June 20, 2008

I'm very lucky that a couple years ago I insisted on annual MRIs in addition to annual mammograms.  I'm also fortunate that I have a very persistent radiologist reading my films.  In a recent biopsy, it was discovered that I have the very beginnings of what will probably turn out to be the same sort of cancer cells I had a couple years ago on the other side.  The good news is that if, after surgery, it's discovered that the rest of the tissue is found to have similar characteristics as the biopsy sample, I won't need chemo or radiation.  It appears that these cells have been found very early, especially compared to last time.  My surgery is July 1st.  (Just in time for 4th of July holiday, which really stinks, but what's a girl to do??)

When I had my annual MRI a couple months back, Rudy Lin, the radiologist, couldn't read the results very well due to the nature of the tissue involved.  So he asked for a re-do a month later.  He still couldn't see what he wanted to see, so he called me in for a mammogram (which of course is everyone's idea of a good time...).  He saw some signs of calcifications in a remote region, so we talked about doing a biopsy  I thought about just doing a mastectomy right away, but opted for the biopsy.  This time we had to do it the old-fashioned way: surgically cut out a sample, instead of using a stereotactic approach. 

Here's why this is no fun....the radiologist needs to insert a small piece of wire into the area of the tissue where the calcifications were found so the surgeon can locate the place to remove the biopsy sample.  In order to do that, they have to do a bunch of mammograms.  In theory, they need to do maybe four or five views, but in my case, they had a really hard time finding the calcifications on the films, so this process went on for over an hour.  And it was about 3 p.m. by then and I hadn't eaten all day, so I was far from being a happy camper.  Believe me, one mammogram isn't fun, and when you multiply that by five or six, it's pretty much like medieval torture (not that I've directly experienced that, but I can imagine that they are the same).  In fact, at that point, I asked if instead of the biopsy whether we could just jump right to the major suregery then and there so I'd never have to go through that particular experience again!!!

I made it through that, and got the results yesterday.  I won't know for a little while if the cell type is HER2 positive as it was last time.  What's really freaky is that the odds were much higher for me to have a metastisis of my original cancer elsewhere in my body than were the odds of getting cancer on the other side.  I guess I am one of those people who defies the odds...

So...the good news is that I will probably not need further treatment, such as chemo or radiation, after this surgery.  And I'll probably be off work only a week or two.  Thanks for allowing me to tell you about this using this website rather than calling or telling everyone in person.  It watkes way too much time to tell the story over and over.  I'd definitely welcome your phone call or email after you read the news :-)

Val

P.S. A reminder that I'm not a flowers sort of girl.  I realize that lots of people like to send flowers to people who have surgery or health issues, however flowers don't tend to cheer me up (I suppose I'm more like a guy in this regard :-)  Honestly, no one really has to send me anything.  But if you absolutely feel the need to send something you could send a donation in my name to the St. E's Foundation (designate the donation to the Breast Center--for women who cannot afford mammograms), or maybe a funny movie, card, tshirt, book, etc.  But truly no one should feel the need to make a fuss!!

October 21, 2006

I just realized today that I haven't added some necessary updates.  Right now I am procrastinating on a paper I need to write for school (masters in MIS...I know....very geeky) that's due tomorrow at midnight and I haven't started, and rather than write my paper I am playing video games, getting distracted online, and writing this :-)

I got my way with the MRI.  The good news is that it doesn't look like my cancer spread to my head (I guess the other good news is that I do have a brain, so for those of you who think that blondes are without brains, sorry, you're wrong).  However, sometimes when you go in to look for one thing, you end up finding something completely different.  The weird news is that I have a 6 mm mass near my pituitary gland.  So now I have to go in for another MRI to take a closer look at that and then probably do another whole-brain MRI.  I did some research on these types of things, and they are not uncommon.  In fact, my next-door neighbor had one 6 years ago, and she is several years younger than I am.  So I am not worried; it will just be a bit of a hassle to get more MRIs, and I will probably have to have some sort of surgery. Amy (my neighbor) said they surgically went up her sinuses and took care of the pituitary thing.  Doesn't sound like a very pleasant process, but it beats invasive surgery I suppose.

Other than that, all is well.  I don't miss the Herceptin a bit.  I am taking a break before I go full force after Tykerb.  Not even sure if I will be able to use it, but I plan to take a close look at it.

Have decided against reconstruction.  Because of the unpredictable nature of radiated skin, there's too much risk in a poor outcome.  And what's the point...why add a lump of tissue and silicone when there's no real purpose for it? 

August 6, 2006

Just two more triple doses on the every-three-weeks schedule.  Then it goes to every three months.  My oncologist, Jack Swanson, has changed his career path--he is staying with his partners, but is concentrating only on palliative care (working with the dying) at one of the local hospitals.  I will miss him very much, but the doc they recruited to fill his shoes seems like he will be an acceptable substitute.  He seems to be very open to patients bringing in ideas.  I've met him, but I haven't had an official appointment with him--that will happen in September.  My goal is to get a brain MRI, a PET scan, and to discuss Tykerb.

I still haven't scheduled surgery--maybe in January...

June 4, 2006

My relationship with Herceptin is one of love and of hate.  The longer I stay on it, the more intense my side effects seem to become.  I have battled a two-day headache this weekend, and I'm sure it didn't help that I traveled this week, right after my triple dose.  The traveling definitely was a good thing though.  In addition to attending a really helpful series of meetings for work, I was able to "crash" the ASCO convention, which is an oncology convention attended by thousands of oncologists and other professionals from around the world.  The people from the Her2support site were there, and they were kind enough to get me a badge.  There was a tremendous amount of information presented, the best news being that the Her2 drug that Glaxo Smith Kline has been working on (the one I have been watching for the last 6 or 8 months) is really close to being available.  There are several articles that I am hoping to get my hands on after reading the abstracts that relate to my situation.  Walt Carney, my friend from Oncogene Science was presenting his work on the Bayer serum testing, but he wasn't there the days I was there, so I didn't get to meet him in person.

It was such a huge coincidence that the ASCO thing was going on when I happened to be in Atlanta.  This week I will be in San Diego--I wonder what will be going on there?!?!  After my meetings in San Diego on Friday I am taking the train to LA and staying with my friend Joan for the weekend.  That will be so cool!

The new Glaxo drug, trade named now "Tykerb," has shown to decrease the odds of brain mets, which is something for which I am at high risk.  They have approved compassionate use of this drug, but I am not sure yet if I will qualify on that basis (that would get me use of the drug earlier than FDA approval).  The drug will hopefully be approved by the FDA late this year.  I am still on triple doses of Herceptin every three weeks, and in September I will decrease the frequency to every three months.  But hopefully soon after that I can switch to Tykerb.

I still am debating my reconstruction timing and whether or not to go ahead and lop off the other one too.  I still have greater odds of getting cancer elsewhere in my body than I do in the other breast, but sometimes I think that anything I can do to decrease my chances of ANY recurrence is the smart thing to do.

March 12, 2006

As I was traveling through my breast cancer treatment journey, I came to realize that I eventually wanted a career back in health care.  I decided that I wanted to be able to make a difference in health care.  Since I can't be a surgeon, I am doing the next best thing...

I have accepted a position with Network Health Plan (#16 in the country as listed by US News), part of Affinity Health System (www.affinityhealth.org).  I couldn't be happier...I formerly worked with many of my new colleagues and I am re-joining a wonderful organization.

At the end of March I will begin my duties as Director of Product Development :-)

February 17, 2006

I made the decision this week to postpone my reconstruction surgery.  It's just too busy right now in my life, but I also will be getting Herceptin until September, so I'd rather wait until that's over to do the surgery.  An added benefit will be that my skin will have additional time to recover from radiation. 

November 27, 2005

Second triple dose of Herceptin went fine again this week.  I have the ladies on the Her2 support website to thank for the advice about switching to every three weeks.  I am still tired the weekend after the treatment, but it is very manageable.

I still have not heard anything about the vaccine trials that I want to join, especially the one in Seattle.  I had blood work done to check my menopausal status, and I am definitely not in menopause.  So I have to wait for the pre-menopausal trial to open up.  However, now that I am on Herceptin, I am not as worried about finding a trial.  There is a oral drug that Glaxo-Smith Kline is introducing late next year or early 2007 that's specifically for Her2 cancers.  So that one should be just in time for me, if it turns out that I need it.