along. For now I'm just going to enjoy the moment.

Thanks again to all of you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. It is what is keeping me positive and moving forward.

Until next time - I have my Dancin' shoes on and doing a jig!

Keep on Dancin' my friends!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

It's been two weeks since my last treatment and I'm still feeling good. I still have a head cold/ allergies but do not think it is a result of the chemo except for the fact that my resistance is down and it's probably easier for the cold to progress. The only thing I've noticed is that my fingers seem more sensitive to touch. Not Neuropathy (pain and tingling) just weird. Hard to describe but whatever it is I can live with it.

CT scan is a week from today. I'm a little nervous since if it doesn't show it's working I'm not sure what's left. I have read good things about this trial drug.

Here's some of what is out there:

Oncologists don't like the term "miracle drug," and try not to use it -- but the word miracle was in fact used when researchers presented results of a Phase II trial of T-DM1 at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio, Texas.

It is called Herceptin TDM-1. Like a “heat- seeking missile” the chemo rides the Herceptin only to the mutated cells, and “blows them up.” This is a first of its kind, revolutionary drug. Some oncologists have described it as “a potential home run.”

Her2 Breast Cancer patients suffer from one of the most aggressive breast cancers. Herceptin T DM-1 is a revolutionary drug that has shown great results.It has been successfully tested in humans for over 4 years. Yet last Sept. 1, 2010 this FDA decided to block approval, and run more trials , until 2013 ! The drug it is being tested against has been shown already to have many more side effects to the patient and a lower quality of life. Why are they making Stage 4 patients wait, and suffer more ??? Please sign a petition at www.signon.org/sign/fda-blocks-life-saving.fb1?r_by=1178671

I did notice my good friend Denise Mair has already signed it before I even saw it online. Thanks Denise!

I hope to have some good news next week. As always I am very guarded and tend not to get to hopeful or excited until I have results. Please think good thoughts and say a prayer this is working.

Love to you all - Keep on Dancin'

Doreen

Monday, March 5, 2012

Just wanted to update you all since my treatment last week. Once again right after the treatment I came down with a terrible head cold. I was in bed all weekend with a bad headache, sinus pain and all stuffed up. Because my head hurt so bad I didn't have an appetite which made me nauseous, etc, etc. Spent most of the night (and day) in the recliner (I did notice that sleeping in the recliner prevents bed head so that's a good thing!). Feeling better today but tired from not getting a good rest. My best guess is that the chemo drops my resistance way down and I'm more susceptible to germs and viruses. This is the second month this has happened so we will see what happens after then next treatment. Thankfully Mark was around and helped me get through this.

As bad as I felt this weekend if this chemo is working I could go through things that are 100 time worse. Hopefully we will have good results after my CT Scan on March 20.

This new trial chemo I am on is called Hercepton DM-1 (I'd like to think the "DM" was named after me). I did some research on it and what I read seems positive. All I (we) could do is keep on moving forward and hope for the best!

Until I have more news I'll have my Dancin' slippers on for a few more days!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Hard to believe February is already over. Time has been flying by so quickly before we know it the 4th of July will be upon us. In a way I'm glad to see the dreary winter months pass by us quickly but in truth I want to savor each minute of each day not knowing what the future brings.

Chemo yesterday went well except I'm there longer due to Trial Study Protocol and the staff having to do take extra steps (i.e. waiting 30 minutes once I take my pre-meds before starting and having to stay 30 minutes after the chemo to watch for adverse reactions). Makes for a long day. Got there yesterday at 1:00 PM and didn't leave until 6:00 PM. My blood work came back with a perfect score. It looked better then most of the "healthy" people on staff. Liver enzymes are where they are suppose to be. Of course the one side of my brain is happy since it mean no problems in getting my treatment but the other side of the brain asks "is it working" since I haven't had any reactions. I have a CT Scan on March 20 so I guess that will tell the story.

I was bored yesterday so I took a picture of my IV. I was lucky to get Nurse Helene who not only is a super sticker but has the sweetest personality as most of the nurses in IV Therapy. You have to be a special person to deal with what they see day after day.

I was so happy to wake up this morning with no issues. The last few weeks I've been fighting a head cold which turned into an inner ear infection. I spent one day sitting upright in a chair with my eyes closed because my ear infection caused vertigo and every time I opened my eyes I felt as if I drank a couple bottles of wine. I couldn't focus and the room just kept spinning. Thankfully "Uncle Perry" came to the rescue and picked up a couple of prescriptions for me (Valium being one of them) which eventually stopped the vertigo. The one thing I have noticed is my immune system goes down after chemo and I have to be careful to stay away from crowds and people who are sick otherwise I pick up the germs pretty quickly. Of course I hate sitting still so instead of resting and taking it easy I keep going which usually lands me on my butt.

I wanted to thank all of you who continue to send me notes, cards, etc to keep my spirits up. They make me laugh and smile - especially all the references to Dancin"!

Until next time - I wish you all happiness and good health.

Keep on Dancin' ~ Doreen