[conomyself]

Hello everyone,

I went for treatment 5 of 6 today of my first line chemo treatment. I had a CT scan done last week, and I reviewed the results with the onc. The spinal met looked to the radiologist like it was healing. The lung mets went from quarter-size to tiny.

I knew I was making progress because some of it was palpable -- in the breast, lymph nodes, and liver size.

About the liver...I did not look at my initial CT scan, because I thought it was of no benefit at the time for me to see it. But today the onc said the progress was dramatically better, and I wanted to see how much, so I took a peek.

I'll just say that I am glad that I did not look at it before because I might have been convinced I was a goner. It looked like there was as much cancer as there was liver, or maybe more. Now it's down to a few (relatively) little spots containing necrosis/fluid with no liver enlargement. It's definitely empowering to know how much progress I have made, so I'm glad I looked.

Early on, I asked the onc if I had a tumor marker and he said he had tested it but didn't see it on my chart, but I had one they could use to assist with tracking my progress. I now suspect maybe he didn't want to tell me yet because I told him prior that I wanted only hopeful and positive feedback and nothing that might scare me.

Well, since I'm more brave now with my progress I also looked at my CA 15-3 lab results: 9/4/12 >3000 (!!); 9/21 840; 10/5 321; 10/16 161.

All I can say is wow, and that the progress is energizing!

Thanks!

Love,

Rachael