We finally have the system figured out. I will be going in for chemo every other week. My white count just couldn't handle the drugs this soon after radiation apparently.
So on Thursdays I go in and get a blood draw to verify that my WBC count is low. Then I get a little shot in the arm of a drug called Neupagen. This is a short acting WBC booster. Fridays I get chemo of Abraxane and Avastin and monthly Zometa. Then Saturday I go back and get a little shot in the other arm of Neulasta a l-o-n-g acting WBC booster. Groovy schedule!!!!!! I have all these fabulous chaffeurs and chemo buddies that are unashamed of every trash magazine available. It is all working out great. Thanks to everyone who had made this new chapter just new not horrible.
**********************************************************************************
Here is a little article on Abraxane:
Less Toxic Drug Prolongs Survival In Metastatic Breast Cancer
NewsRx.com
June 4, 2009
Research from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has found that a less toxic, solvent-free chemotherapy drug more effectively prevents the progression of metastatic breast cancer and has fewer side effects than a commonly used solvent-based drug.
A national study led by William Gradishar, M.D., director of breast medical oncology at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, found that the drug Abraxane prolonged progression-free survival by almost seven months compared with Taxotere, which is part of a class of solvent-based drugs called taxanes.
"It nearly doubled progression-free survival," said Gradishar, who also is a professor of medicine at Northwestern's Feinberg School and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
The study will be published May 26 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Chemotherapy drugs need to be dissolved in a chemical, called the "delivery system", before they can be injected into the blood stream. Abraxane uses albumin, a human protein, to deliver the chemotherapy. It does not contain chemical solvents. The generic name for Abraxane is nab-paclitaxel.
The study showed Abraxane also was much less toxic to patients. Gradishar said solvents are responsible for many of the side effects of chemotherapy including a drop in the white blood cell count and numbness or tingling in the fingertips.
In the study, the Abraxane was administered on a weekly schedule compared to injections every three weeks of Taxotere.
"This is a win-win finding," Gradishar said. "The weekly schedule of Abraxane has more anti-tumor effects and is better tolerated than Taxotere. There is also evidence that Abraxane is able to deliver the chemotherapy drug more effectively to the tumor."
"These results suggest that weekly nab-paclitaxel may be an appropriate alternative to docetaxel (Taxotere) in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer," Gradishar said.
The Phase II, open-label, randomized clinical study involved 300 patients with previously untreated metastatic, stage 4 breast cancer. The results were assessed by an independent radiology company and study investigators. The study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of three doses of Abraxane versus the highest standard dose of Taxotere.
Metastatic breast cancer is characterized by the spread of a malignant tumor from the breast to other parts of the body. It is estimated that nearly 155,000 women in the U.S. are currently living with metastatic breast cancer.
Copyright 2009, Medicine & Law Weekly via NewsRx.com
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Native American Traditions
My dear friend Cindy just sent this along in an email. I love it so I am posting it so that you can read it too.
"You may know this already, but in some native traditions, the head is shaved as part of a ritual. It is a symbol of shedding a layer. The ritual is used when someone is releasing or transforming a part of themselves from the past and stepping through a new gateway to the future, a metamorphosis. Even with the uncertainty of the future, you look beautiful and empowered as you step through this gateway."
Thanks Cin-Cin. Isn't this a beautiful thought and image?
"You may know this already, but in some native traditions, the head is shaved as part of a ritual. It is a symbol of shedding a layer. The ritual is used when someone is releasing or transforming a part of themselves from the past and stepping through a new gateway to the future, a metamorphosis. Even with the uncertainty of the future, you look beautiful and empowered as you step through this gateway."
Thanks Cin-Cin. Isn't this a beautiful thought and image?
Monday, May 18, 2009
OK I get it I need to blog more!
So I haven't blogged since I started my radiation in April. I am so pleased to report that after THREE treatments I was virtually pain free on the right side. I am so impressed with how well area specific radiation works as well as the staff at Evergreen Hospital. You walk into EHMC and there are posters (featuring my favorite surgeon Dr. Marion Johnson) with their tag line, "Exceptional people, exceptional care." I think they nailed it on this one. My experience at EHMC for radiation was phenomenal.
Well after having such relief with three treatments on the right side I thought let's do the left. Matt and I went in to consult with Dr. Eric Taylor and my new hip/pelvis/femur MRI on the left. Unfortunately, the cancer on the left is diffuse and it would be very difficult for Dr. Taylor to "hit" the correct spot. For this reason, as well as the fact that I would be starting chemotherapy soon, he could not radiate on the left side. My bone marrow just couldn't take it before embarking on chemotherapy. I think Dr. Taylor was the most disappointed in the room. The hips, pelvis and femurs really are the largest sources of bone marrow production in the body. One side was all I could handle before a course of chemotherapy but the pain relief on the right was worth it.
I graduated from radiation on April 15th and was off to Philadelphia for the Living Beyond Breast Cancer meeting devoted to women with metastatic breast cancer. It was very informative and Elizabeth Edwards spoke. She is an amazing woman to hear speak. I would highly recommend her new book, "Resilience" for pondering many of life's issues beyond cancer.
Once I returned from Philadelphia we had a planning meeting with Dr. K on a Tuesday. I was going to start a regimen of Abraxane (a chemotherapy) and Avastin (a biotherapy) and keep going with my monthly Zometa (a bone builder.) I would have 3 weeks on and one week off getting my treatments on Fridays. It was a little confusing at first because week #1 is 2 drugs, week #2 is 1 drug and week #3 is 3 drugs then week #4 off.
Once we got that on the calendar my sister-in-law went to work on an schedule for assistance. Thank you to everyone who answered the call for driving and picking up the girls, taking them to parties and school events, folding laundry, cleaning, helping me here at the house to not get frustrated with being home alone. You have all offered to be "chemo-buddies" so Matt doesn't have to take the day off work for weekly treatments. Also, I have to mention the meals that just keep on arriving and they are so good.
Everyone seems to have something that they can do to help our family through this and you are all so generous with your time and energy. Most importantly, I would like to personally thank everyone, especially family, who have taken some of the burden off of Matt's plate. For the first time during this 22 month roller coaster ride I see Matt being able to do somethings for himself. Even if it is just to sit and watch a hockey game it is some time just for him where he can have some down time. With your assistance Matt can go to work, with less worry, and that is so important. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help. We have an amazing village!!!
So where are we now? I did 2 treatments and then went in for #3 and was neutropenic. This is when your white blood cells are too low and the on-call doctor decided that I could not have chemotherapy that day. I have had a week and a half to get my WBC back up. We will know on Wednesday the 2oth. Matt has been feeding me fish, and green leafy vegetables and I have been focusing on a healthy WBC and my bone marrow working again. Our lives our hopelessly devoted to hand sanitizer and staying away from sick people (especially kids.) On that note, we really appreciate your candor when someone in your family is coming down with something. You know we would love to see you and the girls crave the play-dates but thanks for being aware of what a cold or the flu means at our house.
We should be able to start round #2 on Friday the 22nd. Keep your fingers crossed. Just as the Abraxane manual said my hair began to fall out 14 days after my first treatment. At first is was just a little bit. By yesterday there was so much hair in the shower drain it filled a gallon zip-lock bag. We decided to shave it off. Petra, my hairstylist/next door neighbor (A Sense of Style in Woodinville is where she works) came over with the clippers and cut it off. She tried to give me a sassy, short do but as I knew it was too far gone so I got a buzz cut. Mila took pictures and we made it a fun day and finished up by reading, "The Best Nest." As any parent knows, Mr. and Mrs. Bird need 'man hair' for their best nest. The birds around here are going to have wall-to-wall carpeting in their nests.
Thanks for the emails, phone calls and FaceBook notes of support about being bald. It is a really odd thing and I never really thought much of my hair until I saw it flying away into the yard. Your support means a lot. It is one of those weird life situations that is scary and liberating at the same time. Matt said, "It's very G.I. Jane" and I am good with that. Too bad the abs don't come with the buzz cut!
Well after having such relief with three treatments on the right side I thought let's do the left. Matt and I went in to consult with Dr. Eric Taylor and my new hip/pelvis/femur MRI on the left. Unfortunately, the cancer on the left is diffuse and it would be very difficult for Dr. Taylor to "hit" the correct spot. For this reason, as well as the fact that I would be starting chemotherapy soon, he could not radiate on the left side. My bone marrow just couldn't take it before embarking on chemotherapy. I think Dr. Taylor was the most disappointed in the room. The hips, pelvis and femurs really are the largest sources of bone marrow production in the body. One side was all I could handle before a course of chemotherapy but the pain relief on the right was worth it.
I graduated from radiation on April 15th and was off to Philadelphia for the Living Beyond Breast Cancer meeting devoted to women with metastatic breast cancer. It was very informative and Elizabeth Edwards spoke. She is an amazing woman to hear speak. I would highly recommend her new book, "Resilience" for pondering many of life's issues beyond cancer.
Once I returned from Philadelphia we had a planning meeting with Dr. K on a Tuesday. I was going to start a regimen of Abraxane (a chemotherapy) and Avastin (a biotherapy) and keep going with my monthly Zometa (a bone builder.) I would have 3 weeks on and one week off getting my treatments on Fridays. It was a little confusing at first because week #1 is 2 drugs, week #2 is 1 drug and week #3 is 3 drugs then week #4 off.
Once we got that on the calendar my sister-in-law went to work on an schedule for assistance. Thank you to everyone who answered the call for driving and picking up the girls, taking them to parties and school events, folding laundry, cleaning, helping me here at the house to not get frustrated with being home alone. You have all offered to be "chemo-buddies" so Matt doesn't have to take the day off work for weekly treatments. Also, I have to mention the meals that just keep on arriving and they are so good.
Everyone seems to have something that they can do to help our family through this and you are all so generous with your time and energy. Most importantly, I would like to personally thank everyone, especially family, who have taken some of the burden off of Matt's plate. For the first time during this 22 month roller coaster ride I see Matt being able to do somethings for himself. Even if it is just to sit and watch a hockey game it is some time just for him where he can have some down time. With your assistance Matt can go to work, with less worry, and that is so important. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your help. We have an amazing village!!!
So where are we now? I did 2 treatments and then went in for #3 and was neutropenic. This is when your white blood cells are too low and the on-call doctor decided that I could not have chemotherapy that day. I have had a week and a half to get my WBC back up. We will know on Wednesday the 2oth. Matt has been feeding me fish, and green leafy vegetables and I have been focusing on a healthy WBC and my bone marrow working again. Our lives our hopelessly devoted to hand sanitizer and staying away from sick people (especially kids.) On that note, we really appreciate your candor when someone in your family is coming down with something. You know we would love to see you and the girls crave the play-dates but thanks for being aware of what a cold or the flu means at our house.
We should be able to start round #2 on Friday the 22nd. Keep your fingers crossed. Just as the Abraxane manual said my hair began to fall out 14 days after my first treatment. At first is was just a little bit. By yesterday there was so much hair in the shower drain it filled a gallon zip-lock bag. We decided to shave it off. Petra, my hairstylist/next door neighbor (A Sense of Style in Woodinville is where she works) came over with the clippers and cut it off. She tried to give me a sassy, short do but as I knew it was too far gone so I got a buzz cut. Mila took pictures and we made it a fun day and finished up by reading, "The Best Nest." As any parent knows, Mr. and Mrs. Bird need 'man hair' for their best nest. The birds around here are going to have wall-to-wall carpeting in their nests.
Thanks for the emails, phone calls and FaceBook notes of support about being bald. It is a really odd thing and I never really thought much of my hair until I saw it flying away into the yard. Your support means a lot. It is one of those weird life situations that is scary and liberating at the same time. Matt said, "It's very G.I. Jane" and I am good with that. Too bad the abs don't come with the buzz cut!
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