[Believe51]

UPDATE ON HIS WHOLE BRAIN AND PELVIS RADIATION: 12 down & 7 to go!!! Say it with me girls: 'Whole Brain Radiation', sounds worse than it is and his WBR & Pelvis Radiation is going better than we thought it would despite how it sounds. The Radiation Oncologist has spread out his radiation into 15 days, (late start due to a defective disc the hospital sent, waited for new one=4 days behind) to minimize side effects for my Love. The side effects he has experienced are nausea without vomiting, extreme fatigue (plus he cannot turn mind off at night long enough to sleep well), constipation/ loose stools, confusion, increased appetite (thank you Decadron!!) and it takes a while for his memory recall. I think the confusion and memory recall bothers him most because he has always been on top of his game and has a very high IQ.

We need this finished so he can get back onto a chemo treatment sooner than later and cannot do so during radiation. The radiation will end on August 3rd...yippee!! Chemo treatments will consist of Tykerb/Xeloda and he will remain on Tamoxifen. Maybe 4-5 weeks from now he will have the scans done to see where he stands, if needed he will get the gamma knife for those remaining spots. Then my friends, I am hoping, praying and begging (not to proud to beg!!) for the 'Miracle of Tykerb'. I like to think that this new 'Deadly Cocktail' consisting of Tykerb/Xeloda will work the magic we are searching for. And for my peeps who have responded nicely to it, thanks for the updates. We know cancer is unpredictable and everyone's cancer is like a snowflake, anything can happen, yet this combo has gifted so many of my friends here.

Whew..we, what a long week!! I am confident in the decisions we have made thus far and thank you girls for the inspiration you have given to help us to go on another hour, another day, another week. I have not been keeping in touch with you all as much as I normally do and I am sorry for that. Things are settling down finally and I promise to be a better friend (I owe numerous e-mail returns and phone calls and you know who you are!!).

On a lighter note:
Sheila (Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia): Better play pool soon because hubby gained 9 pounds in two weeks!!! LOL!! Yeahhhh!! Getting very worried about the 40 lb weight lose since September 2006=15 lbs lost in 3 weeks. Of course all the weight lost was muscle. And again, I love the new picture, all your best qualities shine through.

Kate: So glad you have got your game play in order and we are routing for you. Great Fighter My Love, you have certainly taught me many things I am using today. Remember this word Lovey: "AURA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AndiBB: Thanks for the wonderfully inspiring words of wisdom to us, they come into my 'memory recall' often. Cannot tell you how warm & fuzzy you make me feel. How could I ever say thanks???

Chrissy: Thanks for doing the walk for those who are affected with Breast Cancer and for those who will be affected with it. You are so kind and loving, so very giving. People think that you need to have big contributors to fund BC. NOT!!! It is the baby steps we all take to fund for the cure we are so desperate to find!! This year alone I have sold hundreds of dollars of AVON Breast Cancer items and I have a walk (actually 2 walks) in October.

MichelleH: You Are My Shining Star!!!

Lu Ann and all of our WBR girls: Thanks for the updates and information regarding the whole brain radiation thing!! Could have never made it by without you all.

BarbaraH: Thanks for all the kind offers you have made in support of my husband's Breast Cancer. Your posts cheer me so and your disposition on BC is a blessing to us.

Karen: Have not talked to you since you went on vacation. Kiss your daughter and send a hug from us please. Talk soon Love.

Joy: Your sweet personality has been passed on to so many of us here and wherever you go I am sure. So happy your scans were inspiring, for you and for us to see. What hope for everyone!!

Adriana Mangus: Oh Sweetheart, words could never even touch on how I feel about you, you too have changed my entire view on BC.

Ooow, man can I get going with the words!! I know I have left out a few of you girls because this post will not go through. Next posting I shall send my tributes. Please do not feel forgotten for we carry a special part of all of you in us each day. We cannot do this without ALL OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY HERE!!! You are more family to us than parts of our own families!!

WANNA HEAR MY FIRE....ready?......here goes:

Waiting For A Miracle...and commanding one soon!!!!>>Believe51
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9/7/06 husband dx @ 50yrs=Stage IV Inflammatory HER2+Breast Cancer mets to all bones
10/06 Taxotere=3 week cycles for 10 cycles; Herceptin weekly, Zometa monthly and daily Tamoxifen
4/12/07 stopped Taxotere, continue Herceptin, Zometa and Tamoxifen
5/18/07 Petscan= rapid cell activity appears no mets to organs, many Lytic Lesions(L4,Humeral Head,C2,& Disc Space)...Degenerative Changes, some bone repair progress!!
5/07 something stopped working, new chemo recipe is being discussed(maybe Tykerb/Xeloda)
6/01/07 Pleural Thoracentisis showed Pleural Effusions with no malignant cells!!
6/19/07 & 7/2/07 Second opinions on treatment thus far was good
6/25/07 MRI to skull= many Brain Mets..largest 5 lesions (2=5mm/2=4mm/1=9mm))
7/10/07 WBR & Radiation to pelvis(37.5Gray Units/15 days) & Nutrition Consult
has maintained great bloodwork results almost all along(Procrit & Neulasta rarely used)= Thanks to diet, supplements and all your prayers!! ALWAYS BELIEVE!!