My current scan results...

[hutchibk]

CT - looks great. Nothing new. Yippee! The bone spot on the rt. iliac wing is still small and stable with no growth or progression of any kind.

PET - looks great. Nothing new. Yippee! The bone spot is consistent with the last two PETs.

Brain MRI - seeing what might be a new tiny spot in the left cerebellum.

I am meeting with the Rads Onc tomorrow afternoon to suss out if it is a new spot or maybe the awakening of one of my previous "punctates" from 2 years ago. Either way, we will be scheduling a quick zapping of the bugger, within the coming week to 10 days.

Once again, my CA15.3 TMs led us to early detection. They started to inch up about 9 weeks ago, it was almost time for 3 month scans but we didn't wait and went ahead and did them, and sure enough, we have a new visitor in the brain...

All in all, I can't complain. The plan is to stay on Tykerb/Herceptin and continue to monitor.

[Believe51]

Here is to the tumor markers that make you and Ed aware of where to go from 'now'. I am so happy that you are TM sensitive and that it allows you to be more proactive in this journey.

I send love and wishes that this time they are rising for something other than cancer. If it is not however, you have it all under control. I am so happy that you are scheduled for a consult to follow up. Here's a hug and a smile, I am sending continued prayers for seeing you stable.

And remember, Ed has a dire issue with the brain and body....if there is hope for him Honey I know that you shall prevail. Thanks for the update on Brenda, this means alot to me. Goodnight My Warrior.>>Believe51

[Mary Anne in TX]

I'm so glad you news was good, Brenda! I know how much work it is to stay on alert and ahead of the curve. Best wishes for a quick zap knocking that rascal into nowhere land! much love to ya from Rockport, ma

[Colleens_Husband]

Brenda:

It's good to hear you got mostly positive news from the scans. Sorry to hear about the brain punctate. You will be in our hearts and prayers and we hope that the zapper gets for good this time.

Brenda, I love your new avatar picture. It really paints a picture in one's mind. Care to share the circumstances of the photo?

Lee

[alicem]

I'm very happy for your good news Brenda.

[Ceesun]

Sounds very good and your onc is right on top of things--hey, keep up the great news!! Ceesun

[Shobha]

Hi Brenda,
I am so impressed with your
whole attitude. I just needed read something like this today to give me the ability to react a little less to every little change I notice in my body!

I so happy for your good Pet/CT scans! I am sure they will take care of the little burger soon.

hugs,
shobha

[fullofbeans]

Brenda , I am always impressed by your great attitude, I am glad about the CT&PET results.

Also I wanted to ask by how much did you C15.3 rise from to ?? Thank you

[Believe51]

Brenda, please do me a favor and let us know when you are getting zapped so I can keep sending you positive energy, I forgot to ask in the previous post.>>Believe51

[hutchibk]

Thanks all, and especially Marie~ but I don't want you spending any energy on me... I will be fine, and all of your positive energy needs to be reserved for Ed right now! And I am sending all of mine for you guys as well.

Fullofbeans - my TMs went up from 12 to 29 over 12 weeks (not 9 wks as I mentioned above)... which is still considered in normal range, but in my case it (so far) always indicates something little is a-brewin'...

Lee - the picture is one that my guy snapped of me with his (our) niece, Claire, along the San Antonio Riverwalk three summers ago. She is our little angel. Well, not so little these days - as she is now 11 1/2 yrs old and is about 5' 3" and wears a size 9 women's shoe!

[Believe51]

Brenda, I have plenty of myself to go around and feel so much better when I am able to 'walk with' my friends. Not to mention that I do not do reservations unless it is a restaurant (wink). Please let me be a part of your day, I really need to be with you then.>>Believe51

PS: Dana Farber with the big guy on June 24th....yeahaaa!! Dr Burstein!!!

[Bill]

Way to go, Brenda! Thanks for sharing the good news. Good luck with the zapping.

[ElaineM]

It sure pays to stay on top of things. It also pays to watch those tumor markers, which can indicate new activity. Good luck with the radiologist and the next activity you are planning together.

[chrisy]

Thanks for the update, good for you on the tight monitoring!

[Patb]

Ever Vigilant is a good thing and thank goodness we
can have tests that let us know and Drs. that will
do something about it. Best of luck and prayers
to you, you will again adjust your sail.
patb

[SoCalGal]

Yea! Good news on the good news.

Your attitude on the possible brain-grain inspired me to schedule my scans today at chemo. (You know we are on the same schedule?) So - on 6/27 I will have the Texas Tough Tykerb Chick approach to my brain em-are-eye. And I scheduled my PET-ct on 7/1.

Thanks for sharing your news and your attitude. xoxo Flori

[sassy]

Thanks for continuing to lead the way with your vigilance and great attitude! Hoping that the zapper does the trick and lends you ease.

[caya]

Brenda, congrats on the mostly good news.

Happy Zapping!!

all the best
caya

[Jackie07]

Brenda,

Thanks for the update. Take care.

[Jean]

Brenda,
Glad that most of your news is good and knowing you,
well you deomonstate how important it is to stay ever
on patrol and continue to monitor...so very proud of you!

Know that I keep you in prayer and all good wishes for a good big ZAP....
Sending a huge hug.
Jean

[karenann]

Been thinking about you... glad the news is good.

[hutchibk]

Thanks all - and OK, Marie, if you insist...

My rads onc and I looked at the MRI today (and compared it to the other ones), and it appears to be a new one. It is about 3mm and poorly enhanced, which he said means it is not very active and is also slow growing. The 5 spots that we zapped with IMRT last Sept are gone, baby, gone.

I had my immobilization mask made today and will start the zapping proceedings on Tuesday (June 23) afternoon. I will go for 5 appts (Tue, Wed, Thu and then Mon, Tue) of IMRT and each visit will take about 10 minutes.

Isn't technology amazing?

[Believe51]

You are awesome, mask already 'eh? Glad you surrendered in time, you are lucky I did not have to use my bb gun (wink). I find it so inspiring watching you be proactive and assertive in the monitoring and maintaining of your brain.

Remembering the date to send those vibes will not be hard because I will already be flowing with them. The 23rd is my uhhumm'th birthday and I am blessed enough to share another slamming birthday with the Mighty Oak. Wonderful things always happen on my birthday so I am confident this year will be no different! Here's to us Brenda, magical things are happening for us on the 23rd!!!>>Believe51

[hutchibk]

And I will send BIG birthday energy your way that day, as well as brain bugger zapping energy to ED all next week... Hope, love and prayers to you all next week. I promise, I don't need it - it's all about you guys next week. It will be a harmonic convergence!

[harrie]

Brenda.....GREAT news with the CT and PET!!! YEA!!!!
Hope to get rid of the bugger in your brain!
Good wishes to you.....HarrieCanarie...

[Chelee]

Hi Brenda, So you have good news, and some more almost good news. Meaning its not very active and slow growing.

That means its a great time to get in there and zap that thing to smithereens...send it to the same place the last 5 went. Sending lots of positive energy your way. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers next week...hang in there.

Chelee

[schoolteacher]

Brenda,

Glad to hear the good news about your CT-PET scan. You are one brave warrior. You rock!

Amelia

[hermiracles]

Go Brenda! http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon12.gif
Blessings
Hermiracles

[charlotte]

Great news. I also love the picture.
Charlotte

[Joan M]

Brenda,

Good luck on Tuesday.

Joan

[Sheila]

Brenda
I'll be thinking about you Tuesday...that little spot doesnt stand a chance in your brain.....this time, take it easy for a bit while you go through this...OK? We love ya girl!!!! hey, and by the way, i am gettin Brenda hair...oh, but mine is much grayer...like really gray!

[hutchibk]

Thanks again all - it's just one itty bitty spot and it doesn't stand a chance. Now up against my brain, even though it is slow growing and not very enhanced is probably a little more intelligent, but that's another story.

Sheila - your hair looks beautiful. I would rather mine have been more white/silver than the rat fur brown that I ended up with. I ended up having it artificially enhanced last month and I really like it, but would give anything for silvery white.

[Rich66]

All this talk of zapping makes me think of those bug zappers. Wouldn't it be cool if you could actually hear the tumors being zapped? You know..that "Got it!" feeling. Could make for a very popular, albeit niche, video game.

[hutchibk]

I like that, Rich! You could be onto the new generation of video game ideas - tumor zapping. Now that's my kind of gratuitous violence...

[Believe51]

Brenda, remember I will be sending copious amounts of positive thoughts for you as you begin your treatment tomorrow. I am again expressing my pride in you for being so proactive on your journey. I am so happy to have such a terrific inspiration in my life. You go girl!!>>Believe51

[WomanofSteel]

Brenda, a little late, but I am ever so happy to hear your good news!