Hello Everyone!!  I am sooooooo sorry for leaving so much of a gap in our posts!  I just don't know where all the time has gone.  We have been so busy with work and vacation and mostly  just trying to make the best of our time.  I'm sure you all have those times as well. 

There is nothing but good news to tell.  My tumor marker is down to 48...the last two were 50, then a weird spike to 63 which can happen sometimes..but as long as there is not a trend in the upward direction then we're good. 

Also, the last set of scans showed all of the previous lesions/tumors on the bones to be "healed" except for the one on my sternum which is where I had the biopsy done.  The doc said it could just be the scar from the biopsy showing. 

So for now..I just keep taking Tamoxifin (a pill a day) and each month I visit the doc for a Zometa infusion (1/2 hr) and that's it!

So as you can tell, it's been life back to normal for me.  Again I thank you ALL for your support and positive thoughts!!  I couldn't have done it without you!!  We just need to keep on that track as I am a high risk for recurrance.

Take care everyone and Thanks again!!  Much Love, Laura

Hi Folks,

Just thought you all might want an update on Laura. She has had another tumor marker test and got the results back today. Her numbers have dropped another 10 points and she is now down to 50--GOOD NEWS!!!! She feels fairly well as long as she takes her meds, now has about 1/2 inch hair growth, eyebrows and eyelashes. I know I'm not a bit partial when I say "she is looking good." She is currently on vacation--Chris' sister got married in Seattle, then she and Chris headed toward Montana on a camping trek. I think their main destination is Glacier National Park, however they have had several interesting and fun stops along the way. Just love seeing her have a good time!

Will post again when there is something newsy...til later,
Shirley/Mom

Laura seems to be feeling a bit better--not quite as tired and perhaps a bit more energetic--good news!! She remains achy but has meds for that which seem to help. She called me the other day--very excited! As she was putting on her make-up, she noticed tiny little stubs of little eyelashes growing back. Also is getting a light spattering of eyebrows here and there. She remains active and continues to work. She was fortunate enough this month to have a couple of "overnights" in St. Louis and Cleveland so Sandy, her dad, Mike and I all got to have a short visit with her--always fun.

Please keep your positive energies and prayers and comments coming her way.
Til next time,
Shirley/Mom

Hello Everyone,

Just thought I'd better update Laura's blog before I get "fired" from my job of posting her status. She is doing as well as can be expected I suppose. As I said on the last entry, she is no longer on chemo, but continues to take the Zometta via IV monthly and is now taking Tomaxifin orally. She still has considerable pain, but the meds along with Ibuprofin seem to be helping. She just today got the results of her last tumor marker test back. She is at 60 now, down from 77 so there has definitely been some improvement; let's all keep hoping and praying this number continues downward.

She seems to be in good spirits and holds that positive attitude. We are planning a mid-year ya-ya event in June which we are all happy about. (For those of you who don't know about ya-ya gatherings, it is a few day gathering of her aunts, female cousin and myself. The six of us have been doing this for 5 years now and always have a fabulous time). This time we are going to meet in Truckee. This just all got planned in a 15 minute conversation by phone--very fast planning I must say!

Please keep sending your positive thoughts, humorous stories, prayers and whatever else Laura's way. Til next time.....

Shirley/Mom


Thanks for listening--

Hello Folks,

Laura made her weekly visit to the doc today. The doc said said since her numbers (tumor marker) hadn't dropped much, he thinks she has reached a "plateau" with the chemo drugs. Also said he thought it was time for a rest from the chemo, so she did not have a chemo treatment today--just Zometta (for the bones). He is going to confer with the doc at UC-Davis but she will probably continue with the monthly Zometta and take Tomaxifin orally. He will continue monitoring her tumor marker and should the numbers begin to go up, he will give some thought to starting another type of chemo regimen. Hopefully the Tomaxifin will keep everything in check.

Let's all just keep our positive thoughts, energies and prayers going her way.

Mom/Shirley

Hi All,

So Laura heard the results from the tumor marker test and the numbers were not dropping as they should be. Her doc said he is "reformulating" a plan, so don't know when we will hear what that is but hopefully soon.

Please keep all your positive energies, comments and prayers going her way. She is currently working with an overnight in Tampa and New Orleans.

Will keep you updated when we hear more. Til later...
Mom/Shirley

Laura had a doc visit yesterday followed by another round of chemo. She also had another tumor marker test which we should find out the results today. The doc said if her marker test was down again, he is predicting one more chemo cycle (3 more weeks). We shall all hope and pray the results continue to show progress.

She remains tired; last week the doc prescribed a new level of pain meds for the aches which seems to be helping. Last week she had new nephew, Nick, out for his annual spring break fling in the snow. It stormed a lot, but they had a great time. The only problemj was getting home--they spent 3 days practically living in airports before he was able to get a flight. I guess everyone else was out west on spring break also, but he did manage to get home late Monday night.

Will update everyone on the tumor marker results when we hear.

Til later, Shirley/Mom

Okay, so it's been a couple of weeks since we've entered a new blog. Laura had a week's rest from chemo treatments last week and also was on "vacation" from work. Her best friends from Australia were in to visit for a couple of weeks which was fun for her. While they were there, she along with them and about 5 other friends made a back country trip to the Peter Grubb Hut and spent two nights there. She made the trip cross country skiing (others did various things, i.e. snow shoeing, snowboarding, etc.) She really wanted to go and enjoyed the trip. While they were at the Hut, some other friends "stopped by" which made the event even more special.

She has been feeling a bit more "cranky" lately, along with being tired, having hot flashes constantly and not sleeping well. She also has been feeling a bit less "social." (But, of course, we love her anyway!!!) Personally, I think this is a combination of a "build-up" of the chemo along with the menopausal problems she is experiencing. She had chemo again today and is now in the last cycle (we're not sure exactly how many more treatments she will have). Within the next few weeks, she will have another tumor marker test done so let's all hope and pray for a big improvement there.

Laura continues to work, but cuts back on her hours slightly when she can. At the moment she is preparing for her nephew, Nick, to make his annual snowboarding trip to his "Aunt Lolo's" for his spring break. He is a joy to have around and she looks forward to his visit each year. This year, however, she likely will not be able to do as much with him in the way of snowboarding but I'm sure they will enjoy their time together.

That's it for now--stay tuned--and keep those positive thoughts, energies, comments and prayers coming.

Shirley (Mom)

Hi--here we are again after a lengthy blog break. Laura has indicated that sometimes she just doesn't feel up to updating this blog so has asked me to be her "spokesperson" (which of course, I happily agreed to!).

She had a bone scan a couple of weeks ago which turned out to be kind of a "mixed bag." These bones scans are evidently not easily read. It showed improvement in some areas, however it also showed some new "hot spots." She was told not to take these results too seriously as it is not a "black & white" kind of thing.

This past week, they repeated the tumor marker test; she got the results yesterday and it showed definite improvement. She started at 170, the next time 114, the next time 108 and this test showed her at 75. I believe "good" is considered below 33 so she is "on her way". She has now had 17 chemo treatments and has 8 remaining, so hopefully that tumor marker will just keep going down.

She is tired, hairless and achy, but nothing seems to keep her down. She continues to snowshoe, cross country ski and went back to work about a month ago. She is now looking forward to being off work for nearly 2 weeks (vacation), spending time relaxing and having some fun with her very good friends from Australia. Til next time--keep that positive energy coming her way!!

Shirley (Mom)

13 Chemos Down, Menapause, and a Broken Tooth...???

Ahhh..the joys of  "cancer life"!  haha  Let's see...got my tumor marker results back last week and it wasn't as good as we had expected.  We started out at 170 then down to 114 and this last one was only 108.  So not much progress on the last one.  Normal is 38.  So we are going to get another bone scan done next week and try and figure out exactly where we are at, if we have just hit a plateau or ???

I was told that Chemo may send me into full blown menopause and it has officially hit me, hot flashes and all.  The only relief my oncologist can offer is a drug called Effexor and I'm not to the point yet that I want to be taking another drug..so for now I'm just going to endure it. 

Today, I had a tooth crack and break which happens to be an issue right now because of the Zometa that I get once a month with my chemo.  Zometa can have some ugly side effects relating to the jaw if there is any infection in the mouth.  So major dental work is not good.  I am going to look for an oral surgeon and see how serious he feels this is..until then my doc is not giving me Taxol (my chemo drug) in case any dental work is imminent that could lower my white blood cell count.  I don't quite understand that all right now but will probably have a better idea soon. 

Thats is for now...stay tuned!

Hit a Brick Wall...

Well I think it's finally hit me...I'm exhausted.  Last week I started feeling it and it just didn't go away.  I went cross country skiing and felt like I couldn't move the next day.  Then my 3 day trip for work was trying for sure.  And the steps in this house!  ugh.  I guess I'm just gonna have to give in to it soon and let myself just be a couch potato! 

I have one more 3 day trip starting on Friday..then I'm on vacation so that should help.  Doc still says that I'm tolerating the Chemo well.  I had my 11th treatment today and we are shooting for 24.  Hope everybody is doing well!  Love, Laura

Blog Update!! I know..it's been a while...

But there really hasn't been much to report.  It's been a busy holiday season and I've just been trudging along in chemo.  Last week I got the results of a blood test that they call a "tumor marker".  They did one in the very beginning of chemo and I was at 170.  The doc would like to see a 33.  Last week I was a 114.  So the chemo is working...that test is not as solid as a scan but it's what they use in between scans. 
I'm still feeling pretty good.  Maybe getting a little more tired and having body aches but nothing major.  Started cross country skiing last week and loved it!  This wednesday will be chemo #10.  As long as I keep tolerating it well, I think it will go on for a max of 6 months, but if I get too much neropathy in my hands/feet or just too many bad side effects, we will stop the Taxol.  That's it for now..thanks for tuning in!  Love, Laura