Update #2 on Please advise, time is running out
 

Thanks to all of you who answered my post, gave me such wonderful encouragement, and prayed for Pat. Last week we were sure that she was in her final days. Family came to say goodbye and I began to make necessary plans. All of you told me not to give up and that a miracle was possible.WELL, YOU WERE RIGHT. She agreed to begin herceptin and doxorubicin. Almost immediately she began to respond. Her right arm decreased in size, ( Tumors are blocking her lymph system),her breathing eased and the epidermal rash across her scar and chest began to change color and lighten.Today she finally was able to walk in the hall to the nurse station and they are considering allowing her to go home on Tuesday. This is truly a miracle.

I have to say that she still seems aliitle depressed. Someone in an earlier post mentioned that fighting this disease can be such an emotional and physical roller coaster ride. I am trying to just be here for her.

Someone else mentioned saving the " big guns" for later. What drugs are considered the big guns and does anyone know anything about Doxorubicin?

Again thank you all for being such an inspiration to me.
Sincerely,
Donna, in Birmingham, Alabama

Pat Bailey 55 yo
2001 DX DCIS, mastectomy & reconn
2003 dx mets to lungs, double thoracotomy for bx, herceptin, navelbene,carbpl,
2005chest wall reoccurrance, rads, repeat herceptin, navelbene,carbopl
2006more mets to chest wall, axillary and rt neck lymph system, Taxotere, herceptin
x 2 treatments, inflammtion to lungs,pneumonia, stop taxotere , rads
2007disease progression to small intestine, rt. axilla, lungs,epirub,5FU,cytoxan x 2 tx
disease halted but counts so low and so weak that chemo stopped.
July2007 disease progression, given 3 weeks to live. Began herceptin, doxorubicin
2 weeks later ready to leave hopitaland ambulatory with assistance. Story to be continued

Gotta love those miracles! Smile, someone needs to smile! She may be fearing that it's just a short postponement and can't yet see the joy! the ups and downs are extremely depressing! So pleased and will continue to pray! ma

Wonderful news for Pat. Expect a miracle and receive a miracle. I will pray for Pat and all who are connected to her. I am so glad to hear this. Just another reason to know that God is good.

Linda
S. Mississippi

Donna,

I'm elated to hear that Pat is doing better. Doxorubicin is Adriamycin. I had 4 rounds of Adriamycin when I was first diagnosed and had it neo-adjunctly (before surgery) to shrink my large tumor. My neo-adjunct chemo did it's job -- it shrunk my tumor to almost nothing. On this combo make sure that she gets frequent MUGAs or echocardiogrqams as it's hard on the heart. I'm praying that this combo will work for her. MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

As for her depression - that's quite normal. I think that anyone who has cancer suffers from depression, some worse than others. You are doing a great job as her caregiver. Just be there for her, encourage her, and give her a shoulder to cry on.

Donna and Pat,

So happy for you both. It will be wonderful if she can go home, and at home the depression may lift. Or perhaps she can take anti-depressants. I believe lots of women on this board do.

Really, really happy for you both.

I got Dox/Adria my first round through chemo in 2004, with Taxotere and Cytoxan. It is also called BIG RED. In my book it is considered one of the Big Guns. I hope that the doc keeps a good watch on her heart with the combo of Adria and Herceptin, as both can be pretty hard on the heart, but not everyone has problems. Other than that, I am thrilled to hear that she is having such a speedy reaction to it!! I pray for you both that this lasts. Also, regarding her depression, being as sick as she has the last couple of weeks, it is no surprise that she would be depressed... accepting the inevitable and then deciding to agree to a last ditch effort that you are afraid to bank all your hopes on. I have been through that scenario a time or two, although I have never been as sick as it sounds like Pat was... all of my recurrances have been detected very early and have been very manageable. But I think all of us here know that depression and fear. I would ask her and her doc if an anti-depressant would be prudent at this time. If her depression takes hold, she may not have the fortitude necessary to see this new treatment through.

So glad to hear she is responding. Best wishes and I will continue to keep her in my prayers.

What wonderful news!!

Karen

Yeah! Good news is good for all of us. AC and H together can be rough on the heart. Time will eventually heal some of the depression. In the meantime meds like Zoloft help take the edge off. Ac is one of the big guns, but they're are more. Wow. So glad things turned around. Bev

Big guns?
 

hi Donna,
I, too, love to hear those miracle stories - and completely understand how you can hear good news and yet feel depressed. I've been there myself and it is very hard. It could very well be that Pat will walk on out of that hospital soon and keep going for a VERY LONG TIME! Good for her!

From her profile, I'd say there's already been some pretty heavy artillery in her arsenal. What a fighter. You're a good friend, Pat is lucky to have you.