Update After Visit To Onc.

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

Hi everyone -

Hope everyone is well. I just returned from the Susan G. Komen 3-day in our area this week-end so have not had much time to read all of the post to see how everyone is doing. Hope to catch up this week-end.

Had and awesome experience again this year at the 3-day. Words can not explain the feeling that you walk away with.
I walked last year but this year due to the side effects I was having from the Xeloda, I could not commit to walking so I worked on the crew at the camp site. My group was on the Food Service crew and we had a blast.
Friday was extremely humid and hot and they had to evacuate the whole camp due to approaching severe weather that evening. They put us up on the 6th floor of a parking garage in downtown St. Petersburg. We all slept on concrete and arose at 3:30 a.m to go back to camp and start serving the walkers starting at 5 a.m. I am very experienced in setting up and taking down tents now, sleeping on concrete floors, getting a few hours of sleep, showering in a huge van, NOT flushing toilets, but at the end of the day - looking at the smiles on so many faces and hearing the thank you's from so many voices made it all so very worth it.

I had a blast and the most important part is that 5 million $$$ was raised Tampa. Hope to be able to repeat this again next year.


Just came from follow up visit with my onc after 3 cycles of Tykerb/Avastin. My tumor markers have gone down-hallelulla
CEA - from 14.5 to 9
27-29 - from 38 to 30

I was very nervous since I was not sure how I would respond to this combo but so far so good. I will have my 4th cycle this Friday. He did have to start me on a blood pressure med. since I have been experiencing higher counts since I began on the Avastin.

He also mentioned to me the approval of the new drug IXABEPILONE (IXEMPRA). We have another drug ladies. This is wonderful and that is why I am so happy that I was able to participate in the 3-day walk again this year.

Well I am falling asleep as I am typing so I had better head to bed.

Everyone stay strong & faithful - there is lots coming our way....