Monday, February 26, 2001
Health-Track.org: Your Health...Your Community...Your Right to KnowASCO 2000: Critical Commentaries: Breast Cancer Update
Cancer-Related Fatigue: An Immense Problem
Management of Bone Metastases
posted by Karen Weber Monday, February 26, 2001
Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Excess body weight increases risk of some cancersSurvivor Offers Advice to Friends, Family of Women with Breast Cancer
I've had a very encouraging day. I chatted with an angel from Friends in Need who has been battling liver mets for a number of years and she is now officially NED (no evidence of disease). She told me that there is hope. She also set me straight on Herceptin. I thought it was still only available in clinical trials, and they all strictly limit who they will accept to people with normal hearts. But she says that any doctor can use it now and her own heart is weak. She's been getting it weekly for several years - once a week, 1/2 hour infusion, no side effects. I'm all for that.
Then my mom and dad came down, bringing guests. My "uncle" Larry who I've written about before (he survived highly aggressive prostate cancer) and "aunt" Lynn. We took a tour of Rick's new building and then had lunch. Then us loafers came back to the house and gabbed while Rick went back to work. Dad was officially released by the dermatologist today - his lip is still scabbed over and swollen. It looks really sore, but he says it's much better. Rick's brother, Gary, also visited this morning at the office, and he looks great. All done with radiation and starting to feel more like himself.
Finished the day off with our Tuesday night small group Bible study. What a great day!
posted by Karen Weber Tuesday, February 27, 2001
Wednesday, February 28, 2001
New form of doxorubicin less toxic than standard preparation
posted by Karen Weber Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Thursday, March 01, 2001
Chemokines determine breast cancer metastatic destinationsI had a blood draw today to make sure the clotting factors are high enough to let me have the biopsy. While I was there, I picked up a copy of the PET report and did some research. There is more room for hope here than we knew. They report in units called SUVs. Anything over 2.5 SUVs is "suspicious for neoplasm" but some benign lesions can be as high as 2.6 or 2.7. Really hot tumors measure 3, 6, 12, etc. The spot in my liver measured at 2.6 SUVs. So... I'm taking this as reasonable hope that the biopsy could that show all is well. Of course, my primary site was very slow growing, so it is also likely that any met would be as well. That means it would probably be on the lower end of the SUV scale... but nevertheless, I'm believing for the best until I hear otherwise.
After I had the blood drawn, I stopped by at the imaging center to pick up the films of my CT and MRI. They need those Monday for the test. Now all that's left to do is a pre-reg over the phone whenever they call me. When I came home, I jumped in the pool and swam for half an hour. It's been so rainy here that I haven't been in since Saturday. My arm's been a little achey. My massage therapist normally does some drainage on Monday, but won't do it until I have the results of the biopsy. She doesn't want to risk spreading cancer cells through the lymph system.
While I was having my blood draw today, a 13-year-old sat down next to me. She was there waiting for her granddad to finish his chemo. She watched the nurse draw my blood and then asked me why I wasn't having chemo. I explained to her that I'd already had some, but that I may have to have some more. I told her about being bald and how much fun I had with that. I described the henna tattoo I had done and we giggled about it. She told me I was really lucky that I had lost my hair, and said her granddad wasn't that lucky. He still has his hair. I think only a 13-year-old would come away with that perspective on chemo baldness, but I loved her for it.
If you haven't looked at my guestbook recently, you should take a peek. There is evidence there that angels do exist, and they have been flocking to my guestbook over the last few days to encourage me and support me as we wait for this biopsy. The angels at Friends in Need are some of the most wonderful people in the entire world. If you are reading this and you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and you don't know where to turn, please click that button that says Friends in Need. You will be received with love and prayers, and you will find the support you need to beat this beastie.
posted by Karen Weber Thursday, March 01, 2001
Friday, March 02, 2001
HER-2/neu-derived peptide shows promise as cancer vaccineOncologists Underestimate Patient Distress
Today I had my MUGA scan. This was originally scheduled for April, but we moved it up when I had the spell at Trader Joe's a few weeks ago. The technician I really liked isn't there anymore. There was a guy there. He was very distracted, a bit overeager with his needles, and not a good chatter. I miss the old technician! Anyway, I lived through the test and the tech said that the doctor would have the results later today. While I was waiting for them to mix the radioactive stuff into my blood, my cardiologist wandered by. He gave me a big hug and asked how I was feeling. I told him my heart was feeling fine and then I broke the news to him about the liver. He gave me an even bigger hug and told me he'd be praying it was nothing.
posted by Karen Weber Friday, March 02, 2001
Saturday, March 03, 2001
I've updated the links page with links I collected over the last month. Be sure to check out this page for lots of great resources.My dad came down with his Little Brother yesterday. Dad was also down on Tuesday, which was the last day he had to use the 5-FU cream on his lip. Tuesday, while the scabbing was starting to decrease, the lip itself was very swollen. It looked quite a bit better yesterday than it did on Tuesday, so it's going to heal up quickly. He is keeping it moist with a lip balm.
posted by Karen Weber Saturday, March 03, 2001