Do not pay attention
Dear Joy: I hear you; most of us do not want to be bother with "Numbers" anymore. This is just from my perspective and my oncologist; Numbers do not matter as much as your energy level, and most importantly "how you feel"
This is me. I don't know that it will help you, but let me try.
No more CT scans, (except the yearly BRAIN MRI),
No more asking for the "number"
I simply go to my doctor, which I adore, I really do, -he's the coolest - everytime he comes into the examination room, he asks the same question: How are you doing Adriana? I always respond. Great!!! Then he would tell me the number which _I swear to God_ I pay no attention anymore! And that's the end of it.
This last time (around February), the tumor marker went up to 67 and I couldn't sleep, eat, nothing; was consummed day and night with the stupid number, so I decided to let my onc. do the "dance"
As long as am in agreement with wich treatment to follow, I nave no problem with it.
It's just too much Joy, I cannot do it - no more "numbers"..
Everything is in my head, that's what I keep telling myself. Pay no attention, but be good to your body and "listen" to your symptoms.
Good Bless You. Hang in there.
__________________
1994 - rt brst, .lump, underarm node dissection,chemo+rad 1.2 cms, Grade 3.
28 nodes neg
Er,Pr, Positive HER2 status unknown
2003- Recur to rt lung.July 16 ( B-Day!)
Her2+++ Er,Pr, Negative
2003 - Aug04--Navelbine + Herceptin
2004- 2007--NED - Herceptin, only
2007 Feb-April Xeloda added to hereceptin
2007-May Back on Navelbine+Herceptin
2008-Feb-Mar 15 Ses Rad to Rt. Lung
2008- Oc 17 Add Tykerb to Herceptin
2009- June-- Discont Tykerb
2009 July 7--Current Taxol + Herceptin
2009 Dec--Discontinued treatment due to progression. Looking into cyberknife.
2010-Aug Accepted to TDM1, no SE, except liver count went up.
2010-2011 September got kicked out of the trial, due to a small spot found on lung.
2011- 2012 September thru early 2013 on Herceptin
2013- March Bone density shows small spot on 5th rib.
2013 - April 4th appt with onc. will post after discussing course of treatment.
2013-March-April Cyber knife to brain and radiation to rib. Chest --base line before chemo-CT-Scan stable for lung issue. CA2729 Normal.
2013 April Herceptin- TDMI
2013 Sept Herceptin + Perjeta . CA2729 within normal range. Brain and Pet scans October 31st. will post results.
2013 October Brain MRI- mixed response. Will see Onc/rad on Halloween.
2013 October/November Brain-MRI nothing new. Repeat MRI next year in May.
2013 December Continue Herceptin and Perjeta. Stable at the moment.
2014 February Brain MRI -clear!
2014 January Added Taxotere to Perjeta+Herceptin.
2014 March Stopped chemo-chest ct-scan next.
2014- March Scans shows tumor's larger, CA2729 higher. Discontinue Herceptin.
2014 April Perjeta+ Halaven
2014 April CA2729 went down 60 points after one cycle. Cough does not want to go away.
2014 June Continue on Perjeta + Halaven-- no more cough. Stable
2014 June Back on Herceptin + abraxane
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