some good news

[Joy]

Hi all, just wanted to let folks know that Navelbine appears to be working. I freaked out about the circulating tumor cell test result of 6 (5 or below is considered much better) when I began this tx and received a lot of support from people here about that. After 5 weeks on Navelbine (w/ herceptin) we repeated the circulating tumor cell test. The result was... 0...ta dah!!!! My liver enzymes (ALT/AST) had also begun to drop. Yesterday, I found out that my CA 27.29 went from 240 to 153 in a month and my ALT/AST are so close to normal. I also have to admit that I feel better than I did in many ways. I realize now that the liver tumors were causing me some discomfort-had a lot of denial there.

I've been reading more on here about herceptin side-effecty things and I'm wondering if just being on the stuff long term the way many of us have been makes things start to happen. I have ALWAYS been able to control my weight (grateful for that), but lately I've gained some in the middle and I KNOW I am not eating more than usual. I'm a vege-aholic, i don't like junk food, eat little meat, some cheese, blah, blah, blah. But my clothes are too tight in the waist now, I refuse to buy new ones. i have chronic sinus stuff and some of the digestive junk that people have mentioned.

I'm thinking that I am now resistant to herceptin anyway (maybe navelbine will spark the synergy). Going off of it and on to, say, Tykerb I guess will depend on how long I continue to improve. We are also not sure if I've lost hormonal pathways to treat-I hope not, but I know all of the cross-talk trickiness can happen. I'm excited to see all the good posts about rectifying resistances, though.

Anyway, I'm excited to have good news as this last year has been too much of a rollercoaster. I'm also excited to have hair-i look like an FBI agent, but I have hair! Eyebrows, too, and even better eyelashes than before-it's about time something came back improved! I also realize now how much taxol/carbo depressed me mentally, emotionally and physically. Navelbine has its stuff, but I am energetic enough (comparative value is a wonderful thing) to do more around the house. I'm back to teaching a parent/child class in my kids' school's early childhood program. Volunteering at school a bit more. Goofing off with my kids more. Helping friends out again feels so good after all they have done for me. I take my supplements more consistently. I started an awesome hypno/psychotherapy program. Getting better at meditating too. Saw Deepak Chopra in Denver this week and loved the lecture. His new book is Life After Death; the burden of proof. It so complemented the meditative/hypnotherapy work I've been doing and it all feels good. I just hope I can continue to think these things even when cancer stuff gets rough.

So more update than I planned on giving, but there it is. I am taking time everyday to hold ALL of us in a healing space. I root for everyone and have been saddened by recent losses and setbacks for people. My prayers are with everyone past and present.