Message from Kathy S. in Tokyo

Yorkiegirl · 04-30-2009, 06:13 PM

I am going to copy and paste a post that Kathy sent to another group I'm on. She seems to be doing really well.
Vicki
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kathy wrote on 4-28-2009

I had an exciting few days earlier this month when I suddenly needed to
check in to the hospital and deal with more of the same cancer I've been dealing
with for 4 and a half years now decided to take a trip north. It was so sudden
that I had to call my neighborhood British friend to get a communication link with
family and Japanese neighbors going because I couldn't reach anyone on cell phones etc. and I was worried they might not understand the note I'd tried to write. The friend jumped right in and contacted the people I needed and
I was able to focus on getting to my primary care place and place my head in their hands knowing that things were OK on the home front.

She went a little overboard and contacted many more people than I expected (an online list of other foreign wives here in Japan some of whom I've met, others who are cyber friends as well as our local chapter of foreign friends) and proceded to get inundated with messages and questions. She's new to computers and the internet and I felt a little bad about overwhelming her so I was glad when another friend of mine decided to give her a break and set up a Yahoo group to make sure that I had everything I needed in the hospital and that my family was OK too. I'm still working on calming the British friend down though several weeks later - I tend to just do stuff on my own most of the time to keep things simple. She calls 5 and 6 times a day to ask if I'm resting (trying my cell if I don't answer or am already talking on the house phone).

Anyway, I ended up with all sorts of help and encouragement and two weeks in the hospital. resting and getting the biggest tumor (6cm from top back right) removed surgically in a 7hour operation. I'm home now and will go in on Friday for Gamma knife surgery for the remaining met or mets (the gamma knife guru says he has better resolution and that if he finds anything the Cancer Center missed, he'll get it all.)

Next step - MRI in 2 weeks to confirm post gamma knife status, start AC chemo (adriamycin cyclophosphamide) to blast away at lung mets. Still hoping for Tykerb soon. Now I have a bigger team of doctors looking at everything.
It was such a relief to get this taken care of quickly and be home with my family again and feeling fine.

The hospital food wasn't so great so I lost a few of the extra pounds I'd pack on so I feel pretty good might now, healthy as a horse other than a little cancer (and my dad's a vet...)

Time to get some of these kids to bed.

Best to all,
Kathy S. in Tokyo

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Believe51 · 04-30-2009, 08:12 PM

Thanks Vicki, I appreciate you keeping us posted about our Sweet Friend. She has been in my thoughts and I feel so much better knowing how great she is recovering and hearing that spirit in her voice.>>Believe51

ElaineM · 04-30-2009, 09:35 PM

Thanks for posting the message from Kathy. It is always good to hear how she is doing. I am glad things seem to be better for her and things are looking good for the future. She is in my thoughts alot.

schoolteacher · 05-01-2009, 04:49 AM

Vickie,

Thank you for letting us know about how Kathy is doing. I will be praying for her.

Amelia

juanita · 05-01-2009, 03:40 PM

thanks for keeping us updated!

Kathy S in Tokyo · 05-15-2009, 06:24 AM

I had my first post surgery appointment today and

1. The heart scan showed that my heart is in excellent condition and
2. the blood work showed no problems so after consulting with my breast and lung
oncologist,
3. I got the AOK to start the new chemo (OLD OLD OLD stuff, adriamycin/cytotoxan polka, 1 week on, 2 weeks off oom pa pa, oom pa pa) regime today.
4. I turned in my chemo order in at the 3rd floor outpatient treatment room to
give them time to prepare my cocktails and
5. then I got a chest X-ray as a baseline pre-chemo image we can use to compare
after a few treatments to see if the chemo is kickin' butt or not.
6. Then I headed to the neurosurgeon and we talked about decreasing the steroids
I've been on. I'll still need some post chemo but not as much. Hopefully this
will keep the appetite down a bit. I've been hungry all day every day on these
pills.
7. By the time I finished with my head check, my drugs were ready and I sat down
for a series of small bottles of IV drips.
8. Local friend Jill arrived halfway through and we (she more than I) worked on a crossword
puzzle until all of the bottles were empty.
9. We paid the bill, went out to fill my prescriptions and headed out for a late
lunch. The hygeine at the restaraunt was lacking so we will not
return...fortunately I have anti-nausea meds in my veins but I hope ill is OK.
10. Thanks for the company and the escort back home Jill.

I have some periphoral vision trouble in my left eye which already seems to be improving (thankfully) and have been enjoying hikes with the kids (Mothers' day, 5 miles!) and relaxing at home with the cat while the kids are in school.

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers that sustained me through the craniotomy and beyond.

Hugs,

WomanofSteel · 05-15-2009, 08:36 AM

Kathy, glad you are back on the right track and that all is going well. Hopefully this treatment will eat up whatever may be left of that nasty cancer. I am glad you are enjoying time with your kids and friends. Just be careful not to overdue it. Stay well!

caya · 05-15-2009, 09:56 AM

Good luck Kathy with this new (old) treatment. Sounds like you have all bases covered, and hopefully the cancer will be kicked out of the park.

all the best
caya

Believe51 · 05-15-2009, 09:37 PM

Kathy, I am so excited to hear from you, you sound so great!! What an ordeal you have been through and what a treat to rejoice together. I am so truely happy for you My Friend. I love you so much.>>Believe51

ElaineM · 05-16-2009, 07:24 AM

So happy Kathy is bouncing back !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joan M · 05-16-2009, 04:02 PM

Kathy,

I'm glad you're craniotomy and radiation are over. I can relate to that, and it's a relief when they're finished.

I'm sending prayers your way for good results with the AC.

Hugs,

Joan

Believe51 · 05-18-2009, 11:11 PM

Kathy, just reflecting tonight on how very happy I am to hear you are on the mend. I am so excited for you and for us as we all watch our Kathy claim back the normalcy she deserves.>>Believe51

juanita · 05-19-2009, 03:27 PM

glad to hear that things are healing! prayers that things go good here on out!

Rich66 · 05-22-2009, 08:15 AM

Something available in Japan that could be helpful:
TS-1 in patients with capecitabine-resistant breast cancer.

Sub-category: Metastatic Breast Cancer
Category: Breast Cancer--Metastatic Breast Cancer
Meeting: 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting

Citation: J Clin Oncol 27:15s, 2009 (suppl; abstr 1103)
Abstract No: 1103

Attend this session at the ASCO Annual Meeting!
Session: Breast Cancer - Metastatic
Type: General Poster Session
Time: Monday June 1, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Location: Level 2, West Hall C

Personalize your Annual Meeting experience with a suggested or customized itinerary!

Author(s): D. Yamamoto, H. Yoshida, S. Iwase, H. Odagiri, K. Kitamura; Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan; Tokyo University, Palliative Care, Tokyo, Japan; Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan; Kyusyu Tyuou Hospital, Hukuoka, Japan

Abstract:
Background: TS-1 is a novel oral anticancer drug, composed of tegafur, gimestat and otastat potassium in a molar ratio of 1:0.4:1, based on the biochemical modulation of 5-Fuorouracil. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of TS-1 in patients with capecitabine-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods: Forty patients with MBC who failed capecitabine-based chemotherapy, received TS-1 (100 mg/m2) at four centers. Resistance to capecitabine was defined as either progression of disease during treatment, failure to achieve regression of disease after at least four courses, or rapid recurrence after completion of therapy. Results: From January 2006 to May 2008, 40 pts were enrolled. Baseline characteristics of the pts were: median age 50 years (range 34-78), median ECOG PS 0 (range 0-2), and adequate bone marrow, renal, and hepatic functions. Median number of metastatic sites was 2 (range 1-5). The pts were evaluable for response and toxicity. Ten pts (25 %) achieved a partial response, 12 patients (30 %) patients had stable disease, and 18 (45 %) progressive disease. The median time to disease progression was 26.6 weeks. The most treatment-related adverse events were grade 1/2 in intensity. 7 pts experienced serious TS-1- related gastrointestinal disorder requiring dose modifications in 3 pts and treatment discontinuation in 4 pt. Further, interestingly, 6 of the 40 patients (15.0%) who received TS-1 did hand-foot syndrome (HFS), although 20 of the 40 patients (50.0%) who had received capecitabine, developed HFS. Conclusions: This study confirms that TS-1 achieves a high tumor control rate in pretreated MBC pts and is active in patients with capecitabine-resistant breast cancer. Response rates were comparable to or better than those seen with other therapies for patients with capecitabine-resistant MBC. TS-1 should be considered the reference treatment in this setting based on consistently high efficacy and good tolerability.

Abstract Disclosures
Faculty and Discussant Disclosures
Annual Meeting Planning Committee Disclosures
2009 Annual Meeting Proceedings Part I Errata