It was another beautiful spring day with sunshine, green trees and crops growing in the fields. Mike drove us to Chicago as we were scheduled to hear Cathy's quarterly tests results.
According to Dr Block, Cathy's echocardiogram and bone scans were fine, along with her routine blood work. However, her CT Scan "reveals a subtle change moving in the wrong direction." There are several small hypodense nodules in the right lobe of her liver. Some were barely discernible on the previous scan in February but now they have grown. To quote from the report, "there has been a progression of left and right lobe hepatic metastatic disease compared with 2/01/2013."
Her tumor markers have also increased. In October her CA 27.29 was 64.6 now it is 269.3 and her
CA 15.3 was 50.3 now it is 283.4. (These numbers were originally at 7,748.7 and 7,153.0 respectively when Cathy first started treatment in January 2012.)
Dr Block has recommended a new drug therapy called Kadcyla. It combines Herceptin and a chemotherapy drug (DM1) that interferes with cancer cell growth. Kadcyla delivers Herceptin and DM1 directly to HER-2 positive cells and limits exposure of the rest of the body to the chemotherapy. This drug just became available on February 22, 2013. Cathy is the first patient to receive it at the Block Center. They began this new treatment today.
In addition, she will once again take Neulasta to maintain her blood cell count. This drug previously caused her side effects. Cathy has also discontinued the hormone therapy of Lupron and Femora.
Dr Block compared this to changing ball players during the early innings. Cathy accepted this news with grace and a determination to stay in the fight. Please pray that this new drug would deliver the "knock out punch" against her cancer cells and that she would not suffer from any serious side effects. Pray also for Cathy, Mike and their children as they make adjustments to this new course of action.
If you have any questions please call me at 459-0254.
Gratefully,
Lori
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
A very tiring day of testing, yesterday, simply due to the time involved squeezing them into one day. My routine blood draw that must be done prior to each trip up, was good; so we are on for the trip to Block scheduled the 29th. Completed a bone scan, a CT (thorax, abdomen, and pelvic), and, finally, an echo cardiogram. All of these tests are routine and results would give us an indication of whether or not a change in course of action would be warranted. Of course, once again, hoping to receive good news in regards to the results, which should be available for discussion during next week's treatment.
May all of you have a safe holiday.
~Cathy~
May all of you have a safe holiday.
~Cathy~
Heavenly Father,
As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our servicemen and women in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and your presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.
We also remember the families of our troops. We ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes, and we pray your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives.
May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.
(Mary Fairchild)
We also remember the families of our troops. We ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes, and we pray your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives.
May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord's mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support.
(Mary Fairchild)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
I love spring! It is so fun watching the grass grow green and the flowers pop up and bloom..... Fully appreciate the warmer temps, too, which afford for pleasanter walking and bike riding. My Block team prefers I walk, but until I get my feet issue taken care of I lean towards the biking. I hope that all of you are taking time to enjoy the beauty of this season of new life, as well.
What follows is a quote from Ranald Macaulay & Jerram Barrs from their book Being Human. A sore reminder of my lacking.
If someone is engaged to be married, the engagement must be followed by a growing relationship and the consummation of marriage, otherwise the engagement is null and void. So for the Christian, commitment to Christ must be followed and evidenced by a turning to him day by day, serving, loving and obeying him. The everyday life of faith, then, is of eternal consequence.
Lord Jesus, please help me in my daily commitment to honor you in thought, word, and action.
What follows is a quote from Ranald Macaulay & Jerram Barrs from their book Being Human. A sore reminder of my lacking.
If someone is engaged to be married, the engagement must be followed by a growing relationship and the consummation of marriage, otherwise the engagement is null and void. So for the Christian, commitment to Christ must be followed and evidenced by a turning to him day by day, serving, loving and obeying him. The everyday life of faith, then, is of eternal consequence.
Lord Jesus, please help me in my daily commitment to honor you in thought, word, and action.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
23rd Treatment at the Block Center
We left Fort Wayne with the sun shining, flowers blooming and birds chirping!
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning
great is your faithfulness." Lev 23:22-23
This is Cathy's 23rd treatment in Chicago. For the past 11 months she has been undergoing hormone therapy along with a proper diet and good supplements.
My goal on this trip was to assess Cathy's side effects from head to toe as she is considering the drug, Prolia, to combat osteoporosis and needs to take some ibuprofen for aches and pain.
With this information in hand, we met with Jen at the Block Center. One of the drugs that Cathy is taking is Arimidex. This class of drugs, known as non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors, prevents the conversion of androgen to estrogen within the body. Jen recommended switching to Femora which is in the same class. Women usually respond with less side effects when they make this change. It may take 2 months before Cathy notices a difference. During that time, Cathy will have the results from her quarterly tests which are: CT scan, tumor markers, echocardiogram, nutritional lab panel and dexa bone scan. Once all this information is gathered and her body has adjusted to the new drug, Cathy will be more prepared with the decision to "stay the course" or consider a different treatment plan.
Please keep Cathy, Mike and the staff at the Block Center in your prayers that God will guide them in wisdom to provide the most effective strategy to battle Cathy's cancer.
I would also ask for your prayers to find a local doctor who will provide the Block Center's protocol for high dosage vitamin C infusions (ascorbic acid and its salts.) It needs to be administered 2 or 3 times per week through Cathy's port. Pray also that her insurance will cover this expense. If you are interested in the research behind this treatment I can provide that information from the Wichita State University.
That concludes my notes on this trip. We are so grateful for you support and encouragement. If you have any questions, I can be reached at home 260-459-0254.
Gratefully,
Lori
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning
great is your faithfulness." Lev 23:22-23
This is Cathy's 23rd treatment in Chicago. For the past 11 months she has been undergoing hormone therapy along with a proper diet and good supplements.
My goal on this trip was to assess Cathy's side effects from head to toe as she is considering the drug, Prolia, to combat osteoporosis and needs to take some ibuprofen for aches and pain.
With this information in hand, we met with Jen at the Block Center. One of the drugs that Cathy is taking is Arimidex. This class of drugs, known as non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors, prevents the conversion of androgen to estrogen within the body. Jen recommended switching to Femora which is in the same class. Women usually respond with less side effects when they make this change. It may take 2 months before Cathy notices a difference. During that time, Cathy will have the results from her quarterly tests which are: CT scan, tumor markers, echocardiogram, nutritional lab panel and dexa bone scan. Once all this information is gathered and her body has adjusted to the new drug, Cathy will be more prepared with the decision to "stay the course" or consider a different treatment plan.
Please keep Cathy, Mike and the staff at the Block Center in your prayers that God will guide them in wisdom to provide the most effective strategy to battle Cathy's cancer.
I would also ask for your prayers to find a local doctor who will provide the Block Center's protocol for high dosage vitamin C infusions (ascorbic acid and its salts.) It needs to be administered 2 or 3 times per week through Cathy's port. Pray also that her insurance will cover this expense. If you are interested in the research behind this treatment I can provide that information from the Wichita State University.
That concludes my notes on this trip. We are so grateful for you support and encouragement. If you have any questions, I can be reached at home 260-459-0254.
Gratefully,
Lori
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