Verdict is: Good Bad and Ugly

[Sheila]

After 2 days of tests, scopes etc, the verdict is in. My hoarseness is due to a paralyzed vocal cord, which the CT confirmed. The paralyzed vocal cord and coughing is due to irritation of the nerve leading to the vocal cord, caused by the lymph nodes in my neck enlarging and pressing on the nerve....kinda like the hip bones connected to the knee bone, the knee bones connected......I have enlargement in the supraclavicular nodes, the mediastinal nodes, and a conglomeration of nodes in the aorticopulmonary window. This would be the bad. On the good side, the precarinal, subcarinal and hilar nodes have shrunk and show necrosis as have the left axillary nodes. This I guess would be the good. They also noted a 3mm cyst on my left hepatic lobe...to small to characterize.
The ugly is that I DO NOT qualify for the phase 3 trials of T-DM1, due to previous treatment with Xeloda. I am always a day late and a dollar short in the chemo world.
The new plan is Navelbine and Herceptin, every 2 weeks...she mentioned Doxil, but wasnt willing to forego the Herceptin and refused to give both together.
I will begin the new regime in 2 weeks, so just Herceptin again yesterday. The hope are that the nodes will shrink and my voice will return to normal...if all else fails, surgical intervention is an option. Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers....this has not come at a good time (as if there ever is a good time) with my Mom still having issues...she had 3 units of blood in the past 2 days...I feel as though I am being tested big time with all of this.
Tomorrow will be a much better day.
Thank you for always being there for me and everyone else!
By the way, I have an new friend on the pond behind my house...a egret comes to visit every day...such grace and beauty!