Treatment Updates

NEWEST TREATMENTS 

(All medical Assessments/Treatments received post-chemo & surgery)

CTCA Trip to Chicago- Tuesday, May 7th- 12th :

(Staying at the Lotus Suites in Wadsworth, IL)

Flight Details:

AIR	Tuesday, 7MAY 2013
	United Airlines	Flight Number:
	From: Eugene OR, USA	Depart: 06:12 PM
	To: San Francisco CA, USA	Arrive: 07:46 PM
AIR	Tuesday, 7MAY 2013
	United Airlines	Flight Number:
	From: San Francisco CA, USA	Depart: 10:30 PM
	To: Chicago O'Hare IL, USA	Arrive: 04:42 AM 8MAY
OTHER	Wednesday, 8MAY 2013
	***LIMO PICK-UP AT OHARE AIRPORT***

**Summary of the trip:
Wi-fi complications prohibited all updates here for the duration of our trip. Plus, there really is, now, TOO MUCH to summarize here, so if you want a full update, look for the 'So What Happened' blog-entry.
Thanks again for your ongoing support as we focus now on facing radiation treatments.

Plastic Surgeon Appt.- Monday, May 20th:

Meeting with Hema Thakar (our awesome plastic surgeon) for a check-up on the tissue expanders--since we'll have expanded at home--and make future reconstructive plans~

**Summary of visit:

Surgeon/Oncologist Check-up Appt.- Monday, August 5th:

Meeting with Ariel Lopez-Chavez--Our Oncologist--and Arpana Naik--Our Surgeon--for a general check-up appointment. These check-ups will occur every three months for the first year and then increase to every 4-6 months (as decided then) for the following year. No body scans/MRI's/CAT's will be held unless there is reason to believe my cancer has re-occured.

**Summary of visit:

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OLD TREATMENTS (Chemotherapy & Surgery received)

Chemo Treatment #1- Monday, October 29th: 
(Stayed with Harrison's)

**Summary of week-- Went well. A bit of intestinal 'fun' on both ends, ha, but overall, ok.

Chemo Treatment #2- Monday, November 5th: 
(Stayed with Harrison's)

**Summary of week-- Itchy, Itchy Itchy! All over acne rash--lotsa fun. Finally got it under control with a prescription clindamycin gel and overall time for the Decadron to process through my body.

Chemo Treatment #3- Monday, November 12th: 
(Stayed at the beautiful River Place Hotel, courtesy of American Cancer Society!)

**Summary of week--Had the usual chemo treatments on Monday with a visit from my dear cousin, Marilyn! :) After-chemo affects...so far so good.
Arms all the way down to my finger-tips went strangely numb in the early morning hours on Monday night. Fortunately, some neck traction and muscle-rubbing exercises made it subside. MRI & 4th biopsy   Tuesday morning went well and most exciting news was per a convo with my N.P. this morning who leaked the news that the MRI showed a 'significant decrease' in the tumor, already!!!
Translation: Chemo seems to be being affective already, just after 3 weeks!!!!!!! :D

Chemo Treatment #4- Monday, November 19th: 
(Stayed with Harrison's, with our little Grayson along for the experience)

*Summary of week--Doc's appointment with our oncologist, received the confirmation that my tumor has shrunken from 7cm in diameter to 6.3 cm in just two treatments. That said, plans are to continue with the 'formula' they've had me on, thus far.
This week's 'theme' was nausea. Washes of tummy-stuff all week long. Figured out that dairy is the biggest setter-offer of it so no milk-products for this chemo-queen. :-P

Chemo Treatment #5- Monday, November 26th:
(Stayed at the Silver Cloud Inn, courtesy of hubby's sweet former high school classmate)

**Summary of the week--received chemo only. Hubby is with for the first time and I've been told that I received a lovely visit from my 'C-sister', Amy. :)
The week's 'theme' wasn't anything new...it was just the same old *sorry if this is TMI* diarrhea and vomiting/nausea on and off, all week. Fun. ;-P

Chemo Treatment #6- Monday, December 3rd:

(Staying at the 'Uncle Jon' and 'Auntie Nora's'--as Gray now calls them) ;)

**Summary of the week: At Chemo--Had chemo at 9:30am instead of regular 10:30 time-slot. Got out of there around 1:30.
Little Gray was with us and got to meet all of mommy's 'angels'--docs and nurses and felt right at home being there for the routine and extra special to ride the 'cool tram ride.' ;)

Chemo Treatment #7- Monday, December 10th:
(Stayed at Jon and Nora's--after spending half the night at the Providence hospital for fluids) :-(

**Summary of the week--NORWALK VIRUS. Ugh. DOUBLE UGH.

Chemo Treatment #8- Monday, December 17th:
(Drove up early Monday morning with dear friend, Vanessa for a day-trip on a very snowy day!)

**Summary of the week: At Chemo--Follow up with the oncologist was a physical check-up and as far as he could feel, the tumor has nearly disappeared!!!!!!!
He said it was 'so shrunken, it was nearly impossible for him to get an accurate measurement on it because even the sides were undetectable.'
PRAISE GOD for such change... just cause a glimpse of the view at the top of THIS mountain and oh my oh my, is the hike gonna be worth it!!!

Chemo Treatment #9- Monday, December 24th:
(Drove up Saturday with the sweet hubby for another stay paid by American Cancer Society--gotta take advantage of the 'perks' of cancer, ha!--at the downtown Marriot.)

Had a very nice time seeing many different precious friends the day before chemo and then a had a very uneventful Christmas Eve infusion.

**Summary of the week: STOMACH INDIGESTION!!!! OY OY OY! So bad. Hope that's officially behind us, now.

Chemo Treatment #10- Monday, December 24th:
(Drove up Sunday evening with mom and back at the Harrison-Hotel with 'cousin's' Jon and Nora) ;)

At Chemo--Received a visit from the beautiful miss Michelle Johnson. Soooo lovely to see that beautiful girl~
Looking forward to more visits with her and her new hubby in coming P-town trips!!! :-D

**Summary of the week--A better week than last, that's for sure. More nausea than past weeks, but Phenergen and I seem to be 'pals' so that was helpful since we've discovered that Zofran and I don't get along so well. :-P

Chemo Treatment #11- Monday, January 7th:
(Drove up Sunday evening with mom and Lincoln for another stay with 'uncle' Jon and 'auntie' Nora)

Chemo Treatment #12- Monday, January 14th:
(Drove up early Monday morning for infusions. Had planned to stay with Jon and Nora, but unexpected snow and ice forced us to get a Hot-wire room at the Beaverton Phoenix Inn hotel.)

**Summary of the week: Perhaps the biggest 'highlight' of this week was knowing that it was the LAST of round one!!! :D Starting January 21st, a whole week's break from ALL medicines, wahoo!

Infusion #1 (Round 2--"red bullet")- Monday, January 28th:
(Drove up Sunday with the hubby, stayed at Hotel Monaco, thanks to another great Hot-wire deal!)

At Chemo: Saw Dr. Lopez-Chavez (my oncologist) for another check-up, re-confirmed news of tumor shrinkage and positive changes in lymphs, had a quick physical exam and heard the run down on what to expect from round two in the coming weeks.

**Summary of the week--WHOA!!! The 'red bullet' sure did earn it's name! Pretty down and out for the first few days--nausea, fatigue and just over-all knocked down!
Hopeful it's doing the same to the cancer, eek!


Infusion #2 (Round 2--"red bullet")- Monday, February 11th:

Infusion #3 (Round 2--"red bullet")- Monday, February 25th:

Infusion #4 (Round 2--"red bullet")- Monday, March 11th:


Pre-op Tests & Surgery Consults- Monday, March 19/20th:
(Stayed two nights at the downtown Hilton Executive Suites, courtesy of ACS)

**Summary of the trip--

Wednesday tests went well. First had the MRI, followed by a mammogram and then a breast & lymph ultrasound. The ultrasound was by far the biggest highlight of our day, as we got to see how much the tumor had shrunk and dissipated. Very cool and all doctors were very pleased to see what the chemo had done to reduce it. 

Thursday started with a very quick appt with my surgeon where she just explained the specifics of the surgery, tentatively set an April 9th surgery date, drew out specifics of pre and post-op instructions and answered some of our questions regarding the cancer's removal. 

It continued with a thorough appt with my wonderful oncologist who discussed more long-term plans with us--ie, the plan for an every 3 week infusion of Herceptin for the next year, followed by an oral hormone receptor blocker called Tamoxifen for the next 5 to 10 years! Sent my head spinning a bit, I'll be honest.

It ended with one more very thorough appt with my plastic surgeon, Dr. Thakkar, who lined out all reconstruction plans...much of which left both Aaron and I feeling we still have a lot of research to do and questions to pose.

Pre-op Appts- Monday, April 8th:
Meeting with all involved medical team once more to go over everything before surgery the following morning--making sure everyone is on the same page as to what is being done and what recovery will look like, as well.
Plastic Surgeon--Emangini Thakkar @ 11:30am
Surgeon--Arpana Naik @ 12noon
Nurse Practioner @ 1:15pm


SURGERY !!! - Monday, April 9th:
The Plan: Skin-sparing Bi-Lateral Mastectomy as well as an Axillary Lymphnode Dissection
(Lemans Terms--both boobies and a 'pocket' of lymphs under my right arm removed completely) Surgery expected to last for approximately 4 hrs and hospital recovery estimated 1-2 nights giving us a release date of Thursday, April 11th.

For more hourly updates on my surgery and post-op recovery, follow this link or click the tab on the home page titled 'The Big Surgery': 
http://lifesprom.blogspot.com/p/the-big-surgery.html


Post-surgery Needs:
(for those who have asked how you can help once we're home)

Caring Bridge: (visits, errands, house-help, childcare, etc)
http://supportplanner.caringbridge.org/planners/aletamcgee
Meal Train:
http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=GERI1765


Post-op Appts- Monday, April 22nd:

10:30am:  Ariel Lopez-Chavez--My Oncologist

1:15pm:  Arpana Naik--My Surgeon

3:30pm:  Hemangini Thakar--My Plastic Surgeon

At these appointment, Aaron and I will be finding out the path reports, whether or not radiation will be needed--(my c-sister just found out that she WILL be required to have radiation, so I'm not holding my breath on my situation.) Also, our plastic surgeon will be showing Aaron how to use the tissue expanders that they implanted during the April 9th surgery so that we can save ourselves some future trips north.

**Summary of the appointments--Left-side drain was removed and doctor sent us home with all needed supplies for Aaron to remove the right-side one in just a few more days!
Also, breast tissue expanders were expanded 25 C-C's on each side (ouch!) and doctor trained Aaron (and sent Aaron with all needed supplies to do so) to expand twice per week at that rate in hopes that all will be expanded to the necessary size by three weeks from now. Implants won't be inserted for another couple of months...but this allows my pec tissue to properly adjust and 'heal' from this process before then.

Pathology Reports:
TOTALLY CLEAR MARGINS in the affected breast!!! PTL! :)
9 of 23 total lymphnodes removed from right axillary/under-arm location came back positive for cancer!

Remaining Treatment Plans:
Radiation, 5 days-per-week for three straight weeks (location still to be decided) specifically directed at the axillary lymph location is required to make certain no more cancerous lymphnodes (if any exist without our knowledge), are left behind.

Herceptin infusions to address killing all remaining (if any) Her2 cancer receptors in the affected breast will be received every three weeks for a total of one year.

Tamoxifen--a hormone receptor blocker will be taken orally one time per day for at least the next five years and very likely for a total of ten years. :-P

Aside from more pressing trips/appointments with our reconstructive surgeon, check-ups will be every three months for the next year and then every 4-6 months after that.