Not so scary after all...

is the name of a Halloween book Walker received from his grandfather. It is all about how some things are scary at first and when you find out what they really are...they are not so scary after all. This is what happened in Nebraska...

When we left for Nebraska, this is what I thought I knew:

I had a 4 cm tumor with 5.8 uptake (live cancer) and I had spells of shortness of breath and occasionally could barely breathe at all. It seemed that the chemo treatment was not working anymore and that it was likely that I was going to have to play the stem cell transplant card which is usually in reserve for a recurrence. I could not imagine anything that Dr. Armitage would say that could make feel better about the situation other than that we still had a battle, that we could win, ahead of us.

Not so scary after all:

Dr. Armitage did the usual history and examination. Then, he said the best and most unexpected thing....you might be in REMISSION!!!

Long story...short:

I have a 4 cm tumor that is mostly dead. There is only a halo of live cells around the tumor. These are expected to decrease as the chemo continues to work. A PET/CT at 6 weeks past the last chemo will be a better indicator.

The next step:

We are headed back to Nebraska 12/11 for another PET/CT and to meet with Drs. Armitage and Enke (the radiation oncologist) to discuss how to proceed based on the results. If indeed I am improving, we will continue with radiation as anticipated. It is likely that I will need 20-22 days or approximately 4 weeks - 5 days a week.

The cough/shortness of breath:

I was told that it was either bronchitis or pneumonia. I took some pretty strong antibiotics and used an inhaler that improved my shortness of breath. I am now back to my regular chores which makes Stephen (who has been a champ about doing everything) very happy :)

Putting a Positive Spin on a Positive PET

Here it goes:

• The size of the tumor and the uptake (cancer) shrank 20% from the last PET. The tumor is 4 cm and the uptake is 5.8.


• I have pneumonitis but we caught my pneumonitis early b/c it showed up on the PET just as I started to have symptoms.


• I had already prepared myself that 8 treatments and radiation were possibilities

Thanks to those of you who have let me take my positive attitude hat off for a couple of days. I'm trying to find it....I know it is around here somewhere :) :)

To lighten the mood here is a goofy yet much requested photo of the "blonde" wig!

The Path Forward

11/15/07 - ARMC for PET/CT
11/20/07 - Dr. Heffner @ Emory for follow up
11/28/07 - Visit to University of NE Medical Center to see Dr. Armitage and Dr. Enke
12/03/07 - Follow up with Dr. Vrana

If the pet is positive, there may be more chemo in the future. Based on the original size of my tumor, radiation is very likely.

Chemo VI

The last trip to club chemo (we hope)! Started off a little worrisome with no blood return. I was fully prepared to go to the hosptial to have my port cleared, but in a final attempt by the AWESOME nurse MARCI...we had blood return. We actually completed chemo VI in one day. My nausea was somewhat controlled by this great drug Dr. Vrana prescribed: Emend. Also, I've had some improvement from Neurotin (it all may be in my head, but whatever works!). Overall, chemo VI...not so bad since we are cautiously optimistic that this may be the last one!

Getting Wiggy

For those of you haven't had the experience of witnessing my wig, I have posted a picture from the pumpkin patch. I have recently acquired a platinum blond wig that is super cool too, so I guess I can still go incognito? :)

Thanks to Jaimee at Mary Lou's Garden in Watkinsville! She runs a wonderful boutique :)

Chemo V-Come on Blood Return...

Well chemo V was not fun as I expected. We began with the dreaded lack of blood return. I'll spare the details, but basically, if there isn't blood return they can't do the chemo and you have to go to the hospital for a long day of fluids....then come back for chemo.

Since my chemo lasts all day and I barely make it through the whole course if everything goes well, chemo V has turned into a 2 day event. Both days there was trouble with the blood return, but it was ultimately resolved. Hopefully this does not indicate a future problem for the final chemo VI?

The nausea, fatigue, headache, chest pain, the works were there for both days. It is around 5 am and I am basically awake for the first time since noon yesterday.

Walker doesn't understand how I can be getting better and seem to feel so much worse....I guess it is just b/c there isn't much cancer left to fight??!!! Works for me :)

Tumor Size

The tumor size is now less than 1/2 the original size. This is fantastic news as it is based on a PET/CT after only 3 treatments. It is still likely that I will have to have radiation, but not certain.