~Husband's 2nd Petscan Results....

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

-- they'll poison your minds and impact your outcome!

Oh Marie and Ed!! I read the bad news and I embraced the good within it. No organs involved. Brain mets no progression. Great advice from our Sisters. I remember how important it is to stay ahead of the nausea -- not to wait till you feel horrid (like w/migraines). Catch it before it takes hold. My onc and chemo nurses told me at the first sign of queasiness to take Zofran. It worked miraculously for me. That was my big gun. For milder general queasy feeling I took Phenergan. That didn't wipe me out but controlled the problem. I never threw up. I lost 33 lbs, which sounds good now, but I don't recommend the Adriamycin diet. So make it your business to eat or drink calories! A hand full of nuts. Smoothies. Whatever you can tolerate -- 8 X a day. That's your job! A great contribution to HEALING. Try not to focus on hating the cancer but rather on stomping the life out of it, shrinking it into oblivion!

I drink 10 glasses of water every single day of my life. Started w/Adriamycin in '95 and am sticking with the program! Keeps you well hydrated, kidneys functioning, flushes out the toxins and makes your skin less dry, flaky, itchy. Ice chips or whatever during tx so no mouth sores. Saltines or as Pink says those little soup crackers, help absorb toxins I was told. I carried them wherever I went. That and a huge bottle of water.

Pain meds when needed. DO NOT BE A HERO. They don't give out medals for toughing out pain. There is no need to suffer. Anti-depressant or Ativan (anti-anxiety) to keep your morale boosted and yourself in good fighting Spirit!

Hug each other daily. Do not waste a single day without laughing! Watch silly movies. Love and cherish each day and one another generously.

I believe you will find YOUR perfect recipe for success. I wish you had already found it. But, I BELIEVE it exists. When one combination doesn't work, move right along till you find the magic bullet with *your* name on it! Hold on to each other and to that truth, Marie and Ed. THOSE WHO DWELL IN YES ARE THE SURVIVORS. Do not give in. Do not give up. Cancer cannot touch your Soul. Let it guide you through this storm. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I will ramp up my torrent of prayers for you to help speed the process. Dwell in YES... I know how discouraged and disheartened you must feel right now, but do your best to shake it off and reach for the awareness that IF ONE PERSON HAS SURVIVED YOUR KIND OF CANCER -- SO CAN YOU! Focus on that. May it give you strength. May the love of all of us give you courage. God bless you for the grace and compassion you live your lives with. And may it be returned to you tenfold!!!!!!!!!!

MUCH LOVE AND MANY HUGS TO YOU BOTH,
Andi

[Vanessa]

I am so sorry to hear that you did not get the news you wanted. I hate this cancer rollarcoaster ride. I will continue to keep you both in my prayers until Ed reaches NED. Best wishes and hang in there. I don't have any advice about ac, because I did not get that treatment. Again, I am sending healing thoughts your way.

[Sheila]

Dear Marie
My heart goes out to you and Ed...we must accept the bad with the good, and there is good news in your post. You have received half a miracle, now need AC to get the rest. Just a week ago when I was getting chemo, the lady next to me was getting AC...she said sucking on a fruit flavored popsicle while receiving the Adriamycin helped get rid of the taste and prevented mouth sores. She also said that the first 2 treatments were not bad, but the last 2 were worse...probably an accumulative thing. Take good care of Ed on this new journey...my prayers are with you that he will recover from this new treatment with the other half a miracle.

[Patrice]

Marie, I'm so sorry that you and Ed have to experience this damn roller coaster ride and trusting/praying that this new chemo will work.

I experienced a lot of nausea with AC for this first two cycles and then went to an acupuncturist (who had experiencing dealing with this for cancer patients) to help with it for the last two. It helped so much that I wished I had gone BEFORE I started treatment.

All my best,
Patrice

[Karen W]

Marie,

There is a woman who just posted on the breastcancer.org website regarding her success with AC for liver mets. I want to believe that your husband will have great results with the AC for his bone mets.

Sending hugs and healing prayers your way.

Karen