OK folks...here's the deal!

After digesting all this new info and researching a bunch, I'm thinking that I need to do something NOW. The appointment with the UCDavis Oncologist is gonna take at least a week and personally I just don't fell comfortable waiting any longer to start attacking this shit!

From all my research and talking to my doctors..I have taken this away from it. Because my cancer is HER2 positive, the antibody drug Herceptin is the latest and most effective and is what I feel I need to start right away. I believe it has only been approved by the FDA in the last 5 yrs (?) and has proven to be very effective.

Being in Stage IV, a patient would be much more interested in clinical trials of drugs not yet approved by the FDA b/c there isn't alot of improvement in prognosis at this stage. So basically people are willing to try whatever. The qualification for these clinical trials are pretty strict and by starting Herceptin now, it may disqualify me for some trials. There are probably others I can get into later....

I'm am currently looking at these clinical trials on the National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson, UC Davis, Stanford websites. Clinical trials are headed by different entities such as certain Universities, Pharmacutical companies, etc. They also come in 4 Phases (I,II III, IV). I am also looking into any complementary treatments, nutrition, etc.

If anyone wants to look into different things for me..Iam open to suggestions..here are my stats and if you need any more just let me know.

I am Stage IV Breast Cancer with metastisis in one node and in my sternum and pelvis/lower back. It is HER2 Positive, Estrogen Positive, and Progesterone Positive (triple positive). I've had a Lumpectomy and an Node Dissection.

Let me know what you think! We all have to just think positive and go a this thing like its a big challenge to overcome! So GO GETUM!

There should be a prize....

for going from Stage II to Stage IV as fast as I did! I guess the bone biopsy came out with some carcinoma so....it has spread to my bones. Bummer! Who'd have thought! I'm a bit tired right now..so in short, we are going to see another oncologist/hematologist at U.C. Davis just to have her opinion as well have her explain a couple of studies they are doing there that may be something we want to consider. As far as I understand it, as long as it stays in the bones, then we're in pretty good shape. It's gonna be a long haul..aggresive treatment...etc. Well, that's it or now..I'm drained at the moment..more later.

Sorry, I've been sleeping for the last 15 hrs!

So I had to go in and get a bone biopsy as my FB friends probably already know. My Oncologist and my Radiologist could not be sure that the places on my bones that had irregularities were solely related to old traumas even after the 3 hr MRI results. So they scheduled my biopsy for the very next morning (yesterday). It was an outpatient procedure, they put me out for it, and they took a sample of my sternum bone. It was a CT guided biopsy so I was in a CT scan machine so they could find the right place to stick the needle in and get some bone! It just feels like a sore bruise today. Thank you Kate!! for driving me down to Reno on such short notice.

We should have results hopefully on Monday and hopefully there will be no sign of cancer there and we can get on with Chemo! Yippy! I think my veins are going to collapse soon!

I have an appointment with my Oncologist Dr. Reddy on Tuesday so we can get down to business!

Stay tuned!

Scans Scans and MRI's

Well, Bone Scan and CT Scan is done..but doc called this morning and saw something he wasn't expecting. He asked if I had ever had trauma to my lower back (which I have..remember that snowboarding incident with the tree? fractured pelvis and all). Anyway, he wants to be sure that the abnormalities on my Bone Scan are specifically from trauma so he's ordering an MRI. Hopefully that will indicate trauma or else I will have to have a biopsy..and I'm thinkin a biopsy of the bones CAN NOT be a good feeling thing. Ugh!

On a lighter note...I think this is one of the funniest Halloween costumes ever!

This Week

I will have my Bone Scan and a CT Scan done to make sure that there is no other cancer in my bones or the rest of my body. I believe that my oncologist wants my first Chemo treatment to be near the end of the month..so I will have to make an appt to get my port "installed" - haha

Unfortunately, I still have my drain :-( That's getting old! However, I think they will take it out on Monday or Tuesday. I can't wait!

Overwhelmed!

Sorry for the delay in writing. I just had to get it all a little clearer in my mind. So much information in one day! Here's the latest as far as I understand it right now.

The next thing to happen after my drain comes out and I have healed a bit better (2 weeks) is Chemotherapy. I will get a Bone Scan as well as CT Scan. Then I will have a chemo port "installed" in me and will most likely have chemo every 21 days for 6 cycles. I have a form of cancer called HER2-Positive which in an aggressive kind that does not respond well to Hormone Treatment. But there is a drug called Herceptin, an anti-body, .. that has done well with the HER2. This drug will be administered along with my chemotherapy drugs, but it has to be administered much longer (1 year). So as I understand it I will have to keep the port for the duration of the Herceptin treatment. I think also there will be some Hormone Therapy pills that I will have to take.

Once the Chemo is done (I'm thinking by the end of Feb or beginning of March), I will start Radiation Treatment. That will be 5 days a week M-F for about 7 weeks.

I'm still researching alot of this myself..but that's the best I have right now.
I'm having a few problems with my drain, so we are going to see the doc tomorrow.