Chemo today went better than expected-no reactions and I was able to stay awake for the whole time! Took a little nap when I got home but feel'n good. Thanks to everyone for all your words of encouragement and thanks to Emily, Lindsey and Sabrina for stopping by. And of course thanks to the wonderful staff and nurses at the UI Cancer Center. The pharmacists said to expect some flu like symptoms and maybe some nausea, so altogether- not too bad.
Praying this is THE ONE.
On another note, I've already started my list for Santa this year- I'll settle for stable disease, but a big box of NED would be greatly appreciated.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
New game plan
So doctor's appointment was what we expected and not what we feared most. Lungs, Liver and brain were clear and mild progression in the bones- vertebra T9 and more of the pelvis. So now there are 5 spots in the bones. Hard to say how big they are because imagine techniques only indicate bone/cancer activity.
New systemic treatment will include Gemzar and Carboplatin and I will restart Herceptin. TDM1 compassionate use trials just closed, so I won't be able to get that until fall of 2012. Nice thing with the new drugs is they have few side effects, some fatigue and nausea but no hair loss! Plus I can say good bye to the hand and foot syndrome and the lactose intolerance. So hopefully the pounds don't just pile back on after I'd lost some weight (the only perk of my tykerb). No pre-meds, so no prednisone or benadryl on treatment days, so I don't think I'll need to sleep the whole weekend after treatments either.
New systemic treatment will include Gemzar and Carboplatin and I will restart Herceptin. TDM1 compassionate use trials just closed, so I won't be able to get that until fall of 2012. Nice thing with the new drugs is they have few side effects, some fatigue and nausea but no hair loss! Plus I can say good bye to the hand and foot syndrome and the lactose intolerance. So hopefully the pounds don't just pile back on after I'd lost some weight (the only perk of my tykerb). No pre-meds, so no prednisone or benadryl on treatment days, so I don't think I'll need to sleep the whole weekend after treatments either.
For those of you interested, I've included a hair update (see picture).
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Slight set back
First off let me say that I feel GREAT! I am doing everything I did before cancer (minus working... hee hee hee). No pain, very few side effects and the house is getting siding and drywall!
However... my tumor markers are back to the levels they were when I first heard I had bone mets. They had been climbing for about 3 months and doctor decided it was time to see what was going on. So yesterday I had a PET scan, of course cried during the whole thing. Asked the doctor to not let me know anything until we could meet in person on Tuesday.
He did say that the next therapy would be TDM1, here is a video on the new experimental drug.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=...dicate§ion
However... my tumor markers are back to the levels they were when I first heard I had bone mets. They had been climbing for about 3 months and doctor decided it was time to see what was going on. So yesterday I had a PET scan, of course cried during the whole thing. Asked the doctor to not let me know anything until we could meet in person on Tuesday.
He did say that the next therapy would be TDM1, here is a video on the new experimental drug.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=...dicate§ion
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Especially for you walk is tomorrow!
Treatment is going fine and nothing new to report there. I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday this week so I'm alittle anxious about that. I hope my cancer markers are down (keep your fingers crossed).
For all you researchers out there, I'm planning to ask my oncologist about adding Chloroquine to my chemo regimen. Its normally used in the prevention of malaria, but recent data suggests that when added to anti-Her-2 therapies it can also prevent autophagy. Autophagy is the process by which cells (ie. cancer cells) degrade/eat unnecessary cellular components (organelles, etc) to obtain energy when energy is scarce. So the thought is that cancer cells can use autophagy to survive (hibernate) during chemo treatments, then when conditions are good again and chemo is done, the cancer cells can resume growing normally. I've only read about combining chloroquine with herceptin, so I'll have to ask if he thinks it might work with tykerb.
On an exciting note, the Especially for You Walk is tomorrow in Cedar Rapids. I am eager to see alot of new and old friends and hopefully meet some survivors at stage IV. Walk starts at 8, and we will have heart-shaped balloons tied to our stroller if you want to walk with us. Hope to see you there.
Kristin
For all you researchers out there, I'm planning to ask my oncologist about adding Chloroquine to my chemo regimen. Its normally used in the prevention of malaria, but recent data suggests that when added to anti-Her-2 therapies it can also prevent autophagy. Autophagy is the process by which cells (ie. cancer cells) degrade/eat unnecessary cellular components (organelles, etc) to obtain energy when energy is scarce. So the thought is that cancer cells can use autophagy to survive (hibernate) during chemo treatments, then when conditions are good again and chemo is done, the cancer cells can resume growing normally. I've only read about combining chloroquine with herceptin, so I'll have to ask if he thinks it might work with tykerb.
On an exciting note, the Especially for You Walk is tomorrow in Cedar Rapids. I am eager to see alot of new and old friends and hopefully meet some survivors at stage IV. Walk starts at 8, and we will have heart-shaped balloons tied to our stroller if you want to walk with us. Hope to see you there.
Kristin
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