UGH>>>>>taxotere

Forgot what Taxoterrible was like....ugh......Been in and out of sleep all day. I just want someone to bring me some comfort food!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow is another day, eh?
Love to all!

4/26/10

Hi All!
All counts at the doctor's were normal today....CA27.29 (tumor marker) has come down, too!
I began Taxotere today...I will get it weekly for 3 weeks and then have a week off. I had to return to this (one of my orginal drugs from 2007) for peace of mind. Somehow, I don't think it was given enough time to work...may add in Gemzar after awhile. I was also on this sporadically in 2008. Sooooo, anyway, this regimen should be easy to tolerate! AND, no premeds before infusions... YEAH!
Love to all,
Barb

Long time.........

I know...I know.....it's been too long, but gosh, I get tired of this cancer thing.....
OK, to bring you up to date. Tried the Tykerb/Herceptin combo for the month of January.....ugh, too slow if it was working at all. Started on Ixempra on Feb. 1st. Received news of another mixed response on my March PET/CT. Soooooooo, that brings us to today. Monday, I go to see the doc. We are thinking of starting Alimta. It hasn't been approved for BC, but has done well in trials. It's a gamble to whether it will be covered "off lable" by the insurance company. We are asking the drug manufacturing co. for help. Well, we'll see.....
Otherwise, my blood counts and enzymes are normal...I look normal...UGH!!!!
Juicing daily.....beets, romaine, kale, apples, carrots, spinach, celery, asparagus.....yummy!
Will blog more often............
Love,
Barb

Yipppeeee!!!

EVERYONE!!!!
After my last post on Friday, I called my doc's office and found out that I can do Herceptin again...with Tykerb!!!! YEEEEEESSSSSS! Two targeted therapies....no chemo for a bit! I am so happy!!!!!!! Hope they work to completely destroy!!!!!! Things are finally looking up!
Now I will have a good weekend!
Love,
Barb

2010 not so good so far....

Had my scan.....not the news I had hoped for! I will be changing drugs again! It's time for clinical trials as well. There are sooooooo many new drugs in trials so that is a very good way to go. Unfortunately, the drug, Ixempra, that the doc wants me on now...I will lose my hair for the 3rd time.......that makes me very sad.....
I will be seeing my BC professor doctor on the 25th.....
No, not a good way to start a new year AND a new decade....................................

Difficult season....

Seasons Greetings.....
It's been awhile since I've posted here...it's been a difficult month AND YEAR.....I'm not sure how much more bad news I can take this holiday season. Lives lost too soon are never easy. All we can do is pray and lend any support that we can. Since just before Thanksgiving, I have been praying for an old boss' loss of his 19 yr old daughter..then Thanksgiving weekend, my sorority sister lost her 17 yr old son and his 15 yr old girlfriend in an accident, then last week, a childhood neighbor lost his life to cancer....then, Christmas Eve a high school friend lost her nephew in a car accident. Too many...too early in life....every day is so very precious. I stood outside as I was walking the dogs today and listened to the wind blow through the trees....the little things mean so much to me now. This year has been tough with other deaths of friends...and diagnoses of cancer for a few others. Life is so short.....

Thankfulness......

25 reasons I am thankful at the present time(in no particular order)

1. The Lord above for always being there
2. Time
3. My physical health going in a positive direction
4. Being mentally happy
5. My hair getting to a manageable length
6. A nice glass of wine or a cold beer on tap
7. A huge, fresh salad
8. My family
9. My friends
10. My dog
11. A roof over my head
12. My bills being paid
13. Internet
14. Cable TV
15. Newspaper subscription
16. A car to drive
17. My physicians and medical personnel
18. Being 50!
19. Being an Ohio State Buckeye
20. Ohio State Football
21. Autumn in the desert
22. Shopping at The Goodwill
23. Losing an earring on Wednesday and a neighbor finding it on the sidewalk
24. People that recycle and are polite drivers
25. The new St. Peregrine Cancer Shrine in Mesa

Really Good News About T-DM1!!!!!

Hey, Y'all!

Just found out that the new "Super Herceptin", T-DM1, is being presented with its successful results at the Breast Cancer Symposium in San Antonio next month. This may lead to making application to the FDA for release to the general population next year!!!!! This is just as my doc in Tucson said. It is so very exciting! I have a feeling that this is leading toward the cure of HER2 positive breast cancer. That is certainly much better news than the new mammogram recommendations reported yesterday. Altho' I have my personal feelings on mammos....they didn't work for me. But, for those that have had successful results in diagnosis...they need to still be available to younger woman than 50!

Have a happy day!

~Barb

Continuing to do well!

Hi Y'all!

I am continuing a downward trend in my tumor marker CA27.29. My doctor was elated this week.....continuing the same regimen and heading into my PET scan on December 22 with very high hopes! Maybe, I will be able to drop a drug or even 2..... ha! ha! Even better news is that the specialists in the breast cancer world are expecting that my type of breast cancer, HERneu2 positive will be cured in the next 5-10 years!!!!! Can't come soon enough for me!!!!! There are soooo many drugs on the horizon for this type of BC. WOW! Only thing is that I may have to travel to get into a clinical trial....I love to travel...no problem! :)!

Other than a darn cold that I am fighting right now, I am feeling pretty good. I am so happy that it is fall and it's cooled down out here in the desert.

Hope this finds everyone doing well and getting ready for a glorious holiday season!!!!!

Toot-a-loo,
Barb

Happy Days!

Finally had Navelbine today. All went well! Hopefully this will do the trick! :)!

Celebrated my 50th with my kids in San Diego...had a total blast!

Sorry this is short...need to lay down now.

Love y'all!

~Barb

Adding Navelbine to the mix...to reach the "R" word!

Shhhhhhhh.....don't say it too loudly...remission. Yes, Dr.Livingston mentioned moving toward remission when I saw him last week. Oh, love ya, JESUS!..... only have to add another drug, Navelbine....I CAN DO IT!

Yes, it's PINK Month again....Please support whatever breast cancer charity that you feel like supporting. I have a team, Barbies Buddies, doing the American Cancer Society's Walk here on November 7th.....check it out....www.cancer.org/stridesonline!
Til next time!

Happy Day!

Hello, hello, hello!!!!

Well, I got the results of my latest PET/CT scan......very, very encouraging! I am moving in the right direction! Xeloda & Tykerb RULE! I feel so much better....even asked if I could have my dosage upped....And, I will be visiting Dr. Livingston in Tucson on Thursday. I know he will be happy, too. AND, maybe, just maybe, he will have something new up his sleeve. :)

It's finally cooling down out here in the desert. The evenings are great. Frankie and I have been taking walks to the park. He loves to "hang" with the dogs down there.

Bought a birdfeeder a few weeks ago. It's been fun...but, those birds can eat! I don't know how long I will be able to afford to feed them. No such thing as "eating like a bird" here at my home. Unfortunately, the pigeons have found it and like to crowd out the sweet little birdies. So, I spend my mornings shooing the pigeons away. Fun!

In a week and 1/2 we are heading over to San Diego for a prebirthday celebration with my three kids! Can't wait! I am so blessed to be celebrating my 50th birthday!I long to walk on the beach and smell the ocean.....and eat some good food, of course!

That's about it for now.....I'll post after the visit to Tucson.
Love y'll!
~Barb
P.S. So happy Ohio State football is back in full swing!!!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BUCKS!

Green Light!

Well, I have my doctor's blessing to go forward with the hyperbaric oxygen! I am thinking about starting in October. I am very intrigued by the whole thing....doing research on it. Very interesting! Hoping it will not only heal my wounds but also the swelling in my arm. I am very excited!

Also, more GOOD news...tumor markers are going down, my blood work is excellent and my liver panel is normal. I'll just keep on popping the 9 chemo pills plus all of my supplements per day....It's doing the trick! I must be taking about 25 pills a day. So much fun! :)

All of my kids are back in school...it's still hot here in Arizona. I am ready for fall. I have always loved fall because of my birthday, Halloween and Thanksgiving. That all leads into the most beautiful day of the year, Jesus' birthday. I love it!

Heading over to San Diego to celebrate the big "5-0"! Wow, half of a century....where does all the time go? I feel great and was recently thought of being under 45.....thanks for the good genes, Mom!

Gotta run now....70% off shoes at Dillards! I will behave, but I love that sale and wait twice a year for it!

Toot-a-loo.....

Hi All!

Click and feed my fish!

Just finishing up cycle #3 of Xeloda and Tykerb. Things are looking up! Just praying that it will continue for a long time....next PET/CT is Sept 22nd. The docs are talking about having me begin hyperbaric oxygen treatments...sounds very cool....and will help me to heal in several ways. It's just another time commitment of 5 days (couple of hours) for 5 weeks, I believe. It'll be another good excuse to sleep..or read...or just be a bum! They are held in this chamber with, I believe, 12 or so others.... one big oxygen party...yep, sounds cool!



Not too much excitement these days.....still hot here in the valley of the sun. Nights are cooling off and mornings are wonderful for walking Frankie. Well, they are at 6 AM anyway. The desert heats really quickly from the high 70's to 105-109!!!



Might have a full house this weekend with all kids at home.....I sure hope so.....LOVE IT!



That's about it....I can actually say that I love this time....things are slow, but that's OK in my world. One day at a time........ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!



Love,

Barb

Feeling GREAT!

Hi Everyone!

I am feeling better than I have felt for quite awhile.....changed drugs and am now on Tykerb (targeted therapy) and Xeloda (chemo). They are pills that come with some awful side effects, but so far, it's not been too bad. I feel like I am amongst the normal people again. I have had 2 cycles of these drugs and feel like almost 100% of my old self. The pain is slowly receding from my arm, and my arm is much smaller. I visited my Radiation Oncologist today, and he was very helpful in giving me his "gameplan" for the future. At least I know there are lots more treatments I can pursue along the way. Mentally, I am feeling much more positive, too. Things seem to be coming together in every way. Hopefully, my next PET/CT scan at the end of Sept/beginning of October will indicate we are indeed heading in the right direction. God knows that I need to have good news as I celebrate my 50th birthday on October 17th. I feel like I now can begin to make plans to travel, etc. I just feel really, really good!

Can hardly believe that my kids are all getting ready to start school again. Kirsten will be a sophomore at Horizon High School as she starts on Monday, the 17th. Later in the month, Jon will be in his 3rd year at the University of Arizona, and Ashley will begin her 2nd year working on her Masters in Social Work. I am so proud of my 3 babies....I could not ask for better children. I love them!!! Oh, ya, and Ash and Jon are neighbors down in Tucson. Wow, that is so convenient! :)

Other than the heat (114, the last 2 days), not much else happening here.
I miss everyone.....hopefully, this next year will find me visiting.....I sure have the time on my hands...

Take care!
Love,
Barb

Like a new person...

Hello!


Finally went for that 2nd opinion at the University of Arizona in Tucson last week. It was such a load off...the doctor answered all my questions, confirmed what my doc here in Scottsdale is doing and gave me a gameplan. I am like a new person....I also started 2 new drugs 3 weeks ago. They are in pill-form...such a nice change. So far, so good....at least they are working on my skin. Just hope they are bombing those nasties on my liver! Next scan will be end of September, beginning of October....just before my 50th birthday. What a wonderful present a "no evidence of disease"(NED) scan would be!!!! Please pray for me...I REALLY need it now!


Also, I am seeing a therapist named Lynn....I'm not sure if I really need her, but why not? It can't hurt to rehash my weeks with her....nice to have an impartial person to talk to.


WELL, summer has definitely come to the "Valley of the SUN"! UGH...been in the 108-113's. I am not going to let it get to me....I should be a pro at this desert living since this is my 17th summer here. Think Antarctica...go to movies...ice skate...shop in a cold store.....think penguins, ice cream, cold winter wind coming off Lake Erie in January.....hmmmmmmm...nice....


Just wish I had the money to visit San Diego right now. Kirsten is over there for 2 weeks with her dad...Ash and Jon are going over just for this weekend. Nice over there right now!


Well, that's about it for now...I am feeling much better all the way around.


Love you all.....hope to see each and everyone of you soon....well, I can hope anyway!


Love,


Barb

God puts you in the right place at the right time.....

Here's a little story that I would like to share. Last Saturday morning around 7 AM, as I was walking Frankie, I noticed a little toddler coming down the stairs from one of the apartments across from my condo community. I kept watching, thinking an adult would be right behind her. But, no such did I see. She came down the stairs and walked around the corner. One of my neighbors came up with her dog and I told her what I had just seen. Still no one else was around...so, Frankie and I headed over there to find her going up and down another flight of stairs..she wasn't even 2 years old! So, I talked to her and told her to follow me...I wanted to head back up where I had first seen her. We knocked on that door and a lady answered and said that "No, she wasn't hers, but she thought she knew where she lived". She thought her name was Ainsley. Thank goodness she knew because I was ready to call the police....now, I wished that I had..put a real scare into the parent. The dad answered the door and said that he had just woken up and that she must have gone out the patio door on the other side of the building. Wow, how quickly he could have lost her! She would have gone home with me or anyone else for that matter...gone out into the street or wandered over to the pool..where the gate is often propped open!

For a long time, I have felt like a protector of sort, I get that feeling alot when I am driving. It's definitely one of my purposes here on Earth. Saturday, I was just practicing my purpose. ;)

Ugh!

Hi Loves!!!! My hair is coming in..... and no, that isn't my beer.....

Sorry, haven't posted in almost a month due to the constant pain due to Doxil. It's barbaric!!!! My upper left quadrant of my bod is in pain!!!!!!!! I had the doc lower my dosage 25%...it's a bit better but still not good. PET/CT is tomorrow. Regardless of the results, I can't stay on Doxil....quality of life..well, not good. I have an appointment on July 6th to see Dr. Livingston at the University of Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson. It's about time for a second opinion...and he is a breast cancer specialist. I'm gathering everything he needs right now. I am ready to take advantage of cutting edge treatments....everything I've read says to do clinical trials while you still feel good (in general, I do) and it's not too late....and it's not, thank goodness. I just found out that most mainstream breast cancer drugs have been around for at least 10 years! Shame on our government for taking so long to approve new drugs!!!! How many more people have to die!!!!!!!

But, otherwise, I feel good...a positive thing....my complete blood count and metabolic panel are both within the normal range....

Excuse me....time for more vicodin......
God Bless.....

Pain and suffering....22 days since my last post

I had my 2nd infusion 3 weeks ago. Over the last 10 days, I have been in tons of pain due to the lymphedema, mouth sores, slight hand/foot syndrome (redness and pain) and rashes on my legs. This has not been fun while I try to do my daily routine back on vicodin. I go to the doc in 9 days and will discuss a lower dosage or change in Doxil. I am due a scan next month, but it's very tough to deal with this pain if it might not be working......just suck it up, Barbie!!!! I read that this drug takes more than 2 treatments to work and then BAM! It works like gangbusters! It better be working!!!!!!! I am doing better day-by-day..slowly...Other than these stupid side effects, I feel great! :)
The heat is on here in Arizona which makes things even tougher.....being home this summer, I know my electric bill will be high.
Latest movies that I've seen..... "17 Again", "I Love You, Man" and "Rudo y Cursi" .....
Two things I can do that I enjoy these days....MOVIES and Dining Out!
Til later......

Plugging along....................

Hi Y'all!

Just plugging along out here in Arizona...had Doxil #2 on Monday. Only side effects have been pain in my shoulder and under my arm. Also, the lymphedema in my left arm is worse, but I am managing as best as I can. I am back on Vicodin again....UGH! But, hoping for the best with this drug....it had better be worth the pain. Strange how all these drugs effect you differently. I discussed combining some drugs with Dr. Roberts. He said that we will see after the scan in June.

Last weekend was full of excitement....went to the Salsa Challange on Saturday.

On Sunday Kirstie and I met up with Ashley in Casa Grande..ate at Olive Garden and saw the movie "Earth".

I saw "The Soloist" yesterday.....loved it. Robert Downey, Jr. is amazing...and so is Jamie Foxx!!!!! I recommend it for sure.

Last night Kirstie had her dance show at school. It was really good! My kids have inherited my love of dance.

Today is the Feast Day of the cancer saint, St. Peregrine. God Wink: It's also the 2nd anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis. So, I'm feeling a little weird about the day, but it's such a special day...I am ready to celebrate 20 to 30 more!!!!!!!

Curtis Stone, the Take Home Chef is going to be at Kierland Commons today at Noon. I just might have to check him out.....maybe he will come home with me! :)

That's about it for now...

Have a blessed day!

Love ya,'

Barbie

Ramblins....

Hi and Happy Easter!....a couple of days late. No, I didn't fall off the edge of the Earth...just coping with the new treatment....pain in the surg and rads areas...UGH!!!!! Lots of appts this week. Good news about my bloodwork. Doxil didn't cause my white cells to dip! Yippee! They were surprised at the dr.'s office yesterday. So no extra $7K Neulasta shot....causes bone pain as it helps those little white cells to multiply.
My baby turned 15 yesterday (she has been celebrating for 4 days as we spent the weekend in Tucson with her bro and sis)...Wow, being a mom for 23 yrs and my baby is 15. Time is flying.....
Other good news....Xango is definitely helping my healing. Saw my wound care doc and he was impressed. Guess I am a walking and talking testmonial. Tastes good too!
Weather is still kinda kooky here...we will have days of 80's then 60's then 80's....but I will not complain. That hot desert summer will be here soon.
Oh, other good news..the hair is coming in....Kirsten says brown, but I see white...BUT, it's HAIR!!!!! Big smile here!
Catch y'all later.....
B

Doxil to the rescue!!!!!

Hi everyone!!!

Beautiful day today here in Arizona!!!! I feel pretty good since my infusion of Doxil yesterday. I don't have that usual sluggish feeling on night number 2. Kinda sore in surg area...chemo does that. My bloodwork and liver numbers were normal. I still think those scans aren't mine....I feel too good! Now I have to wait until June to know if the drug is working...wait...wait...wait!!! One of these days they will have a test to let you know right away if the drugs are working. Actually, they are working on it. Can't come too soon for me.

My lovely oldest daughter turned 23 last week (3/24)....wow, how time does fly. It's like my life started the day she was born. Sometimes I wonder how I lived before I had the children. They seem to have always been around me in some way. On Saturday, we celebrated her day with lunch out at a tasty Mexican restaurant and dinner was Thai. I told my oncologist on Monday that one thing that I want in life is to be a Grandma.....guess I won't be checking out any time soon....it will be quite a long time before any of my kids have kids. Besides I have to get some traveling in first. Hey, anyone interested in a cruise from Athens to Rome????? :)!

Toot-a-loo.....

Hair loss

Now you wouldn't think that hair loss is such a big thing considering what I've been through. It seems a small price to pay, BUT no, I really want my hair back!!!!!!! Having gone through this twice, I am even more impatient. Well, the baby ducky fuzz is covering my head now...coming in white. UGH! Last time my hair came in salt and pepper...as soon as I was able, I was off to see Kelley, my hair stylist and superb colorist. In December when it fell out (#2), I had a full year after the first time to grow my hair..it was just beginning to get to a good length, altho' I was keeping it short. Funny how even short hair seems like a lot of hair when it's coming out in gobs. So back to wigs. I just can't do the turban or scarf thing. Also, I've never been a hat person, but have a few to wear around the house or in the car. I have saved some money on shampoo and getting my hair done every 5 weeks....silly me, I really want to spend that money, AND I miss my time chatting with Kelley and following her ever eventful saga of life. I guess I just miss the old me and want her back. Cancer takes so much away and I just think whatever normalcy that returns makes it easier to get by day-to-day.
Today, I begin Doxil...a drug that doesn't usually cause hair loss....I just wonder if it will encourage hair growth....that would be very nice.
Last night I saw "Duplicity" with Julia Roberts.... I won't ruin the ending of the movie, but will say......hair is very important!!!!

Tits and Tats

*Been thinking alot this past week on the "God Wink" issue, and I remembered more "winks" with my Dad. One big one stands out. In the fall of 1975 before he died, we were sitting and watching an Ohio State football game on a Saturday afternoon (the Bucks must have won as those were Archie Griffin/Woody Hayes days). I was a sophomore in high school and at that time was beginning to think of colleges I might like to attend. I told him that day that I would like to go to Ohio State. He said that he would do whatever it took to get me there. Fast forward to my Senior year of high school. My Mom found an article in our local paper about a scholarship called "The Ohio War Orphans Scholarship". My Mom called our State Senator, Paul Gilmore to find out more....turns out that I qualified because my Dad was deceased and had been in World War II. Low and behold, it was a full ride, room and board for 4 years to any state university in Ohio!!!!!!! Yes, he got me to make my dreams come true and be able to go to college. Because of him, I also still recieved Social Security during those years, too. Thank you Dad!!!!!


*This was a slow week on the medical front for me as far as appointments. No problem with no appointments! This time I seemed to have bounced back quicker from my last chemo session. My energy level has improved immensly....could be the Xango (mangosteen juice) that I love so much. It's great stuff! I continued to work on my left arm range of motion every day. I am so close to being able to reach the top of my bedroom door frame. I started measuring on December 20th and wow, I have come a long way. Makes me realize how bad off I was at Christmas time. I am continuing my LE pump and wrapping at night and wearing my sleeve during the day. I even did an aerobics video the other day. I am a little out of shape, but it wouldn't take me long to get back where I was. Also, longer walks with the dog are much easier these days. It's been one year since I have had any surgery.....reminds me of another God Wink involving my surgeon. He lives just a street away from me and I didn't even know it until a month ago!


*Recently reconnected with an old friend that I dated....it's been fun spending time with him again. He is very intuitive and feels my situation will turn out in a positive manner. Thanks Byron!!!! :)


*Love it! My son, Jon is home with me this weekend as he had his wisdom teeth out on Friday. He is doing GREAT! No swelling or bruising and was eating regular food Friday night. If anyone needs a wonderful oral surgeon, I have one to highly recommend.

Have a great week everyone!
Love,
Barb

God Winks

Many of you know about the "God Wink" that happened early in my diagnosis involving my Dad, but I need to share this with all that haven't. I was very close to my Dad when I was young. I remember giving him hugs and just hanging out with him doing yard work. The summer of '75, the last summer before he passed away, he and I bought donuts and headed down to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus to see Bob Hope. We had a really good time, just the two of us. I was just beginning to be able to relate to him as an adult. Losing a Dad at 16 was really tough, and I miss him now like he just left. It's been 33 years.....

On Father's Day, 2007, I went to church with Sue, my Mother-in-Law. She was working in the library that morning. We were the only two there at the time, and I was was just looking at the stacks of books. I mentioned that it was Father's Day. She said that we didn't have much to celebrate as both of our Fathers were deceased. As she said that, I looked down at a book by an author with my Dad's name, "James Doss"! The only thing different was his middle initial. I didn't even know there was an author by that name! Wow, that was a powerful sign from my Dad that things were OK. I could handle this breast cancer thing!

The following week, one of the ministers from the church came to my house to chat about what I was going through with the breast cancer diagnosis. I related the story to her. A few days later, she called me to ask me if she could use the story in her sermon that next Sunday. Of course, I said "Yes". That next Sunday, I listened with tears in my eyes as she told the entire congregation what had happened to me that previous Sunday. But, best of all that Sunday, June 24th was my Dad's Birthday. It would have been his 87th.

So, pay attention to these God Winks in your life. I believe they are more than coincidences. Sue recently lent me the book, "When God Winks" by Squire Rushnell. If you have a chance to read it, please do. It will open up your awareness to what coincidences mean in your life.

Have a wonderful day,
Barb

P.S. A God Wink that happened to me in the Starbucks drive thru just 2 days ago. The lady in the car in front of me paid for my iced tea which was sooooo nice! While the guy at the window told me that she said to "have a great day", U2's song, "Beautiful Day" was playing on the radio....... Not just a coincidence....

PET/CT 3/2/09....and new drugs on the scene

Hi Everyone!
Ok, as I promised, the results of my latest PET/CT scan. Well, I was right and I was wrong. I had a mixed response to my current therapy, Abraxane/Herceptin. I knew it was working because my skin was all clear and my neck nodes were barely noticeable. Unfortunately, my liver didn't respond in quite the same fashion. The doc gave me one more dose of A/H last Monday and in 3 weeks I will begin Doxil every 4 weeks for at least 3-4 months and then rescan. Please pray for me!!!!!!

Doxil is related to Adriamycin, the first chemo I had and did well on. I have read that Doxil works wonders on liver issues. It is the best thing to come out in a long time that works on the liver. Without getting too technical, there is another characteristic of my type of breast cancer that I might have. Doxil is supposed to be great if one has the TOPOLL-2 Gene. Every day it seems they are finding out new things about the HER2neu protein that I have. They are fast tracking the new "Super Herceptin" (T-DM1). This is supposed to be wonderful and will replace the Herceptin that I take now. Hopefully, I will be able to take advantage of it soon. Of course, I haven't even tried Tykerb which also targets the HER2neu. There are many other drugs in the pipeline for targeted therapy. These aren't considered chemotherapy, by the way. I also have a half of a dozen other "Chemos' to try. But, anyway, I really do feel confident about Doxil....I will have really great news in June!!!! :)

Love,
Barb

Good Week!

I had a good week. The weather here in Phoenix has cooled down again. Makes me happy because 90 was just too hot for March. Today is going to be a high of 74?

Yesterday, Kirsten and I visited a huge dog adoption fair at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Paradise Valley. It was overwhelming....too many dogs. We visited the pug tent and fell in love with all the pugs there. We'd like to find a companion for Frankie, but I still think a poodle mix is right. He loves fluffy girls. I don't think he realizes that he is a pug. When he has been around then, he is indifferent. So the search goes on.

Last Monday I had my PET/CT scan...that was the high light of my week actually. I have high hopes for great results! I get my results tomorrow. We "cansurvive" people have a love-hate relationship with scans......when they are great, then exhilaration....if bad......well, you know...

I really want to get off Abraxane...I want to not feel so tired & get my hair back, but if it's working, it might be worth the effort to stay on it for a few more cycles...I've had 4.

Oh, another thing happened (guess my week wasn't all great)....my health insurance is going to change on April 1st to Blue Cross/Blue Shield. It's about the same as United Healthcare, but the deductible goes up to $1500 a year.... AND, I just paid the $500 deductible for 2009 through the insurance I have now....See America, even people with great insurance in this country still can get "S****ED"!!!!!!! Bankruptcy here I come!!!!!! Bright side....lifetime max starts again

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!!!! :)

Love,
Barb

My LE Arm

LE is short for lymphedema. The medical community abbreviates everything. Unfortunately, my LE treatment was anything BUT abbreviated. Usually, one goes for intensive treatment for two weeks. That includes wrapping of one's arm or leg 24/7 for those two weeks. I did that in October, BUT then did 2 months of wrapping 24/7 in December and January. December was a very difficult month with Christmas shopping, putting up the tree, etc. I was also in much pain during that time. I can seriously say that was my first close relationship with pain meds.....I didn't like it at all.

Wearing bandages 24/7 also presented a problem in public. People mean well, but are soooo curious. Two little children thought I had been in a terrible car accident, one man wondered what the other person looked like. I could go on and on. Thank goodness it's over....

Let me explain what LE is. There are 2 types, primary and secondary. I understand that some people can be born with it or just develop it (primary LE) Others, like me, can get it thru surgeries and radiation treatment. Lymphedema is swelling due to the non movement of the lymph through it's normal channels. I had 7 lymph nodes removed under my arm and then, radiation which damages things further. I've had about 65 treatments of radiation (RADS for short). In April and May of '08, I went twice daily for 5 weeks and then in October and November went once daily for 5 weeks with hyperthermia treatments coinciding with those weeks on Mon., Wed., and Fri. My skin suffered but I am 106 days out from my last radiation treatment and things are looking very good!!!

Since graduating from LE treatment, I was set free to manage my arm on a daily basis. But, before I left, I was fitted with an arm sleeve and a hand gauntlet to wear during my waking hours. At night I still wrap my arm up to look like a mummy. Every morning, I wake up early to use my very expensive Flexitouch pump. It's one hour of total immobilization. I usually fall asleep, read, catch up with past episodes of "ER" or "30 Rock" or watch a movie. Oh ya, and I also do stretching exercises with my arm 2x a day and deep breathing whenever I think of it.

Anyway, that's how I deal with LE. I will have to watch it forever. It may get better or worse. I'm hoping for better....I'd love to be able to not have to wear this sleeve during the day...especially with the HOT Arizona summer coming....

The Big "Fight"

There exists the term "fighting breast cancer". Many people use this term and if they lose the fight and die from it, it makes them seem like they failed somehow. That is so sad. No one fails at cancer. No one is to blame for getting cancer. There is little control over so much of what cancer is all about. Circumstances beyond our control cause so many variables to exist with cancer and what the outcome will be. These may include the type of cancer and subtype of cancer, the right doctor/hospital, the right treatments, the right insurance and even the right time as far as medical advances are concerned.


I don't feel like I am "fighting breast cancer". By nature, I am not a fighter. I love peace and tranquility. Can't we all just get along? Ha! Ha! Can I say I want to get along with breast cancer and just be one with it? Well, of course NOT! I do want it all gone and for it never to come back!!!!! So, what I mean is that I believe in my body healing itself and in God and the healing Angels. I don't have control over a portion of the outcome of all of this, but I do feel deep down that I will be OK and I will be around for awhile. The parts that I do have control over include the love around me, my faith in God, keeping hope alive and what I consume internally as food. More of what I am doing with breast cancer is taking it in stride, keeping my life as stress free as possible, visually imagining being surrounded with green healing energy and praying a lot. As far as the variables go, I hope that my doctors are the right ones and that my treatments are as well. I've got amazing health insurance and feel lucky that I was diagnosed now instead of 10 or 15 yrs ago. The drugs are almost endless these days. The remainder is up to the one above.

Let's catch Up!

Ok, well hello everyone! I know I should have been writing this for the last 21 months, but I've been a very busy gal as you will see. So to my new "BLOG"! Cheers!

Most of you know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer on May 1, 2007. Believe it or not, this was after I found a lump 2 years prior and had been having regular mammograms. I beg each and every one of you to please not depend on mammograms and the "professionals" out there to be responsible for your health. Trust your gut!!!!

So fast forward to today.....for the record I have had (and I think this is correct...I know I will forget something) 3 surgeries, multiple breast, skin and and one liver biopsy, a port placement for my drugs, 5 Muga scans to monitor my heart's ejection fraction (Herceptin is hard on the heart), 3 CT's, 1 skeletal x-ray, 2 bone scans, 4 PET/CT's, 3 MRI's (1 breast and 2 brain), 21 infusions of chemo (I think), 2 rounds of lengthy radiation (maybe like 65 treatments) and 29 lymphedema therapy sessions. YES, I have been a busy girl and to think I worked full time during a year and a half of this. Side note....all these scans, except the x-ray require an injection of some sort and lying still which I don't do well..soooooo, they aren't a walk in the park for me.

I am due a PET/CT on March 2nd and at that time I will explain exactly where I stand. I feel great and know that my current regimen of Abraxane and Herceptin is working. I'll tell you why after the scan. :)

Well, that's it for now.....