Ok everybody...a few of you have been wondering what is going on, because I had scans done on the 15th, and haven't given out results yet! Sorry about that. I didn't want to post prematurely until we had a game plan for the next phase of all this, but I should have at least let you know what was happening.
We have not been able to visit with my regular oncologist to discuss the scans. (That is partly why I have no game plan.) He had an emergency the day of our visit, and we saw a new doc, who was very kind, but didn't have all of the results in my file, nor were the actual scans available for us to look at. It was disappointing, and I was nervous. We will see Dr. Kenyon this Monday the 29th to go over some options regarding the next phase. The good news is that from what they did see on the written reports, (and if I'm understanding things correctly) is that the lesions in the brain are inactive, and lesions in the liver are inactive, and the lesions in the spine stopped progressing. This, according to Dr. K's notes, is "excellent", and puts me close to remission. This is what I'd asked for prayer for last time. I want to know which of you have this straight line up to God!! Please, nobody stop-you're doing great! I would have liked to see some extra healing happening, but a stop in progression is fantastic. We'll shoot for that this next time. They gave me an extra dose of the contrast dye before the brain MRI, so the two remaining spots did light up a bit, but they believe it's from the extra dose of stuff, not that anything dire is happening.
The question we'll be discussing on Monday is how to proceed with the chemotherapy drugs. I'm still on an I.V. dose of Navelbine each Thursday. He is thinking of omitting this drug so my body can have a chance to rebound from the toxicity. I could be off of it for approximately 6-12 months before needing to be on it again. The other drug, Xeloda, is in pill form and is taken am and pm, 2 weeks on then one week off. It's a fairly high dosage,is tough on the system and really messes with my blood counts but evidently it does cross through the blood-brain barrier. We just don't want it to take out all my bone marrow in the process. Kenyon will likely suggest I stay on Xeloda. We'll be asking him his opinion on this, vs. using one drug one week and the other the next, or any other options and their potential outcomes/risks. Whichever way we decide to go, the supplements and diet are going to continue to be important. They've been a great asset so far, and have carried me through a crazy summer, so I'm really hoping that they will be a key ticket in helping my body to recover and pick up some of the healing process on it's own. I think this will be the only way I will ever get off of these drugs totally. (I'm Hopeful) I will still be on a monthly dose of Zometa, the bone density protecting I.V. drug. It should help bring my bones back to a normal level hopefully within a year. I've shown some bone loss due to the lesions in the spine. I am not at a level of osteoporosis yet, but it would be the next jump.
So, pray for healing, con't. "no-growth" of the cancer, and for wisdom in how to proceed from here. It may take a few months of playing with stuff to see what works or doesn't. Yikes. At least we're off to a good start, I think.
I'll be participating in is a "Sail for the Cure" on September 25, 2005. My brother, Chris, and his wife,Cheryl, are avid water people, and have invited us to participate with them. And since they just bought a really cool 36 foot sail boat, it would be insulting to not go check it out, right? :D This event is a benefit for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. They are good about getting current info. out there, and helping people walk through the process. They don't seem quite as "bogged down" as some organizations, and have some good research. (I have mixed feelings about some of these groups, as I am a big proponant of saving the big guns of some of these heavy drugs for when NEEDED, and using more natural means whenever possible. A lot of these places scoff at that idea, but don't give you much hope or options and their motivation is not "cure based", but maybe fear based or dare I say profit motivated??? That's what I liked about Dr. Kenyon-he encourages people to see a Naturopath, admitting that he sees good results with the combination. Anyway, enough soap box. For information re. the Sail, you can to go their web page at www.owsa.net. (This is the Oregon Women's Sailing Association) If anybody's interested in donating to the event, you could mail a check to us at home here, and we'll take it up when we go. Checks should be made out to the "Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation", and let us know if you want a receipt to see if it's tax deductable. (They say to check with your tax advisor about that). Please send anything so it gets here in plenty of time for us to get it before Sept. 24th. If anyone's interested in participating, you get a t-shirt, and it sounds like if you don't have a boat, they'll find one you can ride in. They will have the sail from 12:30-3 pm with registration from 10 am-12 pm. From 4-6 is a silent auction and awards, and from 6:15-9 pm is a benefit dinner with a speaker. I've never done this before, but Cheryl has, and says it's a lot of fun. If you're interested, early registration is Sept. 1, and after that the entry fee goes up a bit.
Well, I've done it again-taken up a good portion of your day reading this blog. I keep thinking they'll get shorter somehow. Maybe when life is less complicated? Does it get less complicated? Always an adventure, anyway!
Love you all, and may God bless you ALL! Thank you for caring, and your continued kindnesses.
Jeanne H.
No comments:
Post a Comment