The goo is not all gone.
But, it is a pale shadow of it's former self! Not smaller really, but so much less dense that it's hard to see unless you know where to look. (which I do, at this point!)
So, that means the Avastin is doing what we hoped...it's just not finished yet. The plan - though the goofy tumor board will probably recommend the craniotomy option again when they meet on Thursday - the plan that we will actually be implementing is to continue Avastin, and scan again in two months.
I am so fortunate, blessed even...that my surgeon is actually a pioneer in the use of non-surgical treatment of these sorts of brain "issues". He only came to Penn about 3 weeks before my brain met diagnosis. Coincidence? Or God taking really good care of me? I wonder...
Dr. Brem did caution me yesterday that often microscopic BC cells "hide" in the necrotic areas and sort of "get used to" the Avastin...then start to grow and cause new problems. I assured him that in that case...my Lapatnib would just step in and squash them!
He has pronounced me his "STAR PATIENT" and asked me record a video clip to include in the presentation he's giving this week to a group of medical and radiation oncologists. My case is apparently exactly what he's been trying to convince oncs to do.
Now, even though I am not happy about my piggy little face being captured on video...I agreed...because it struck me that if even one of those oncologists actually listens to what I say...and that spares one patient from unnecessarily harsh, or dangerous treatment...my pride just wasn't that important. (Besides, he promised NOT to post it online anywhere!)
In the clip, I asked the doctors in the audience to please try all the possible targeted treatment options before recommending the "nuclear options" like whole brain radiation, and craniotomy. In the clip, I told them, "What goes on in my brain, makes me who I am. I trust my doctors to protect that. There are worse things than being dead. Honestly, if I can't be me anymore...I don't want to be alive."
Now, on a lighter note...when I viewed the scan images...I found two very interesting things. I think they may explain my sense of humor...and why I seem to laugh an awful lot. I've circled them in red...so you could see them too! If you look closely, you'll see that both Mickey Mouse, and some smiling guy wearing sunglasses are hanging out in my brain. I sooo hope people in heaven can still check in on us...because this is just the sort of thing Chrisy would have cracked up over!
CTs tomorrow! Prayers welcome on that front too!
Thanks for checking in on me! You guys rock!
Denise
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1/11-needle biopsy
2/11-Lumpectomy/axillary node dissection - Stage 3c, ER/PR-14/17 nodes
3/11 - Post-op staph infection,cellulitis, lymphedema,seroma,ARRRGH!
4/12/11-A/C x 4, then T/H x 4, H only,Q3 weeks
8/26/11 finished Taxol!!!
10/7/11 mastectomy/DIEP recon
11/11 radiation x28
1/12/12 1st CANCER-VERSARY!
1/12 Low EF/Herceptin "Holiday" :(
2/12 EF up - Back on Herceptin, heart meds
4/2/1212 surgery to repair separated incision from DIEP recon
6/8/12 Return to work :)
6/17/12 Fall, shatter wrist,surgery to repair/insert plate :(
7/10/12 last Herceptin
7/23/12 Brain Mets %$&#! 3cm and 1cm
8/10/12 Gamma knife surgery, LOTS of steroids;start H/Tykerb
8/23/12 Back to work
12/20/12 Injure back-3 weeks in wheel chair
1/12/13 2nd CANCER-VERSARY!
1/14/13 herniate disk in back - surgery to repair
1/27/13 Radiation necrosis - edema in brain - back on steroids - but not back to work - off balance, poor cordination in right arm
5/3/13 Start Avastin to shrink necrosis
5/10/13 begin weaning steroids
6/18/13 Brain MRI - Avastin seems to be working!
6/20/13 quarterly CT - chest, abdomen, pelvis - All Clear!
7/5/13 finally off steroids!!
7/7/13 joined the ranks of the CHEMO NINJAS I am now Tekuto Ki Ariku cancer assassin!
7/13/13 Symptoms return - back on steroids
7/26/13 Back on Avastin - try again!
8/26/13 Not ready to return to classroom yet :( But I CAN walk without holding onto things! :)
9/9/13 Brain MRI - fingers crossed “ Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you up is for you, and you alone, to decide. ”– Cavett Robert
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