Good news to share!

[Grace]

I've had lots of symptoms of brain mets for some weeks now and had an MRI of the brain in Friday, as well as a stress/echo test--one test in morning and one in afternoon. I haven't yet gotten official results from cardiologist yet, but doctor who ran the test said my EF looked good, they couldn't find the mitral valve prolapse which I was told I had a year ago (so that's good), my very small pericardial effusion (probably caused by herceptin) is very very small (so that's even better), and no apparent blockages.

Oncologist just called to say MRI is clean, except for some small vessel damage (which is from aging). My dizziness, I think, was from my BP going down, so I cut my dosage in half and am doing fine. Nausea, I think, is because my reflux disease is getting worse. But hooray, hooray, it wasn't brain mets.

And then, on Friday, we offered for a house in Maine (our alternate house) as the one we really wanted was stuck in legal issues. Then, just as I got off the telephone with realtor for alternate house, I received an email from realtor for preferred house that it's available and we can close asap. People in Maine are so nice (I'm remembering Sandy too). The second realtor was so understanding when I had to withdraw offer. I think I'll like it there very much.

So it's been a good day all around. I am also finished herceptin on August 9, so we can move to Maine (some ten hours from our place in New York) without having to travel back and forth. My husband Miguel is the most positive person in the world, and I'm such a cynic, but he kept telling me it would be ok, and (this is for you, Andi), I intend to take the positive road from now on. No more cynicism from me (well perhaps I'll give myself one day a month where I can be as cynical as I want).

Thank you all for listening. You are the only group of people who can possible share the sense of relief I had with that phone call. I know how good it makes me feel when I read one of your posts that a test has come back negative, and how much pain I feel when it's been positive.

I was watching "Hannah and Her Sisters" recently by Woody Allen, and the protagonist, who is thinking of suicide, goes to see a Marx Brothers movie and decides that whatever life has to offer (whether an afterlife or not) that the act of living itself is wonderful. And, of course, at the end, he gets the girl and all is well. And it's very very true.

[StephN]

Dear Grace -
Your post was a good boost for me as I face a new week. As you say, the news on this board can affect us, as we have a well of understanding for each other.
NO evidence of brain mets is a real weight lifter, which enabled you to take other action.
And the news on the preferred house is really excellent. Now you can settle in and have some peace and quiet to dive back in to the next inspector Cenni book.

BTW, I really enjoyed "The Last Enemy" and especially the fact that the story really TAKES you to that part of Italy with place details and Italian phrases tossed in here and there. Art history was one of my "minors" in college, so your story has some particular interest for me. Hope you are finding a way to get Cenni out of the small burg to which he has been relegated. And that some of the characters will resurface in the next books to get their just desserts in some interesting fashion! This book left me wanting more - so get busy! Ha, ha... http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Grace]

Thanks Steph,

Yes it was a weight, but with my usual diligence I began researching small vessel disease and I now have a new worry! But not that much of a worry. I really do plan to keep my resolution and stay positive.

And thanks for compliments on book. I plan to finish the second by the end of July--I've already written 180 pages, so Alex does get out of the burg (Foligno), back to Perugia, and although not in this book, but in one of them, Artemisia does get hers! Just haven't figured out how yet.

Thanks again.

[Adriana Mangus]

Dear Grace:

My husband, daughter and I visited about 4 years ago (we stayed in Rockport), and loved it. The people are very nice, it's a completely different life style from what we are use to here in California. We went to a couple of Hockey games in Portland (we're fanatics). Visited your hockey town as well right after 9/11. Great Rangers fans you got there.

Wish you the best to yo and your husband, and yes stop being a cynic!! Listen to your husband;sounds like mine, always caring and extremely positive.

I guess you are joining Stephen uh? :-)

[R.B.]

Grace

I am delighted you had two lots of good news.

RB

[tricia keegan]

Hi Grace, so glad you got good news on your scan and wish you lots of luck health and happiness in your new home:)

[AlaskaAngel]

Maine should be just what the doctor ordered, Grace, and hopefully the source of lots of "character" for future efforts. Glad you are getting good test results!

AlaskaAngel

[Mary Jo]

Hi Grace,

I, too, am delighted that things are going so well all the way around. What a wonderful feeling for you and how relieved you must be. Life is good, isn't it? Even when the not so good things come our way there is incredibly much to be thankful for.

The glass being 1/2 full or 1/2 empty.........................it's so much better when we can see things on a 1/2 full scale, isn't it?

I have joy in my heart for you........................

Mary Jo

[caya]

Grace, this is great news. So happy that you are okay.
My husband had to take me down to the ER about 6 weeks ago because I had a 6 day headache that was not going away, and the Tylenol 3's were not helping at all. I had finished my final Taxotere, was feeling pretty crappy all around, but that headache was there.
The ER doc happened to be a family friend, so we got great treatment, and he did a CT of my brain - it was perfect. Also gave me percosets, which helped immediately. The relief I felt when he told my CT was totally fine was immense - I burst into tears. I think it was a combination of the the stress of the dx, the hard chemo - 3 rounds of FEC, 3 rounds of Taxotere - you ladies here know it all.
I've had 2 infusions of Herceptin - felt pretty nauseous the first three weeks, much better after the 2nd one which was a week ago.
Good luck with your move.
all the best
Caya

[Grace]

Thank you all for your kindness. it means a great deal as I know that all my friends, although wonderful, really can't understand the relief. Caya, when I got off the telephone with my oncologist, I started to cry as well. I still have same symptoms, but now when I get a ping to the side of my head, I think "oh a ping." In my case it's never any actual discomfort from the minor symptoms that bothers me just the thought of what they might be. It's amazing, isn't it, what we can put up with so long as we know it's not life threatening. And what we all put up with knowing our lives are threatened. Life is wonderful, and I am glad we're all here. I hope we all make it through together and if you're passing through Columbia Falls, that you'll stop by.

[Belinda]

Wonderful news Grace! I haven't been here for a while - so glad to read you have the all-clear. Belindaxxx

[Believe51]

Yes My Dear Grace, how I needed to hear this news today. Actually any day is great. You have been in our prayers and heart & certainly warmly on our minds. Keep up the good work.

Also, my husband is back from many consults, one being Dana Farber. Although he has many 'salted' brain mets(covered with spots) we are thinking that we can use the whole brain radiation to get rid of most of them & let the Tykerb/Xeloda do the rest.(We have to sound positive, but I really do BELIEVE!!!!) Wish us luck on our new path!

Waiting For A Miracle..>Believe51

[MCS]

Grace,

a wonderful fall colors ahead for you up there.

MCS ( maria)

[Bev]

Glad is well on all fronts. Now my interest in your books is piqued because my ancestors hail from Perugia. BB

[Grace]

Bev,

Really from Perugia! How wonderful. It's rare that you meet people in the U.S. whose family comes from Umbria. I guess they liked it too much to leave home. My detective, Alessandro Cenni, is a commissario in the Perugia Questura, which is near the football stadium if you know Perugia. I hope you've been. It's a wonderful city, with a major university, and one of the great central streets in Italy. And there's a cafe there that has the most wonderful chocolate desserts ever, by name of Sandri. Name of book is: The Last Enemy, Grace Brophy, Soho Crime is the publisher.

And if you're interested Michael Dibdin, one of my favorite writers (just died unfortunately), set his first novel in Perugia, Rat King. But my favorite is Dead Lagoon set in Venice.