Nothing is Happening in the Brain...

I think most people who know me would agree I have proven this at one time or another!  But I am referring here to the fact that there are no lesions found in the brain once again. 

The Tarceva is still doing its job in there.  I had an MRI that looked just like the last one, which is completely clear.  Blood work was mostly normal and was similar to prior reports.  Good news overall. 

When we were back at home tonight, I received a text message from Irene, our oncology nurse, that said a press release came out on Sunday that Merck has filed with the FDA for their drug, Keytruda to treat melanoma and lung cancer.  This is one of the immunotherapy drugs we’ve been watching and waiting to get approved.  I’ve attached a link to a Wall Street Journal article with the press release.  http://www.wsj.com/articles/mercks-keytruda-shows-improved-survival-odds-for-melanoma-patients-1429448169 . This has a LOT of promise.  It is possible I might be able to go on this (or one of the rival drugs that other Rx companies are developing that are similar) sometime midyear.  Cross your fingers!   J

One Step Forward, One Step Back

I just had my latest hospital visit today.  Most everything is fine but there is another bump in the road. 

 

Doug and I had hoped for stability, but there has been slightly more growth in the cancer in the lungs.  It is not a lot more or a lot larger than the last scan.  Although Dr. Bonomi offered us a few other alternative treatments, none of them were  guaranteed to have better results but would be far more uncomfortable for me with the side effects and frequency of the treatments.  I have opted to stay the course with my current treatment regime.  Even if the cancer continues to progress, it will be slow and most of it seems to be around the periphery of the lungs so it is unlikely that I will notice it or that it will affect me in any tangible way.  There are some really promising treatments with a 3^rd generation version of Tarceva that is supposed to come out this summer.  We are hoping that will be a treatment that will really push back the cancer.  In the meantime, this one is good enough and I can enjoy a good quality of life, which is the most important thing to me.  Even Dr. Bonomi supports this decision and thinks it is best to stay the course and wait it out until these more promising options become available. 

 

I've resigned myself to the fact that this cancer will be with me for a long time and that there will always be ups and downs and so I am not letting this bother me.  I'm feeling good right now and that's what matters the most.  Doug and I just had a fabulous celebration with friends and family for our 50th birthdays.  We are 6 days apart in age and the celebration lasted over a week and a half.  And I felt good for every minute of it!

 

Thank you as always for your continued support.

 

All the best,

 

DonnaLee

Good Report to Start a Great Getaway

Today's visit to the hospital went well with all the appointments going smoothly and all the results being positive.

I had an MRI for the brain that showed stability.  My blood work was mostly in the normal ranges and anything outside of normal was only slightly so.  Dr. Bonomi is very happy with all the reports. 

Armed with all that good news, I can leave Doug and the dogs with a clear conscious as I head out for a week in the sun to visit my parents and get away from the bitter Midwest winter.   We celebrated our good news with Doug's folks this evening.  They will stay at our house with the dogs while I am away and Doug works every day.  Many thanks to them for providing this help!

There is more celebrating ahead as Doug and I both turn 50 later this month.  Something I used to dread, but now am very thankful to be able to celebrate!

I've had my last chemo in my 40's.  The next one is the day after my birthday!

Long Day in the Universe

Howdy, Doug here, longtime husband and first-time blogger.

DonnaLee’s spirits were dragging after her chest scan revealed modest progression of the nodules in her lungs. 

Dr. Bonomi was reluctant to make significant changes to the current treatment regimen which consisted of Tarceva for the brain lining and recently started “maintenance” infusion chemotherapy (Avastin) for the lungs.  Apparently, the progression was such that some oncologists may have just stayed the current treatment course. 

In an effort to treat the lung progression, Dr. Bonomi decided to add Metronomic Cytoxan (in pill form to be taken daily) to the Avastin that’s administered every three weeks.  The new pill is supposed to shrink the blood vessels that feed the cancer cells and is not expected to give DonnaLee any adverse side effects.  DonnaLee will also remain on Tarceva, which is working well on the brain lining.

Positively, DonnaLee’s headaches have subsided.  Best guess to the cause of the headaches is still the harshness of the full 3-drug infusion chemotherapy, a genetic predisposition to migraines, and the stress of the holidays.

Please keep your encouraging thoughts flowing so that DonnaLee can maintain a positive attitude which I believe is a crucial element in her fight.  After a difficult 2014, we were looking forward to an uneventful 2015.  Hopefully, today’s news is a simple twist in the road and DL can reclaim her patience and energy in what can be a tiresome treatment routine.

Love to all and please do not worry.

Things Seem to be Looking Up!

Had my visit with Rush today that included blood work and vitals, MRI for the brain, Dr. Bonomi consultation and maintenance chemotherapy.

Although some of the blood levels were too high and others too low in the acceptable range, none of them were significantly  out of range and Dr. B was not at all concerned.  The tumor markers remain stable.

The report about my MRI scan showed no new lesions or growth so things remain clear in the brain.  The headaches are less frequent and severe.

Everything went well except for a lot of extra needle sticks since my veins have a tendency to roll and they were especially bad today.  But I'm still willing to suffer through more missed needle insertions than succumb to having a port put in my chest.

Things definitely do seem to be getting better!

Good Riddance to 2014 and Good Things to Come in 2015

Happy New Year! 

Let's sure hope it is.  I am looking forward to a new and improved year over 2014, which I am very happy to have behind me.  The end of January, 2014 is when my cancer made a comeback that required IV chemotherapy which brought on all kinds of miserable side effects like mouth sores, hair loss, fatigue and weakness.  I've lost hearing in my right ear (thankfully it returned); had daily migraine headaches; an ugly red rash on my face and tingling and/or numbness in my left hand.  In mid-July I found myself at the hospital for four days with meningeal inflammation in the lining of my brain and in terrible pain with every little movement of my body.  In the fall,  I had to switch to a new chemo treatment because the one I was on was not holding the cancer at bay.

Also in September, my dog Sundance was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus on her nose, which also made her susceptible to mucocutaneous pyoderma (a fancy term for deep skin infection) on her nose and on her rectum.  (The good news is that the lupus on the nose is under control and her nose looks great.  As for the other end, we have to take more aggressive steps to address the vet's concerns about an underlying digestive allergy with a very strict diet.  Hopefully, this approach will make her feel better overall.)

My other dog Cassidy suddenly and permanently went blind at the end of September.  (She is adjusting pretty well to her loss and is still a generally happy dog.)

In addition to the good news that my hearing returned in November,  my last several MRI's of the brain reveal no signs of cancer and the last few CAT scans show fewer lesions, with many lesions shrinking in size. I've recently started to turn the corner with the headaches now reducing in both severity and frequency.  I have finished my treatment with the nasty chemo that was causing so many miserable side effects and now am on a maintenance chemo that is milder - I am looking forward to having a lot less discomfort and pain in future weeks and months. 

Knowing I would be losing my hair, when the time was right I had Doug shave my head and then arranged to have a henna artist make a henna crown tattoo on my scalp, as you can see in the picture.  I think it is a great way to take a symbol of illness and transform it into a beautiful work of art.
 
Here's to a kinder, gentler 2015 for all of us!

Hopefully the next posting will continue the trend of better and better news!

Picture taken by Nadine Rozowsky of Best Dog Photography

The Last Chemo "Treatment" is Over! The Brain is Still Clear! And Other Stuff!

I had my last Taxol chemo treatment today so that means fewer hours in the chemo chair, fewer side effects and fewer drugs to treat the side effects from now on.  And if that isn’t enough good news, the MRI on the brain showed no changes – in other words things are still clear and the cancer is being held at bay in the brain.

What’s next you ask?  I have next week off and don’t have to see a doctor – a very nice Christmas gift indeed. 

The following Monday, December 29, I will have another CAT scan on my lungs.  I am really hoping that we see continued shrinkage and reduction in the lesions with this scan.  At a minimum,  stability from the prior scan that was so good.

Also, I will have my first “maintenance” chemo on the 29th which consists of just one IV drug – Avastin, an angiogenesis inhibitor that slows the growth of new blood vessels that feed cancer cells, essentially starving the cancer cells. It has shown good success in the past with other patients who have followed this treatment and maintenance combo.   I will have the IV every 3 weeks initially and if all goes well, stretch it out to every four weeks after a few cycles.  The only real side effect I've had from Avastin is bloody noses.  I've become a professional bloody nose wrangler (a rare profession indeed!) so I'm not too concerned with that.  I don’t need any pre-chemo drugs or post-chemo drugs to alleviate side effects so the infusion is only the 30-minute drip itself.  I’ll continue on this program as long as it produces stability in the lungs.  Hopefully, a very long time!

My headaches continue, though more subdued and tolerable.  I was headache-free for almost 2 weeks but started to have more run-of-the-mill headaches starting at the end of last week that just sort of linger.  I try to ignore them for the most part and occasionally take Advil when it gets too annoying.

My hair has been surprisingly resilient.  I still have coverage over the entire cranium, but it is extremely sparse and unless combed over painstakingly, reveals patches of scalp.  It isn't a flattering look.  I've begun to wear my wig and hats when out in public.  This Sunday, Doug will shave my head completely and on Monday, I will have a henna crown applied to my bald head.  This is a temporary tattoo in the Indian ceremonial tradition that features ornate designs of all kinds.  It is more typically applied to hands and feet, especially for wedding ceremonies.  I am excited to actually feel good about being bald and to actually accentuate it in such an artful way.  I only wish it would last more than 7-10 days.

 

I’m not sure what to expect from the side effects of today’s chemo.  Although it was only the Taxol, that’s the nastier one for side effects and it seems that I have been having stronger effects as the chemo drugs have accumulated in my body.  Well, at least Christmas week should be side-effect free!

 

Speaking of the holidays, I wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season with lots of love and laughter and a kinder 2015 for all of us.