Dana Farber still can't find my old films. I called all the originating hospitals, and they don't have them, so they weren't returned like we originally thought. How frustrating.
What a gorgeous day today! We won't be having many more of these kind of days left this year. Enjoy!
My cubicle is decorated for Halloween! One of my favorite holidays to decorate. So many people at work get a lot of enjoyment seeing my decorations, and that makes me happy.
My new boss started this week. He's been here 3 days in a row, which is more than his predecessor was in any given week! He has a sense of humor, which is imperative if he's going to survive being around me! I welcomed him by putting up a couple of tombstones near his office door!! He was pondering what the meaning of that was...
I would like to ask you all again (for those who haven't donated already), please support my friend Sarah in reaching her fund-raising goal. She is only about $1,000 short and I would hate for her not to make her goal. So please, if you have the means, please give her something. No amount is too little. Here is her website again: http://www.active.com/donate/hfdma/hfdSMcLaug
Thank you for your support!! She is a little less than 2 weeks away from her hike!
GO SARAH!!!! You can do it! We are all behind you!! You are the Cheezburger!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Ahh, Dana-Farber
I had my slew of appointments at Dana-Farber yesterday. It was a very long day. My first test was at 1:20. Didn't get out until 5ish. There's some good news and some bad news. First the bad news. ALL my films that they previously had, they don't have anymore. Apparently, they were transferred to the Brigham and Women's Hospital (next door) when I had my bone biopsy, and in their infinite wisdom, noticed that the films were not theirs and sent them back to the originating hospitals (UMass, Marlboro, St. Vincent's etc.). So my doctor had no means to compare the tests I had yesterday with the ones done previously. To say that I am PISSED off is an understatement. These films have been the bane of this whole ordeal. There was always a problem with the films. Bah.
Yesterday, they took CT Scans of my chest, they did an ultrasound of my breast and more mammograms, so at least now they have these films at their institution. Come to find out that legally, films belong to the institution that created them. Legalities. Bullshit. They should be mine. But whatever.
Now the good news. The doctor measured the tumor in my left breast and found that it got smaller. He's very optimistic that because of that, and because I have been feeling fine, that the tamoxifen is doing it's job. I am guarded, just because he didn't have the films in front of him to compare. I'm happy, but I'm guarded. Waiting for those #@!$% films to get back into his hands so I know for definate.
He now wants to put me on a bone strengthening drug called Zometa (a bisphosphonate). Because the tumor metastasized into my bone, this medication will keep my bones strong and prevent the cancer from further spreading in my bones, and may even shrink the tumors that are currently in my bone (only 2 spots in my hips). It's not calcium, but phosphate. He didn't put me on it right away because he didn't want to overwhelm me with too much information. And because it was only a couple of spots, he knew he could wait.
I got this from a medical website:
The latest finding is that bisphosphonates may stop bone metastases from developing at all.
At the 22nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, in San Antonio, TX, Ingo Diel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany, summarized the evidence in favor of giving bisphosphonates to women with breast cancer who have a high risk of advancing cancer.
He explained that bisphosphonates interrupt the "vicious cycle" of bone metastases, which begins when tumor cells settle into bone and stimulate the release of factors which cause the breakdown of bone tissue. In turn, destruction of bone cells releases factors which stimulate the production of more tumor cells.
It's an IV injection that I have to have once a month. We're trying to find someplace in Worcester that can give me this injection, so that I won't have to go Boston all the time. This is great, see what cancer research does?! This drug that is normally used to prevent osteoporosis has been found to help cancer patients too! Amazing.
I have another appointment with Dr. Silver in 3 months, so I will see him again in December.
Keep doing what you've been doing, something is working! Keep praying, keep sending good thoughts, there's power in numbers! Something is definately working!
Went to my parent's after the appointment and my mom had a awesome home cooked meal for me. Thanks mom! I love you!
Today is Thom's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY THOM! We're now the same age! Ha ha!
Thank you for the calls and emails letting me know that you're thinking of me.
Yesterday, they took CT Scans of my chest, they did an ultrasound of my breast and more mammograms, so at least now they have these films at their institution. Come to find out that legally, films belong to the institution that created them. Legalities. Bullshit. They should be mine. But whatever.
Now the good news. The doctor measured the tumor in my left breast and found that it got smaller. He's very optimistic that because of that, and because I have been feeling fine, that the tamoxifen is doing it's job. I am guarded, just because he didn't have the films in front of him to compare. I'm happy, but I'm guarded. Waiting for those #@!$% films to get back into his hands so I know for definate.
He now wants to put me on a bone strengthening drug called Zometa (a bisphosphonate). Because the tumor metastasized into my bone, this medication will keep my bones strong and prevent the cancer from further spreading in my bones, and may even shrink the tumors that are currently in my bone (only 2 spots in my hips). It's not calcium, but phosphate. He didn't put me on it right away because he didn't want to overwhelm me with too much information. And because it was only a couple of spots, he knew he could wait.
I got this from a medical website:
Enter the bisphosphonates, a relatively new class of drugs developed to prevent the breakdown of bone cells in osteoporosis. In just the past few years, cancer researchers have found that treatment with bisphosphonates will also prevent the destruction of bone by cancer metastases and even cause those metastatic tumors to shrink.
The latest finding is that bisphosphonates may stop bone metastases from developing at all.
At the 22nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, in San Antonio, TX, Ingo Diel, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany, summarized the evidence in favor of giving bisphosphonates to women with breast cancer who have a high risk of advancing cancer.
He explained that bisphosphonates interrupt the "vicious cycle" of bone metastases, which begins when tumor cells settle into bone and stimulate the release of factors which cause the breakdown of bone tissue. In turn, destruction of bone cells releases factors which stimulate the production of more tumor cells.
It's an IV injection that I have to have once a month. We're trying to find someplace in Worcester that can give me this injection, so that I won't have to go Boston all the time. This is great, see what cancer research does?! This drug that is normally used to prevent osteoporosis has been found to help cancer patients too! Amazing.
I have another appointment with Dr. Silver in 3 months, so I will see him again in December.
Keep doing what you've been doing, something is working! Keep praying, keep sending good thoughts, there's power in numbers! Something is definately working!
Went to my parent's after the appointment and my mom had a awesome home cooked meal for me. Thanks mom! I love you!
Today is Thom's birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY THOM! We're now the same age! Ha ha!
Thank you for the calls and emails letting me know that you're thinking of me.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Labor Day
I hope you all had a nice Labor Day weekend!
Thom, our friend Kevin and I went out on our boat yesterday and tooled around the lake near our house. I had a wonderful time. I love being out on the water, it's so relaxing. We saw many Great Blue Herons, they are amazing birds. They have to be the most graceful LARGE birds I've ever seen. When they fly, they look like Pterodactyls! The weather was gorgeous! Thom got a sunburn, but I didn't. Have to thank my parents for my Italian heritage and the ability to not burn!
I've been seeing a therapist for about 4 weeks now. I figured that I need someone to talk to that is a neutral party. It's nice to just vent and cry and not feel guilty doing so. Sometimes I just don't want to cry around anyone because I'm afraid that I'll bring the other person down. But this is good for the soul. I don't have to be upbeat around her if I don't feel like it. I can just BE and it's all good. I really like her, she almost seems to know me and alot of the things she says I think to myself, "Yeah, that's ME!" My mind has been quieter since I started seeing her. Calm mind=calm soul=happier Emily!
I'm starting to work on my panic attacks. I bought Lucinda Basset's Attacking Panic & Anxiety program and I'm on session 2. You've probably heard her commercials on the radio or TV and I figured what the hell?! So far, so good. I'm not ready to drive yet, but I swear, listening to those CDs, I feel like they are talking about me. I just never realized how many other people out there suffer from this just like me. They are just like me. It gives me hope that I can overcome this once and for all. When it comes to panic, I am my own worst enemy. I make the panic, I make it as bad as it is. I FEED it. Time to starve the panic like my medicine is starving the cancer. Things cannot grow if they have no fuel. Simple concept. Lofty goal.
I'm feeling good, no complaints. I see the doctor in 10 days. Keep those prayers and positive thoughts coming my way.
You guys are the best! Thank you for the continuous comments and support. You'll never know how much it means to me.
Much love,
E
Thom, our friend Kevin and I went out on our boat yesterday and tooled around the lake near our house. I had a wonderful time. I love being out on the water, it's so relaxing. We saw many Great Blue Herons, they are amazing birds. They have to be the most graceful LARGE birds I've ever seen. When they fly, they look like Pterodactyls! The weather was gorgeous! Thom got a sunburn, but I didn't. Have to thank my parents for my Italian heritage and the ability to not burn!
I've been seeing a therapist for about 4 weeks now. I figured that I need someone to talk to that is a neutral party. It's nice to just vent and cry and not feel guilty doing so. Sometimes I just don't want to cry around anyone because I'm afraid that I'll bring the other person down. But this is good for the soul. I don't have to be upbeat around her if I don't feel like it. I can just BE and it's all good. I really like her, she almost seems to know me and alot of the things she says I think to myself, "Yeah, that's ME!" My mind has been quieter since I started seeing her. Calm mind=calm soul=happier Emily!
I'm starting to work on my panic attacks. I bought Lucinda Basset's Attacking Panic & Anxiety program and I'm on session 2. You've probably heard her commercials on the radio or TV and I figured what the hell?! So far, so good. I'm not ready to drive yet, but I swear, listening to those CDs, I feel like they are talking about me. I just never realized how many other people out there suffer from this just like me. They are just like me. It gives me hope that I can overcome this once and for all. When it comes to panic, I am my own worst enemy. I make the panic, I make it as bad as it is. I FEED it. Time to starve the panic like my medicine is starving the cancer. Things cannot grow if they have no fuel. Simple concept. Lofty goal.
I'm feeling good, no complaints. I see the doctor in 10 days. Keep those prayers and positive thoughts coming my way.
You guys are the best! Thank you for the continuous comments and support. You'll never know how much it means to me.
Much love,
E
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