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Old 04-22-2010, 12:03 AM   #1
GingerBear
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Join Date: Apr 2010
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When to be worried?

Hello,

Yesterday we had the monthly Oncologist visit, after the normal 2 hours of waiting because of the backlog of appointments we had our appointment.

The first thing we were told that the drop in tumor markers had rose again by 20, ca 15-3 is now at 126. We were then told that we had some better news that the ALP reading was down to 112... indicating that the bones & liver function was better and that the chemo was infact doing something.

As my Mum never asks questions... I asked does the tumor count matter? She said not unless a continual trend in rising or a massive jump, at the moment the reading show it is bobbing up and down around the 120 mark which suggests the chemo is controlling it and the herceptin is doing its job. When I asked this she immediately suggested to my Mum weekly Taxol IV if she'd like and Mum said if the Navelbine is working... keep me on that for the 4-6 cycle duration as we're only on cycle 3 at the moment.

As she has liver, bone & lung mets i'm worried, it may well be fighting off the liver and bone but the lungs haven't changed... I understand no cure exists but why isn't it getting rid of the lung nodules?

Bit worried as Mum has been given an increased dose of Navelbine now, she was very sick last night... but that could have been because she had pineapple before?

Should we take this as positive news or not?
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Old 04-25-2010, 06:03 PM   #2
Jackie07
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Location: "Love never fails."
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Re: When to be worried?

I'd say 'Yes', it's a positive news.

When things are not changing much, especially not in the 'worse' direction, it is considered a positive news. Over time, there might be more clear signs of tumor shrinkage. Think of it this way, had the chemo not having any effect, the tumor would have grown bigger... The fact that there's no change shows that the chemo has stopped the cancer cells from proliferating. And that is good news.
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NICU 4.4 LB
Erythema Nodosum 85
Life-long Central Neurocytoma 4x5x6.5 cm 23 hrs 62090 semi-coma 10 d PT OT ST 30 d
3 Infertility tmts 99 > 3 u. fibroids > Pills
CN 3 GKRS 52301
IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
Recc IIB 2.5 cm Bi-L Mast 61407 2/9 nds PET
6 TCH Cellulitis - Lymphedema - compression sleeve & glove
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Colonoscopy 313
BRCA1 V1247I
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GI - > yogurt
hysterectomy/oophorectomy 011410
Exemestane 25 mg tab 102912 ~ 101016 stopped due to r. hip/l.thigh pain after long walk
DEXA 1/13
1-2016 lesions in liver largest 9mm & 1.3 cm onco. says not cancer.
3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
10-10 Stopped Exemestane due to r. hip/l.thigh pain OKed by Onco 11-08-2016
7-23-2018 9 mm groundglass nodule within the right lower lobe with indolent behavior. Due to possible adenocarcinoma, Recommend annual surveilence.
7-10-2019 CT to check lung nodule.
1-10-2020 8mm stable nodule on R Lung, two 6mm new ones on L Lung, a possible lymph node involvement in inter fissule.
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