Caren update

April 18, 2006

Ladies,

finally have an update.Bonescan was done on 4-12 and we got the

results yesterday when we met with the Onc here in town (the one

that is overloaded with patients) and the results were CLEAN. We are

so happy about that and would like to share this bit of good news.

All of us know how hard it is to wait for the test results...The

MUGA scan results are back too, a bit lower than I would have liked

them to be, 53%, but according to this Onc still doable to put me on

Adriamycin and Cytoxan...This is what he recommends AC, 4 courses of

60mg per treatment every other week. A Neulasta shot WILL be given

on the 3rd day after Chemo regardless of my counts. Once AC is done

it will be followed by Taxotere once a week for 3 weeks then one

week off for a total of 4 month.

Does this sound like a regiment some of you are on or were on? After

reading about the problems some of you have and had with the

Neulasta shot I am not thrilled about it. It was explained to us,

that this Onc likes to do it that way with his younger patients as

he feels an aggressive aproach is needed and a setback because of a

low bloodcount would set treatment back unnecessarily. Taxotere also

scares me, but than again all of the drugs have horrible side

effects and I think one can drive oneself crazy reading all the info

in detail that is out there about the effects...Adriamycin and

Cytoxan is what he wants to do so my hair is already cut very short

(I had a friend over from Germany and she took off about 2 feet)...

We are going for the second opinion tomorrow and maybe they will

agree and maybe they will not...If they agree than we are set to

start Chemo this coming Monday here in Manhattan...Adriamycin has me

concerned about my heart since the MUGA scan had such a low number

so maybe the guys we are seeing tomorrow have an idea about an

alternative or maybe some of you have....

Hope all of you are doing well, I have not read any of the post for

the last week, so if i missed out I apologize. Sharon, I did speak

to Wilma and Donna had the same Oncologist in Manhattan that I am

seeing right now. Have a blessed day and if I did not say so lately,

thank you ladies for being out there, I wish you could be with me

when I go for my first Chemo, I am SCARED and I really do not know

why...Would be nice to have there saying all the wonderful

things she writes about, or Janet with her green Mowhawk or Dari

with her optimism no matter how bad she is doing herself...Heck the

whole group would be nice as now is the time I am beginning to feel

lonely, now that it is coming down to the wire and Chemo is around

the corner...

Thank your for always being out there and thank you for

listening!!!! Have a wonderful evening and a pain and worry free

tomorrow.

Hugs to all from Kansas

Caren IDC StageII FBCS

April 18, 2006

Hi Caren,

So glad your bonescans came back clean and you can get on to the next

step. I had AC 4x every 2 weeks, also with the Neulasta the day after.

The dose dense (2 week) schedule is recommended for young healthy women,

so I guess that is a compliment! The way I looked at it, the dose dense

schedule cut my chemo by 3 weeks. I did not have (m)any side effects

from the Neulasta, so you could also be so fortunate.

As said, anything over 50 for MUGA is good. I had an

echocardiogram before and after the AC and there was no change. Only a

small percentage of women have heart problems from the Adriamycin, so

you have to believe you, like the majority of women, will not.

Who's going with you for your first chemo? You will have many

cybersisters with you in spirit. The chemo session itself is OK; just

make sure to have your chemo bag with you, and ice chips for the Adriamycin.

I understand your anxiousness about your first chemo. Try to think of it

as the first notch on your chemo countdown. You will get through them

with your family's help and our help.

take care,

April 18, 2006