Laura has a recurrence of the breast cancer she had in 2012 and was operated on in January of 2013.
It is HER2+, estrogen +, progesterone + metastatic cancer.
The Ki 67 value is high which shows it is a fast growing cancer.
There are spots of cancer in her lymph nodes in her right
shoulder and on her chest and sternum as well as spots in her lungs and
liver.
Her liver function is still good, but her breathing is not great.
Much of her breathing problems are from the scaring of the
radiation she got in March and April 2013, but some could be attributed
to the cancer spots.
“Spots” is the term the medical oncologist used and it means cancer from 2 mm to 3 cm.
Most of the spots are under 1 cm, but there are some clusters in her lungs and liver with spots of 2-3 cm.
Timeline:
In late March, Laura had a CT scan that showed no cancer.
She woke up on Wed. May 21 with a marble sized lump on the right side of her neck.
She saw her medical oncologist that day and had the lump biopsied on Friday May 23.
Wednesday, May 28 she found out it was cancer and we then went to
Portland on Thurs. May 29 for scans and to see the medical oncologist.
The bone scans found nothing in her bones, but the CT scans found cancer throughout.
Her first chemo is Monday June 2 in Portland followed by a brain MRI on June 3 in Astoria.
Her chemo will be
taxotere, herceptin and
perjeta. Taxotere is a classic chemo drug while the other two are specific biologic agents that attack the cells of HER2+ breast cancer.
She had two of the drugs before, but perjeta is a new drug was not available until mid-2013.
The hope is the biologics will really specifically attack and suppress the cancer cells.
After 3 treatments, she will be scanned and if it is working will get 3 more treatments.
The chemo is every 3 weeks for a potential cycle of 6 times.
Then the Taxotere will stop and she will continue the Herceptin and perjeta for a full year as long as it is helping.
The oncologist said her cancer is not curable but treatable.
We are trying to tamp down the cancer to prolong both her life and quality of life.
Such news is always a shock and a stab at the heart. I believe in the power of positive energy, so I won't say "no, no" to the cancer, but "yes, yes" to good meds and courage and strength, and I will carry my prayers to my church, where such are lifted up every Sunday with enormous love.
ReplyDeleteHolding you all in my heart, Sherrill