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Old 11-03-2015, 11:25 AM   #29
Andrea Barnett Budin
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: LAND OF YES! w/home in Boca Raton, Florida Orig from L.I., N.Y. Ever hovering IN THE NOW...
Posts: 1,904
Re: The power of words

Liver enzymes are included in: BUN, TOTAL PROTEIN, ALBUMIN, ALK. PHOS. ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), TOTAL BILIRUBIN.

I go line by line and check the nornal range for each. If I am just a little high or just a little low, I check my last blood work and compare.

I've discovered that my BUN is always slightly high. It's my norm. All my other #s tend to be pretty much the same within the normal range. If I note a variation I question it. Draw the docs attention to it next time we meet.

The reference range is great. They also tag H or L beside #s that are out of normal range, indicating high or low, to view at a glance.

Long ago, they didn't provide the reference range at the lab my doc used but nowadays, they are there.

I ask questions. I google. I compare the last blood work and the one before that and so on.

My thyroid #s are always on the low side but within normal range. Very low yet normal. One endocrinologist wanted to do more tests, ultrasound and biopsy. She looked panicky. Acted overly concerned.

I calmed her. I said, if you check those indicators through the yrs, I am always right there. It's my norm. I left that endocrinologist and found another.

Once they know you've had cancer, the rest of your life, every little thing is questioned and with alarm. I try to remain the calm one.

I DO NOT HAVE CANCER, I say slow and steady and with a smile. They stare at me. I don't care.

NO MORE CANCER.

Yup. I'm a crazy lady. ))
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Andi BB
'95 post-meno dx Invasive LOBULAR w/9cm tumor! YIKES + 2/21 nodes. Clear mammo 10 mnths earlier. Mastec/tram flap reconst/PORT/8 mnths chemo (4Adria/8CMF). Borderline ER/PR. Tamoxifen 2 yrs. Felt BLESSED. I could walk and talk, feed and bathe myself! I KNEW I would survive...

'98 -- multiple mets to liver. HER2+ 80%. ER/PR- Raging, highly aggressive tumors spreading fast. New PORT. 9 mnths Taxotere Fought fire w/fire! Pronounced in cautious remission 5/99. Taxotere weekly for 6 wks, 2 wks off -- for 9 mnths. TALK ABOUT GRUELING! (I believe they've altered that protocol since those days -- sure hope so!!)
+ good old Vit H wkly for 1st 3 yrs, then triple dosage ev 3 wks for 7 yrs more... The "easy" chemo, right?! Not a walk in the park, but not a freight train coming at 'ya either...

Added Herceptin Nov '98 (6 wks after FDA fast-tracked it for met bc). Stayed w/Vit H till July '08! Now I AM FREE! Humbly and eternally grateful for this life-saving drug! NED since '99 and planning on keeping it that way. To hell w/poor prognosis and nasty stats! STOPPED VIT H JULY '08...! REMAIN STABLE... Eternally grateful...Yes is a world & in this world of yes live (skillfully curled) all worlds ... (e e cummings) EVERY DAY I BEAT MY PREVIOUS RECORD FOR # OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS I'VE STAYED ALIVE. Smile KNOWING you too can be a miracle. Up to me and God now...
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