This week has been a great week for me. I have finished the 52 week regimen of Herceptin.
My chemo nurse, Leisa, said I am only the second person she has administered Herceptin to that has been able to get the full 52 week regimen. I had to take a 3 month break from July to September because it caused my infarction rate to drop below 50 (the second time I had to stop) but based on the fact that all the research I have read stated finishing the full 52 weeks gave you the highest percentage in results of effectiveness I felt it was worth continuing until I got the full 52 weeks. The damage to the heart should only be temperary and the heart infarction rate should continue to increase back up to normal. My sister, husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate. Now all I have left if the anti-hormone therapy, Femara, for 4 more years. I have a good feeling that I will not have a reaccurance of the breast cancer. There were times I really did not know if all the treatments would really make that much difference but I do believe they will. All I can say at this point is "It is over". I will be listing the other organizations that I started listing and please check back for them. I just had to let everyone know the good news. Health, Wealth, and Love to all
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The following is a list of ORGANIZATIONS for information about Breast Cancer
This is just a partial list, from the book "100 Questions and Answers about Breast Cancer", and I will list more in the coming days:
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
1-800-ACS-2345
American Society of Clinical Oncology
www.asco.org
703-299-0150
Avon Breast Cancer Foundation
www.avoncrusade.com
Breastcancer.org
www.breastcancer.org
an online nonprofit organization
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
www.medicalacupuncture.org
323-937-5514
Breast Cancer Resource Committee
www.bcresource.org
202-261-3518
Breast Cancer Society of Canada
www.bcsc.ca
800-567-8767
Will list more tomorrow and Good Health to all.
Leigh
This is just a partial list, from the book "100 Questions and Answers about Breast Cancer", and I will list more in the coming days:
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
1-800-ACS-2345
American Society of Clinical Oncology
www.asco.org
703-299-0150
Avon Breast Cancer Foundation
www.avoncrusade.com
Breastcancer.org
www.breastcancer.org
an online nonprofit organization
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
www.medicalacupuncture.org
323-937-5514
Breast Cancer Resource Committee
www.bcresource.org
202-261-3518
Breast Cancer Society of Canada
www.bcsc.ca
800-567-8767
Will list more tomorrow and Good Health to all.
Leigh
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Some Cancer Websites for Breast Cancer Information
Hi Everyone, Today I am going to list some web sites with General Cancer Information.
This list is from the back of the book I told you about yesterday and I am sure there are many more today as the internet gets larger and larger everyday. This is for information only and may be of some help in finding information for yourself or a loved one. Good Health to all.
411 Cancer.com
About.com (search on "cancer")
BCDG.org
Breast Cancer Answers/University of Wisconsin Comprehensive
Cancer Center, www.medsch.wisc.edu/bca/bca.html
CancerLinks.org
CancerSource.com
CancerWiseTM/MD Anderson Cancer Center, http://www.cancer-wise.org/
National Cancer Institute's Cancer Net Service, cancernet.nci.nih.gov/index.html
TheBreastClinic.com
WCN.org
www.medsch.wisc.edu/bca/link.html
YWCA.org/html/B4d1.asp
if you know of more let us know.
Tomorrow I will list some of the organizations listed in the book.
Please check back.
This list is from the back of the book I told you about yesterday and I am sure there are many more today as the internet gets larger and larger everyday. This is for information only and may be of some help in finding information for yourself or a loved one. Good Health to all.
411 Cancer.com
About.com (search on "cancer")
BCDG.org
Breast Cancer Answers/University of Wisconsin Comprehensive
Cancer Center, www.medsch.wisc.edu/bca/bca.html
CancerLinks.org
CancerSource.com
CancerWiseTM/MD Anderson Cancer Center, http://www.cancer-wise.org/
National Cancer Institute's Cancer Net Service, cancernet.nci.nih.gov/index.html
TheBreastClinic.com
WCN.org
www.medsch.wisc.edu/bca/link.html
YWCA.org/html/B4d1.asp
if you know of more let us know.
Tomorrow I will list some of the organizations listed in the book.
Please check back.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
100 Q & A about Breat Cancer
Hi, Sometimes the best made plans fall apart, I had planned the post every week starting in November when I did my last post but the Holidays, Chemo, Doctor visits, more test and so on and so on I haven't. Sorry. I am doing pretty good right now. Started back on the Herceptin to get in my 52 treatments and so far my heart infarction rate has stayed high enough to continue. Right now I have 2 treatments left.
I have been trying to sell items on eBay to help with the Doctor payments. Friends have given me item to sell and some have but I have some great items listed and will be listing some more this week. Go to my eBay store, Decor Glass and Home at www.ebay.com and see if there is something you may find to purchase and help me pay the doctors.
I came across a book that I have found answers a lot of questions about breast cancer. I am not sure where I got it but your oncologist may be able to get it as my copy is compliments of AstraZeneca. It goes into a lot of information about what causes breast cancer, how will breast cancer treatment affect intimacy and sexuality, what are the options available for treatment, and how do I get my life back to normal. It is by Zora K. Brown and Harold P Freeman, MD.
It is published by Jones and Bartlett (info@jbpub.com or www.jbpub.com ). I would check with my doctors or the local library. I am going to start listing some of the resources that are in the back of the book so please check back. Good Health to you all and Hang in There. Leigh
I have been trying to sell items on eBay to help with the Doctor payments. Friends have given me item to sell and some have but I have some great items listed and will be listing some more this week. Go to my eBay store, Decor Glass and Home at www.ebay.com and see if there is something you may find to purchase and help me pay the doctors.
I came across a book that I have found answers a lot of questions about breast cancer. I am not sure where I got it but your oncologist may be able to get it as my copy is compliments of AstraZeneca. It goes into a lot of information about what causes breast cancer, how will breast cancer treatment affect intimacy and sexuality, what are the options available for treatment, and how do I get my life back to normal. It is by Zora K. Brown and Harold P Freeman, MD.
It is published by Jones and Bartlett (info@jbpub.com or www.jbpub.com ). I would check with my doctors or the local library. I am going to start listing some of the resources that are in the back of the book so please check back. Good Health to you all and Hang in There. Leigh
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Updates on Cancer Treatments!
Hi Everybody, Sorry I have not made any postings. I thought I had but discovered I had only written them in the word processor but never got them to the blog. BAD, BAD Girl.
Well, it has been a while since I have blogged. Much has happened and I will try to catch everyone up as quick as possible. I will list these post in cronilogical order and try to get everyone caught up within a couple of days.
This is the "Post" I wrote in Jan 2008.
I last wrote in October and I was on the Taxol at that point. I was on Taxol until December 6th (my last treatment) and I thought I actually had done pretty good getting through with it. Unfortunately I got Taxol Toxcitity and during the month of December and January I have
had three toenails on each foot turn red and one started bleeding from under the nail. I have had continual edima in my left foot and had to go in early for a Mugga Scan , the end of December instead of the middle of Jan. I also had to have a Doppler Veinese done on my left leg at that time. My doctor was worried about a blood clot in my left leg and heart problems from the Herceptin that I am still taking on a weekly basis. Both test came out negative and I am now wearing support hose trying to get the swelling down in my left foot. On the nice side, my husband and I had a great holiday visiting with family and friends.
Well, it has been a while since I have blogged. Much has happened and I will try to catch everyone up as quick as possible. I will list these post in cronilogical order and try to get everyone caught up within a couple of days.
This is the "Post" I wrote in Jan 2008.
I last wrote in October and I was on the Taxol at that point. I was on Taxol until December 6th (my last treatment) and I thought I actually had done pretty good getting through with it. Unfortunately I got Taxol Toxcitity and during the month of December and January I have
had three toenails on each foot turn red and one started bleeding from under the nail. I have had continual edima in my left foot and had to go in early for a Mugga Scan , the end of December instead of the middle of Jan. I also had to have a Doppler Veinese done on my left leg at that time. My doctor was worried about a blood clot in my left leg and heart problems from the Herceptin that I am still taking on a weekly basis. Both test came out negative and I am now wearing support hose trying to get the swelling down in my left foot. On the nice side, my husband and I had a great holiday visiting with family and friends.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and believe me when I say most women have no idea just how aware they need to be. I found a lump in my right breast the end of May, 2007.
Read the following article about some new Survey results just out!!
Breast Cancer 'knowledge' often includes more myth than fact:
by Judy Peres Chicago Tribune
On the eve of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a new survey suggests raising awareness of the disease is a misplaced priority.
The vast majority of women already consider themselves quite knowledgeable about the disease, which is expected to kill 40,000 women in the U.S. this year. But their "knowledge" often includes more myth than fact, the survey found.
"We're surrounded by pink ribbons and other messages about raising awareness," said Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, which commissioned the survey. "But these popular efforts lull the public into a false sense that adequate progress is being made.
One "stunning' example, she said, is that people still believe heredity is the cause of the majority of breast cancer cases, although in reality only 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer is caused by genetic mutations that can be inherited.
The survey, which is being released today, the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also found that 7 out of 10 women believe eating enough fruits and vegetables can help prevent breast cancer. In reality, there's no good evidence that is true.
Other Finding:
The majority of all women (and nearly two-thirds of those ages 18 to 24) believe breast cancer can be prevented. In reality, there are only a few things women can do to reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of developing the disease, such as not drinking alcohol and not taking hormones. The biggest risk factors are being female and getting older.
Nearly all women believe early detection of breast cancer is important for saving lives, and 4 out of 10 think self-exam is the best way to find the disease early -- the same proportion that think mammograms are the best way. But large clinical trials have shown that self-exams do not prevent death from breast cancer although they do lead to anxiety and unnecessary biopsies.
Even mammography screening, which has been shown to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer, is less effective than most women think, Visco said. Mammograms can be inaccurate and come with unadvertised costs, including the risk of being diagnosed and treated for a tumor that would never have caused problems.
The National Breast Cancer Coalition's immediate priority, Visco said, is to make certain the public and political candidates are informed.
Because public policy is essentially a political issue, she said, the coalition has launched the Breast Cancer Caucus (www.breastcancercaucus.org), asking all presidential candidates to outline their plans for universal health care and their specific approaches to breast cancer research, prevention and care.
The coalition's agenda includes guaranteed access to quality health care for everyone, increased government funding for breast cancer research and enactment by Congress of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.
Read the following article about some new Survey results just out!!
Breast Cancer 'knowledge' often includes more myth than fact:
by Judy Peres Chicago Tribune
On the eve of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a new survey suggests raising awareness of the disease is a misplaced priority.
The vast majority of women already consider themselves quite knowledgeable about the disease, which is expected to kill 40,000 women in the U.S. this year. But their "knowledge" often includes more myth than fact, the survey found.
"We're surrounded by pink ribbons and other messages about raising awareness," said Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, which commissioned the survey. "But these popular efforts lull the public into a false sense that adequate progress is being made.
One "stunning' example, she said, is that people still believe heredity is the cause of the majority of breast cancer cases, although in reality only 5 percent to 10 percent of breast cancer is caused by genetic mutations that can be inherited.
The survey, which is being released today, the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also found that 7 out of 10 women believe eating enough fruits and vegetables can help prevent breast cancer. In reality, there's no good evidence that is true.
Other Finding:
The majority of all women (and nearly two-thirds of those ages 18 to 24) believe breast cancer can be prevented. In reality, there are only a few things women can do to reduce (but not eliminate) the risk of developing the disease, such as not drinking alcohol and not taking hormones. The biggest risk factors are being female and getting older.
Nearly all women believe early detection of breast cancer is important for saving lives, and 4 out of 10 think self-exam is the best way to find the disease early -- the same proportion that think mammograms are the best way. But large clinical trials have shown that self-exams do not prevent death from breast cancer although they do lead to anxiety and unnecessary biopsies.
Even mammography screening, which has been shown to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer, is less effective than most women think, Visco said. Mammograms can be inaccurate and come with unadvertised costs, including the risk of being diagnosed and treated for a tumor that would never have caused problems.
The National Breast Cancer Coalition's immediate priority, Visco said, is to make certain the public and political candidates are informed.
Because public policy is essentially a political issue, she said, the coalition has launched the Breast Cancer Caucus (www.breastcancercaucus.org), asking all presidential candidates to outline their plans for universal health care and their specific approaches to breast cancer research, prevention and care.
The coalition's agenda includes guaranteed access to quality health care for everyone, increased government funding for breast cancer research and enactment by Congress of the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act.
Monday, September 10, 2007
The End of "Red Devil" Cancer Chemo
Hi everyone, I have made it through my last "Big Red Devil" chemo treatment.
Sort of anyway. My white count has gone down to 300, which is the lowest I have had so far and my red counts have also gone very low. My doc was out of town so I saw her associate. I was given antibiotics to take and we passed on a shot for my red count since I had such a bad reaction to the last one (given in the hospital). I developed a rash, first little itchy splotches then lots of red bumps, on my arms, legs, chest, stomach and then my back. I was putting Calydryl lotion on all of it because it itched so bad I could not sleep. This went on for a week. I do not want to go through that again if we can avoid it. Because my counts have gone down so low I have no energy, shortness of breath if I move around very much, coughing, and my pulse goes up just going into the kitchen to fix a meal or to water the plants on my screened porch. I sometimes wonder just how much damage the chemo has done to my heart. I guess I will try to find out when I see my doctor next week.
The next chemo is Taxol. Taxol is suppose to be hard on the heart also and I wonder about the cumulative effect both will have on my heart. My Red and White Blood counts will be affected also. I thought I was pretty healthy in general, could loss a little weight and tone up some but had not had any major problems before finding the breast cancer. All the test (EKG, Mugga Scan, CT Scan, Stress Test, etc.) have not shown a problem but how much can the heart take. Sometimes it feels like it is going to beat out of my chest. I am not use to sitting and doing nothing. Just sitting here doing this blog entry I can feel my heart beating hard. My chemo nurse said that Taxol is a chemo drug that many people have allergic reactions to and they recommend giving the first treatment in the hospital so if there is a reaction you will get immediate attention. Sometimes I wonder if I will make it through all this, and sometimes I wonder if my husband will make it through.
He has been wonderful and has been doing his best to make me take care of myself. He is my hero!!! I would be lost without him.
I will let you know what happens next week. Keep checking back and let me know if you have any info that my readers would find helpful.
Sort of anyway. My white count has gone down to 300, which is the lowest I have had so far and my red counts have also gone very low. My doc was out of town so I saw her associate. I was given antibiotics to take and we passed on a shot for my red count since I had such a bad reaction to the last one (given in the hospital). I developed a rash, first little itchy splotches then lots of red bumps, on my arms, legs, chest, stomach and then my back. I was putting Calydryl lotion on all of it because it itched so bad I could not sleep. This went on for a week. I do not want to go through that again if we can avoid it. Because my counts have gone down so low I have no energy, shortness of breath if I move around very much, coughing, and my pulse goes up just going into the kitchen to fix a meal or to water the plants on my screened porch. I sometimes wonder just how much damage the chemo has done to my heart. I guess I will try to find out when I see my doctor next week.
The next chemo is Taxol. Taxol is suppose to be hard on the heart also and I wonder about the cumulative effect both will have on my heart. My Red and White Blood counts will be affected also. I thought I was pretty healthy in general, could loss a little weight and tone up some but had not had any major problems before finding the breast cancer. All the test (EKG, Mugga Scan, CT Scan, Stress Test, etc.) have not shown a problem but how much can the heart take. Sometimes it feels like it is going to beat out of my chest. I am not use to sitting and doing nothing. Just sitting here doing this blog entry I can feel my heart beating hard. My chemo nurse said that Taxol is a chemo drug that many people have allergic reactions to and they recommend giving the first treatment in the hospital so if there is a reaction you will get immediate attention. Sometimes I wonder if I will make it through all this, and sometimes I wonder if my husband will make it through.
He has been wonderful and has been doing his best to make me take care of myself. He is my hero!!! I would be lost without him.
I will let you know what happens next week. Keep checking back and let me know if you have any info that my readers would find helpful.
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