The days are beginning to run together and the “plan” we set keeps getting changed. The team has me on the best antibiotics to cover a range of bacteria that could be making me sick and keeping my blood pressure (bp) low. To date despite cultures and many tests, they have not been able to identify the source of the infection. We have not been able to turn off the bp medication that is keeping us fighting but we do have it set at a low rate which is good. I am beginning to develop a pneumonia and am unable to get out of bed do to my fragile condition. I am running fevers 2-3 times a day and with each spell I am having a tougher time breathing and dropping my oxygen (O2) level.

We will continue to fight and battle; we refuse to give in. I remain grounded in faith and the knowledge that God is embracing and guiding the team. My work is not done.

My dear family and friends I was not ignoring you this past week. I was well; how do you say fighting for my life? It seems I had a little set back after my post Saturday morning. A good friend stopped by and gave me a back rub, my shoulders and back were a bit sore. After my rub down I took a nap. I woke up with a temp that kept rising.

We contacted the doctors office and were told to go to the hospital. John was up to his elbows replacing the dishwasher, mom was running errands and David volunteered to take me to the emergency room (ED). He was proud. After we left the house, John was able to get a hold of my mom and she was one her way to meet us. They triaged us and found my blood pressure (bp) and oxygen level(O2) were very low. Mom mom arrived in the middle of this and they took us all straight back to a trauma room. My bp was 62/30. Looks like the “not so serious” was quickly changing.

The ED went to work to get me stabilized. John and Jennifer arrived. The decision was made to admit me to the ICU and to stabilize me over the next 24 hours. They placed me on two different drugs to raise my bp. The 1st one raised my heart rate too high. The second drug worked well. They were consulting other specialist and my team of doctors had grown to 4.

Friday culminated a very long week. Mom and Dad made a round trip to Houston on Monday to pick up the disk of Radiolgy images. We delivered the disks to the Radiology group early Tuesday. Wednesday we attended a doctors visit were we thought we were getting an update on the status of my bones and liver. We only received a preliminary result on my bones. The Radiology group did not compare the studies of my liver to the MD Anderson studies last study of my liver. Friday we received both good and bad news.

Bad news? After reading this update we believe you will agree with us and understand that giving the circumstances we really received very good news. The MRI & Bone scan I had on Thursday confirmed my breast cancer has spread throughout by thoracic spine (t-spine). The lesions are all relatively small and scattered thoughout.We will add another drug for the bone cancer. It is called Zometa. We will wait and see about radiation treatments. I also have lifting and bending restrictions for spinal precautions. Again this is not curable but bone cancer is much easier to manage and get into remission. We also caught it very early.

We went from a stable tumor this spring to explosive growth the month of June. Friday, the CT & PET Scan validated all other organs were clean. The BEST news is the liver cancer is essentially unchanged since June and when we started the new chemo drugs: Gemzar and Abraxane. This indicates the drugs are working on the liver cancer. The fact we have not lost any ground is excellent. Thanks be to God and your mighty prayers! We have completed 2 of 6 courses of treatments. We are know that as we continue treatment we will begin to shrink the tumors. We will continue the Avastin too.

ZOMETA (zoledronic acid) Injection is an infused therapy and a member of the class of medicines called bisphosphonates. ZOMETA works by slowing the bone destroying activity that occurs with bone metastases. It also works by fighting the abnormal cells that cause bone to wear away (osteolytic lesion). Bone metastases wear away portions of bone leaving small holes called osteolytic bone lesions. This wearing away process causes eroded bone to appear as circular punched out areas. It leaves bones weak and fragile. Slowing the abnormal buildup of unstable bone (osteoblastic lesion) Bone metastases can also cause abnormal bone formation. Areas of new bone form but they are weak and unstable and can break easily or collapse. These areas are called osteoblastic bone lesions.

ZOMETA reduces the risk of bone complications such as bone fracture hypercalcemia of malignancy and spinal cord compression. ZOMETA helps restore the normal process of bone remodeling thus reducing the chance of bone complications. Even patients who have already had complications such as bone fracture radiation or bone surgery can be helped by treatment with ZOMETA.

After review of the CT and PET Scans, they have concerns that the cancer has spread to my back. We have a bone scan and MRI scheduled for Thursday. We will get our results on Friday prior to chemo. The results will determine the protocol I receive and if they will need to make any changes or additions. I will post an update by Saturday with all the details.

As always I appreciate everyone’s support and prayers. God gives me strength and the desire to fight. Keep faithful, we are NOT quitting our fight!

Peace,
Stephanie

Friday was a scheduled off day (no chemo), I had lab work and only needed an Epogen shot. My platelets and WBC were well within range. We have a preliminary read on the CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis but not the PET Scan. The only things seen on the CT that were abnormal were some areas in my thoracic & cervical spine and of course my liver. They say that if the spots on my spine is metastatic bone cancer it is very responsive to treatment. So before anyone gets too worried or excited they are scheduling a MRI of my spine and total body bone scan early this week; pending the results we will have biopsies done.

We are waiting for the latest copies of old scans to arrive from Houston. It appears someone might have dropped the ball on this task. With the holiday weekend here the earliest we can get the scans here is Thursday. My parents have decided to drive to Houston and pick up the scans themselves. This means the team here in Fort Worth will have images for comparison by late Tuesday. My parents are SO awesome. Our next meeting with the team is Friday. Friday is also a chemo day and I will be getting all three drugs. Next update will most likely be Friday or Saturday ( Sept 7th or 8th). Well that’s all for now, off to church.

Love you,
Stephanie