May 16, 2008

Update 5-19

Well it looks like it is going to be a long, hot summer; I think I will cut my hair very short! It is so much cooler and easier to maintain that way!

Translation:

I will be experiencing the chemotherapy journey this summer.

Being told that chemotherapy is the best next course for me to take was a shock. I was firmly convinced in my mind that I would be going the radiation route, I guess that is the optimist in me.

The reason for the chemotherapy recommendation is based on the pathology report. The overview of the report is:
Tumor size 2.2 cm Chemo is recommended for any tumor over 1.5 cm
Auxiliary Node had a mico-metassis , there is a chance the cancer has spread elsewhere
Hormone receptors Estrogen positive, Progesterone positive
Her2/neu ratio is 1.6, negative on FISH scale
Now I understand just some of the above, I get lost at the Her2 thing, but I know many of you know more than I do and will find the above stats fascinating!

That aside, I know that I will do well. John and I have been so very impressed with each doctor that will be working with us. What is really nice is that they work together well as a team, the fact that they communicate with each other makes it so much easier for us. The staff at Iowa Methodist and the John Stoddard Cancer Center have been so awesome, they even make a person like myself who gets the willies just thinking of medical procedures comfortable!

Chemotherapy will probably begin sometime in June, as I know more details I will let you know. There is a clinical trial I may qualify for and the timing is somewhat dependent upon that. I will also be having a port inserted to make the administration of the drugs easier. Again, I will do what I have to do, but if there is an easier way I am all for it!

Following this page I have several links for the doctors I am working with, the John Stoddard center other assorted links.

Thanks again for all of your support and prayers,

Lynn



On Friday May 16, 2008, John and I met with both a radiation oncologist and a hematology oncologist.

First up that day was the radiation oncologist. He is:
Dr. John Triantafyllos, MD (they call him Dr. T)
Here are links regarding Dr. T and the Radiation department at John Stoddard
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3342

http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=222


Next, we met with the chemotherapy oncologist. She is:
Dr. Ann Stroh, DO (pronounced straw)
Here are her links:
http://www.iowahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=174&action=detailPhys&ref=3228

Chemotherapy link
http://www.johnstoddardcancer.org/body.cfm?id=220

Possible clinical trial
http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/general/intro.html
the specific trial is
E5103
A Double-Blind Phase III Trial of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide followed by Paclitaxel with Bevacizumab or Placebo in Patients with Lymph Node Positive and High Risk Lymph Node Negative Breast Cancer Activation Date: 02-nov-2007