May 29,2008

Update 5-29

What are your plans for the summer? A trip to the amusement park? Some how paying good money to scare yourself silly on the rides and getting that icky tummy feeling from eating too much junk food is a ritual of summer. I am a fan of the amusement park, especially the roller coaster. You jump on, and then when the ride starts you think… did I really want to do this? What was I thinking? Well, this summer I may be thinking the same thoughts and having some upset tummy episodes, but my adventure will be through the miracle of chemotherapy.

I went to the doctor today for the final tests, EKG, MUGA, blood, urine, blood pressure etc and I am fit for Chemo.

Next Thursday at 10 AM my adventure begins.

I was accepted into the clinical trial I mentioned earlier. I just barely fit the requirements with the micro metastasis. The trial is a triple blind trial, which is good in that I am going to be getting at least the standard treatment currently used. This trial is studying the implementation of Avastin (brand name for Bevacizumab) in the addition to standard chemotherapy (Doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide; abbreviated to AC) for breast cancer. This drug has been all ready proven in colo-rectal cancer. The role of Avastin in fighting cancer is that it binds or starves cancer cells so that they cannot grow.

The other drugs involved will be:
Doxorubicin ~ this is an anti-tumor antibiotic and blocks cell growth by interfering with the DNA, the genetic material in the cancer cells.
Cyclophosphamide~ this is an Alkylator or DNA-Altering drug that changes the genetic material in cancer cells to keep them from reproducing.
Paclitaxel~ this is a plant alkaloid that keeps cancer cells from dividing or from making the proteins they need.
Neulasta~ This is a shot, given the day after chemo to help the body produce more white cells.
Anti-nausea drugs~ The doctor gave me three different prescriptions for this! They are Zofran, Emend tripack and compazine.

The term of treatment will be :
Treatment once every two weeks for four cycles.
Treatment once a week for 12 cycles.
This is a total of about 5 months of chemo.
However, at the end of cycle 8, the trial becomes unblinded . At that point there is the possibility that I may be part of a group that requires and additional 10 cycles of just bevacizumab.

After the Chemotherapy is complete, radiation and hormone therapy will be administered. More about that later though. One step at a time!

Thank you so very much to the cancer survivors who are so inspirational for me. Your stories of courage, faith and humor give me strength to look on this as an adventure.

I have the best of faith in my doctors and the medical staff who I have been working with. Each and every person has made me feel so very special and pampered. I want to send a special thanks to those of you who work in the health care service field.

Love you all,
Lynn