a 38!!!!

Hey there,

Linda and I saw Dr. Kash, my oncologist, yesterday. My tumor markers in my blood work have gone down- to a low of 38. This is good news. He believes that the "nasty boy shots" are the result of this. So...more nasty boy shots in my furture.

The Avastin I get every other week is causing some weird neurological issues- tingling and complete numbness in my hands and fingers, hurtful muscle aches in my arms and bad joint pains. So..... I may go off of the Avastin as I have been on it almost a year. Also, the pain may be caused by the flomata- a bone density drug. It is hard to believe that it has been a year since I have been re-diagnosed.... The year has gone by in such a blur. I remember- and still have all of the cards people sent me. I am fortunate to have so much support. But- I will take the aches and pains over going back on the toxic chemo!

I see my second opinion dr. at Rush in a few weeks. She may have some insight to the drugs I am taking, and may know of some studies being done at Rush. I really like Dr. Kash, but I am glad to have another dr. on board. Dr. Kash actually encourages people to look in to a second opinion and is not upset by patients going.

Keep up the good work all of you prayers out there! Keep sending positive karma my way!
xoxo, HTFM

Same Old, Same Old...

Not much is new, since I have the "stable" label. I continue to have these weird aches in my muscles...and the Avastin still makes me a tired puppy. But if that is all I have to deal with- not all that bad :)

This Saturday, Linda volunteered to run a bake sale for the "File for the Cure Roadside Party." Our bunco babe- Kelli- and her husband opened a new tax business and are hosting a party, with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen fund. So....some of us have volunteered to bake and have volunteered our kids to help out at the fundraiser. We are hoping for more baked good donations- so hopefully we can raise some $. Should be fun and it will give the kids another opportunity to volunteer as there will be raffles, food, a photo booth, games and face painting.

Friday I go in for my Avastin treatment and blood work. I need to get home so I can do my baking! Please keep the positive thoughts and prayers a comin'. Gotta believe!
xoxo,
HTFM

"Life is Good"

Some of you may already know- but when I saw the oncologist on Friday he said that the tumors are stable and there are not any new ones detected!!!!!! This means that I do not have to go back on Taxol - the chemo drug with the nasty side effects!!!!! If my blood work continues to be good, I won't have to have a CAT scan for about 3 months. YEAH!!!! I will still continue on Avastin- a chemo drug- every 2 weeks, the "nasty boy" shots in my butt and a bone infusion drug monthly. The side effects of the Avastin is the tiredness but this is so much better than the Taxol. My hair is growing slowly, yet still curly and still no grays!

It was so nice sharing this news with Linda, my sister, and my friend Holly who came with me to the dr. I had the CAT scan on Monday and had to wait until Friday for the news. It is still sinking in that I am stable- (probably not mentally stable). I so appreciate all of your prayers, positive thoughts and good karma. I am not out of the woods, but I love this extended "chemocation."

xoxo,
HTFM

calling for all prayers and good karma...

I haven't blogged in quite a long time! I have been feeling decent of late- just really tired. I still go for treatments every other week- I get the Avastin by infusion twice a month and then the "nasty boy" shots and bone stuff monthly. I really hope I can continue this form of treatment....

Next Monday I go in for another CAT scan and then I will find out the results on Friday the 14th. The outcome of the CAT scan will determine the course of treatment- whether I have to go back on chemo or not. That is why the call for prayers and positive karma. I am hoping I can continue with the medicine I am on- my hair is short, curly and oh so much better than a wig or hat. My energy level is low- but better than when I was chemoing. I even started back working out- nowhere the level I was before, but I am trying. I would hate to disappoint my boyfriends at the health club- they are 69 and 70 but are so happy to see me back at it.

xoxo,
HTFM

9 days and counting

Can you even believe that Christmas is almost here??? 9 days and I still have shopping to do...

Last week I had an appt. with the neurologist who operated on my back and put the cement in. The results were not as good as we had hoped. He showed me on this hi-tech computer where the cement is. I still get quite a bit of pain from the tumor pressing on the nerves in my spine. So- he ordered another MRI which I had on Monday. This test was the worst.....over 2 hours in the machine, loud, pounding noises and I was not supposed to move. I had tears in my eyes when the tech pulled me out and then I just lost it. My legs and back were so cramped up I couldn't even put my shoes on..... So- tomorrow I will probably get the results from Dr. Kash- my oncologist. I get blood work, see him and then will have treatment. Hopefully it won't be chemo...I am trying to hold off on that nasty stuff for as long as I can. I bought trashy magazines and snacks for Linda and I while we wait during treatment. Yo gotta do what you gotta do to get through this...

Keep your fingers crossed that the mri is good and the blood work remains steady...
xoxo,
HTFM

back on schedule

I start treatment again Friday. Not the nasty chemo, but the Avastin and the bad boy shots. I have been off schedule due to back surgery. So.... once again every other week I go in to the Cancer Center.

I tried some shopping today and I don't really think that the back surgery was all that successful. There is one spot that I had radiated and shot up with cement that still bothers me. I guess I was hoping for a miracle but that tumor must really be rubbing on the nerves. I see the neuro dr. next week. I am suppose to be doing some back exercises but........ I have gotten kinda lazy with that.

It was great seeing my friend Kim over Thanksgiving break. She comes in with her husband to see her mom-in-law and George's family. You can blame her for this blog thingy...... I am grateful she started it tho. It helps me keep in touch with family and friends.

xoxo,
HTFM

Thank-You!!!

"Thank-You" for coming out and the yummy lunch! I am so sorry for the goof up...if you know what I mean! Hope you found a great tree, and happy decorating! Tis the season!