Chemo Brain on "Health Talk"
Hi everyone -
And HAPPY (almost) THANKSGIVING! I know I sure have a lot to give "thanks" for this year. Such as just getting through with NO more brain mets, etc.
If you have not accessed the "Health Talk" web site, they do have lots of programs archived as well as upcoming that deal with problems common to cancer patients and survivors.
This is a great program as MY chemo brain lasted a long time and was certainly a real physiological problem.
Here is a link to an upcoming webcast that you can access into live as it is happening:
http://www.healthtalk.com/cancer/pro..._671/index.cfm
And a little intro:
<CENTER> Mark Your Calendar:
Tuesday, December 19, 2006</CENTER>
<CENTER> Chemo Brain</CENTER>
Until recently, chemotherapy side effects like memory loss and difficulty concentrating have been dismissed as figments of the imagination. But newer research confirms what cancer patients have known all along - there is truth to these symptoms - and better yet, strategies that seem to help.
Tune in to our live show on December 19 to find out what researchers know for sure about chemo brain and get expert suggestions for coping with these cognitive difficulties that can make everyday living difficult. And, as always, you'll get a chance to ask the experts your questions.
I tried to paste in the email I got, but it would not post here as I was getting a message of too many characters. It was not that long, so I don't know why it would not post.
__________________
"When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times, and to the latest." H.D. Thoreau
Live in the moment.
MY STORY SO FAR ~~~~
Found suspicious lump 9/2000
Lumpectomy, then node dissection and port placement
Stage IIB, 8 pos nodes of 18, Grade 3, ER & PR -
Adriamycin 12 weekly, taxotere 4 rounds
36 rads - very little burning
3 mos after rads liver full of tumors, Stage IV Jan 2002, one spot on sternum
Weekly Taxol, Navelbine, Herceptin for 27 rounds to NED!
2003 & 2004 no active disease - 3 weekly Herceptin + Zometa
Jan 2005 two mets to brain - Gamma Knife on Jan 18
All clear until treated cerebellum spot showing activity on Jan 2006 brain MRI & brain PET
Brain surgery on Feb 9, 2006 - no cancer, 100% radiation necrosis - tumor was still dying
Continue as NED while on Herceptin & quarterly Zometa
Fall-2006 - off Zometa - watching one small brain spot (scar?)
2007 - spot/scar in brain stable - finished anticoagulation therapy for clot along my port-a-catheter - 3 angioplasties to unblock vena cava
2008 - Brain and body still NED! Port removed and scans in Dec.
Dec 2008 - stop Herceptin - Vaccine Trial at U of W begun in Oct. of 2011
STILL NED everywhere in Feb 2014 - on wing & prayer
7/14 - Started twice yearly Zometa for my bones
Jan. 2015 checkup still shows NED
2015 Neuropathy in feet - otherwise all OK - still NED.
Same news for 2016 and all of 2017.
Nov of 2017 - had small skin cancer removed from my face. Will have Zometa end of Jan. 2018.
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