|
After 11+ Years My Port is Pooped Out & Update
Hello Everyone,
Went in for my Taxotere yesterday, and they were not able to get a blood return from my port. I knew this day was coming, because my port has been difficult to get a blood return for the last few years. Yesterday was different though, in that the nurse said it felt very mushy when the needle went in, and when she de-accessed it, saline was leaking from my chest.
So, after numerous attempts, they were able to get an IV started so I could still get my treatment. Boy, but you should see my poor arm today!
Anyway, I'm hoping to get a new port placed before my treatment next week, but am a little bit nervous about the new "power port" that the doctor wants me to have. Was doing a little reading up on them, and it seems some have had problems with them. My old one has served me well, despite being a bit finicky the last few years, and well......I was rather attached to the darned thing!
Also have good news to report.....
My tumor markers have continued to come down on the Taxotere and Herceptin.
The Her2 Serum is now in the normal range @ 9.2, and my CA15-3 is almost back in the normal range @ 35.6.
I have an MRI scheduled for next week to take a look at my liver. Hoping to see much improvement over the extensive mets they saw in November.
Blue Shield has denied coverage for the Perjeta, so looks like I may get it through Genentech which would be great, cause I'd really like to be done with the Tax-O Tears! I miss my hair, eyelashes, and energy!
At least we've got this cancer on the run, or so it seems, so keep your fingers crossed for me.
Kim
__________________
Diag. Feb 1997 4.5cm IDC <10%ER+, PR-. 5 out of 36 nodes +. Mastectomy followed by 3 rounds Adriamycin/Cytoxin.
5/1997 Hi Dose Chemo w/ Stem cell rescue. Spent 4 weeks in isolation ward. Then 6 weeks radiation.
9/2001 widespread mets to liver. 8 mos Taxotere/Herceptin brought me almost to NED. Stop Taxotere & add Femara .
11/2002 liver resection to remove spot that turned out to be necrosis. Officially NED!
7/2003 Tumor markers rising add Xeloda Disastrous reaction, 8 days hospital, but tumor markers came back to normal!
June -Dec 2004 UW Vaccine Trial.
7/2005 MRI single 11mm brain met
8/2005 Gamma Knife.
Brain MRI @3 months NED!
2006-2011 brain/body still NED
8/04/11 Taking Herceptin break, will monitor with tumor markers.
6/20/12 Tumor markers begin to rise. CA15-3 is 31.3 and Her2 Serum is at 17.1 Decide to repeat in one month.
7/23/12 CA15-3 now 49.3
Her2 Serum 26.8
8/6/12 Back on Herceptin
CA15-3 now 76
Her2 Serum now 49
11/7/12 Add weekly Taxotere for 4 cycles
2/2013 Stopped Taxotere added Perjeta. MRI shows approx. 50% reduction liver mets. CA15-3 still elevated @ 55. Will continue on just Herceptin & Perjeta.
November 2014 Continuing on Herceptin, Perjeta, and
Femara indefinitely. Guess I'm NED again, but watching those tumor markers carefully!
Dec. 2015 PET scan reveals mass in perirectal area of abdomen.biopsy confirms. Still Her2+, but no longer ER+. Bye bye Femara
Jan 2016 Begin Kadcyla
March 2016 PET scan shows tumor now barely visible, still NED everywhere else.
2016/2017 continue Kadcyla
November 2017 brain MRI reveals small focus of T2 hyperintensity with possible 4mm enhancing nodule. Short term follow up MRI suggested. Stay tuned...
|
Threaded Mode