What follows is a summary of events from our most recent trip up to Evanston, IL.
Notes were taken by one of our indispensable "A Team" members, Lori.
It's just too easy for me to copy and paste. Ignore what is tmi for you, personally.
We continue to be encouraged that we are on the right track w/treatment regimen.
Block Center Thursday, July 12, 2012 (9th Treatment)
Vitals and weight were all good.
You had cold laser therapy and reflexology with Sheila.
Today, you met with Jen. She discussed your current side effects; neuropathy in your hands and feet, a small amount of nosebleeds and periodic changes where your body feels warm but not like a hot flash.
She emphasized that an echocardiogram needs to be done every three months. The next one should be in August (maybe September, if you need to coordinate with Dr. Schleinkofer, but no later!)
She reviewed your blood work and it looked fine.
Jen encouraged you to incorporate weight bearing exercises now that you are on Arimidex and Lupron. (Such as, walking, jump rope and weight lifting/resistance training.) She also changed the dosage and time that you should take Cal Chew; 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening.
In order for the Block Center to keep their records up-to-date, they would like to be notified by Dr. Lakshmi Aggarwal’s office each time you have a Lupron shot. ( Fort Wayne Medical Oncology/Hematology)
Finally…. We got to the CT Scan results from 7-10-2012.
Your chest, lungs and heart looked good on the chest with contrast potion.
On the Abdomen and Pelvis with contrast; your gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, abdomen and pelvis areas were clear except for the liver.
“The lesions seen throughout the liver when compared to the prior Ct Scan on 3-21-2012 are smaller and less prominent, suggesting interval response to therapy! For example, one lesion, on the left hepatic lobe currently measures 12 x 8 mm. This same lesion on the last CT Scan was 12 x 16 mm!”
Jen commented that it was a fantastic response for this time period of treatment! She also said they will use this current CT Scan as a baseline to moniter Cathy’s new treatment plan of Arimidex, Lupron and Herceptin. They will also draw blood work to continue watching the tumor markers.
Jen went on to discuss the new drug, ‘Perjeta” which is now available at the Block Center. It works like Herceptin, however, this drug effects the entire HER family not just HER2. Right now it is only given as a first line treatment. It is given in conjunction with Herceptin and Taxotere (chemo). Cathy would be considered a second line treatment because she already began with Abraxane and Herceptin but they will see how it plays out with insurance coverage and who qualifies for the new drug.
We then discussed high dosage vitamin C treatment. Since Cathy has stopped Abraxane she could begin the vitamin C therapy. The Block Center infuses it 2 or 3 times per week beginning at 5 grams and going up to 50 grams. If a local doctor is willingly to administer the vitamin C then the Block Center will forward the protocol to them. All data supporting this treatment is from the University of Kansas.
Next, we talked about Metformin (500mg daily) and Jen recommended Wikipedia for more information.
Finally, we discussed ‘Anvirsel’ which is an oleander extract. More information can be found at www.saludintegral.hn
Before we left, Sarah (physical therapist) met with Cathy for subjective/objective testing on her chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy. Subjectively, Cathy thought her hands were at 75 – 80% functioning and her feet were 100%. When Sarah ran the objective sharp/dull test, Cathy’s fingers had definitely improved. She continues to have median nerve distribution neuropathy. Her hands were 50 -60% objectively. Her right foot showed a 100% correct response! Her left foot was 60%. Sarah recommends the continued use of cold laser therapy and she wants to retest Cathy in 6 weeks.
