Fri Jan 27, 2012

First let me mention the long white box at the top of the blog. If you put your email address in the box and click submit a box will come up. Then at the bottom of the box type in the security code you see and click submit again. You will then receive an email any time I update the blog.



Second- I had my 3rd chemo treatment yesterday. I go back for a booster shot today. We also met with the Doctor yesterday who cleared up a few things for us. First- that I will not be having radiation. You have to stop chemo to have radiation. Radiation usually last a few months and the type of cancer I have tends to grow when chemo is stopped. Second, I will have Cat Scans on the liver every three months. The first one is scheduled on Feb 14th. I will have Echo Cardiograms every 4 months. The Chemo and Herceptin I receive can damage the heart so it has to be monitored. Third- The plan is to stay on the Chemo I am on now which is the Taxotere along with the Herceptin which fights the HER2+ type cancer in the liver. This will be ongoing for the rest of my life. The only thing that may change is if the tumors in the liver stop shrinking I will be put on a different type of Chemo and if that doesn't work, then we go to Chapel Hill to start Clinical trials. This is where I will try other types of treatment that are in the testing stage that have not been released yet by the FDA. The type of cancer I have is not operable because the tumors are spread out and too much of the liver would have to be removed. If you are interesting in reading more about the cancer, Google 'Metastatic Liver Cancer' or 'Secondary Liver Cancer'. This means the cancer originated in another part of the body (breast) and travelled to the liver. The type of breast cancer I had was HER2+ which occurs in 20% of breast cancers and travels quickly through the blood stream to the liver, brain or bones.

The Doctor did give me something to help me sleep and increased my pain medication. So many side effects of chemo- mostly just being tired, muscle aches  and Insomnia. The other side effects come and go as I get my treatment. ( mounth sores, nausea, hot flashes and chills).  Overall, I am feeling good right now. As usual the side effects will start in about 4 days and last a week and then I feel better again.

I hope this information answers the questions everyone has been asking.  Right now I am focusing on keeping up with my regular routine including work. I think it helps. I pray everynight that the tumors will show signs of shrinking. Mom and Dad are still with me and it sure makes things easier. We are going to go exploring this weekend to Roan Mountain TN. Just about 20 miles from the house.  The temperature here today was 32 degrees! Thanks to everyone for the continued cards, calls and emails.  The wall is gettig really full.