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Joan M · 11-17-2008, 05:20 PM

Brenda,

What? A year before the hair grows back! Is that what I have to look forward to? Me, Ms. Vanity Hair, whose going around with a schmatta on my head to hide the 6-inch stubble line along my hairline from the brain surgery because I refuse to cut bangs because I don't want bangs.

Great to hear your news about the tumors shrinking and the tumor markers going down. I noticed in your e-mail the other day where you pointed out the pattern in your markers. My markers (CA27-29 and CA15-3) have never been elevated either above the normal range, and I should go back and look for any pattern around the time of the lung and brain tumors.

Tomorrow I go for my mask fitting and alignment for the radiation which will start on Nov. 28 (I had better eat lightly on turkey day). And the rads onc suggested I try the rads without Decadron (he brought it up before I got a chance to ask him). He's going to give me a script for it if I need it. There will be five hypofractioned sessions. The machine, Trilogy, is a linear accelerator. I'm going to take another look at your post describing your five days of radiation.

I'm still trying to decide whether to add Tykerb, Xeloda? Decisions, decisions ...

Maryann, pretty funny about cancer hating the sound of laughter.

Joan

11-17-2008, 05:20 PM	#14
Joan M Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,851	Brenda, What? A year before the hair grows back! Is that what I have to look forward to? Me, Ms. Vanity Hair, whose going around with a schmatta on my head to hide the 6-inch stubble line along my hairline from the brain surgery because I refuse to cut bangs because I don't want bangs. Great to hear your news about the tumors shrinking and the tumor markers going down. I noticed in your e-mail the other day where you pointed out the pattern in your markers. My markers (CA27-29 and CA15-3) have never been elevated either above the normal range, and I should go back and look for any pattern around the time of the lung and brain tumors. Tomorrow I go for my mask fitting and alignment for the radiation which will start on Nov. 28 (I had better eat lightly on turkey day). And the rads onc suggested I try the rads without Decadron (he brought it up before I got a chance to ask him). He's going to give me a script for it if I need it. There will be five hypofractioned sessions. The machine, Trilogy, is a linear accelerator. I'm going to take another look at your post describing your five days of radiation. I'm still trying to decide whether to add Tykerb, Xeloda? Decisions, decisions ... Maryann, pretty funny about cancer hating the sound of laughter. Joan __________________ Diagnosed stage 2b in July 2003 (2.3 cm, HER2+, ER-/PR-, 7+ nodes). Treated with mastectomy (with immediate DIEP flap reconstruction), AC + T/Herceptin (off label). Cancer advanced to lung in Jan. 2007 (1 cm nodule). Started Herceptin every 3 weeks. Lung wedge resection April 2007. Cancer recurred in lung April 2008. RFA of lung in August 2008. 2nd annual brain MRI in Oct. 2008 discovered 2.6 cm cystic tumor in left frontal lobe. Craniotomy Oct. 2008 (ER-/PR-/HER2-) followed by targeted radiation (IMRT). Coughing up blood Feb. 2009. Thoractomy July 2009 to cut out fungal ball of common soil fungus (aspergillus) that grew in the RFA cavity (most likely inhaled while gardening). No cancer, only fungus. Removal of tiny melanoma from upper left arm, plus sentinel lymph node biopsy in Feb. 2016. Guardant Health liquid biopsy in Feb. 2016 showed mutations in 4 subtypes of TP53. Repeat of Guardant Health biopsy in Jana. 2021 showed 3 TP53 mutations, BRCA1 mutation and CHEK2 mutation. Invitae genetic testing showed negative for all of these. Living with MBC since 2007. Stopped Herceptin Hylecta (injection) treatment in March 2020. Recent 2023 annual CT of chest, abdomen and pelvis and annual brain MRI showed NED. Praying for NED forever!! Last edited by Joan M; 11-17-2008 at 05:24 PM..