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 theresac's Cancer BlogJuly 25, 2008
Finally, today a bit of good news. I had a CT scan on Monday and heard the news today from the onc. that the tumors are shrinking. the mass on the right chest is about 1/2 the size and the lesion on the liver which was 1 cm in diameter is now barely perceptible. This is the first scan since starting the Gemzar/Avastin clinical trail 2 months ago. So- I am so happy and so grateful to all of my family and friends who have been praying for me. 
June 24, 2008
Still doing pretty well during treatment. Will go back for treatment 3 in two days and my energy level is pretty good, no real problems. The effects of the second treatment were pretty much like the first treatment. So I know what days my energy and appetite will be low and know which days will be “normal”. So far most days are real good so I feel blessed. I have started back to running a little. It’s slow going but it feels good to be back on the open trail and I enjoy it. I am with you. I always feel so much better after a run on the trails. Hang in there. ;-) Hello Theresa, I found your blog – so proud to know you and so thankful to be in your presence of faith and hopefulness. A My thoughts and Prayers are with you.
June 19, 2008
Doesn’t it seem like snail mail is just no fun anymore? If you are like me the good ‘ole mail box is usually just filled up with bills (most medical). Well 2 days ago I was blessed to get two cards in the mail. One from a dear cousin who lives out of town and one from a fellow employee at work. So that was really a pleasant surprise, but there was one more element that made it extra super—the two cards were exactly alike- with the passage “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you Matthew 17:20. “trust, have faith, be patient, beleive” Well what are the chances of that? So I am grateful for my Cousin Kathy and the “prayer warrior” at LHM, bringing this perspecitve of faith! Thanks to all of my friends and family who have called to check in on me, sent cards and are saying prayers!
June 10, 2008
Brief update- i’m feeling pretty good – blood looks OK so far- went bike riding in the early hours of yesterday morning. For those of you who know me, you know that I had taken up running about 3 years ago. I love to run trail. Roads, not so much. I have not ran in quite a long time, but aerobically I still feel OK so I may put a little jog into my step again, and quit babying myself. Treatment 2 is 2 days away. Praying it goes as well as the first. Glad you got out on a bike ride. I snuck out for a run today. ;-) Nothing is better than getting out and seeing what is going on around you. You go gal. Hug sherri
June 2, 2008
Very interesting thing happened today at work. I work at a facility for persons with developmental disabilities. A staff member who has a very deep faith and has worked at the facility for years was starting her day with those she cares for. As she was sitting in the dining room looking at the windows, which had recently been painted a festive “beach” scene, she began her usual internal prayer, to the Blessed Virgin Mary for strength for the day. Teresa thank you for sharing the wonderful story. Hug Sherri
June 1, 2008
Just an update- It’s day 5 of the first treatment and I really do feel pretty good. Day 2 and 3 a little queasy and tired, but day 4 and 5 were better. Today is a beautiful day in Ohio and I’ve been outside almost all day with the kids. Hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of summer! Have a great day with the kids!
May 29, 2008
5/29/08- Today I am saddened at the news of the loss of a dear comrade suffering from painful cancer for the past 6 months. Discovered late, she endured a lot of chemo and had several complications. We are blessed with the positive memories of her pleasant stay at Northwest Ohio hospice and her beautiful room with a view. I am sure the view is even more beautiful now, May she rest in peace- as I am sure she is with her Savior! Thank you so much for the CancerCare info, I had not hear of the site. I did sign up for the teleconference, you can never be armed with to much good information. Not only are we triple negative sisters, my first name is also Theresa!
May 28, 2008
Just to let you know treatment #1 – Gemzar and Avastin went really well and so far I am feeling pretty good. I am at a different clinic than last time, but with the same local oncologist. Everyone was super and it went fine. They gave me a little bag of anti-nausea and a little dexamethasone- steroid-(samller amount than with taxotere the last time) So that is probably why I am feeling really good right now. Blessings, I am sorry you have to do this again. I am also a triple negative just beginnig treatment, was your lymph node involvement the first time round or with the reoccurance? Yes my lymph node involvement was both first time 3-5positive out of 30 and also recurrence. Note I did not have radiation the first time and I wonder if this would have helped. I am planning on pursuing radiation this time around if I get the liver thing under control and if things remain stable. To my sister- My thoughts and prayers are always with you. Remain strong and take it one day at a time. You can beat this!
For those of you who are just now getting filled in -here we go I’ll keep you updated on treatment- which starts 5/28/08 Thanks Sheri- right back at ya’!
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10.07.08 - 
Karin 
Susan 
Thanks for your support -
Good new some times come in small packages.
Hug Sherri
It is always a blessing to see good reports. Thanks for sharing.
Hugz
Mac
Dear Theresac,
Great and miraculous news…. I am so happy for you. I am very big supporter of Clincal Trials. When I was dx. 14 years ago, they immediately tested all of my children as possible bm donors though they told me it would be a very small chance of them being a match for they are only half of my DNA.None of my children matched. I was put in the Bone Marror Donor Registry and to this day a match has never been found. But, as scared as I was with this news back then, now I know this wasn’t God’s plans for me. I was put on a nasty drug called Interferon Alpha 2B where I had to give myself sub-q injections @ a dosage of 10 million units daily, and Hydrea. I can’t begin to tell you just how bad the side effects was. I was in the hospital so often and I tried so hard to hold out if I was feeling badly
and if I thought I had a problem I would try to put on a brave face for I had 3 very scared children at home. We were having private sessions with our Pastor to help them deal with this. Then, there was a new drug that was in clincal trials & it was called STI-571. But, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get into the clincal trials at that time.(Thankfully, there has many so many changes and progress with this) I followed the progress for Novartis was waiting for FDA approval. Me and my children actually watched the House of Rep (on C-Span) pass this drug together and we felt as though we had won the lottery. My onc. had me in his office 3 days later and her perfomed a BMB to establish my baseline of the leukemia. He started me on this drug which the drug company, Novartis had named this,” GLEEVEC”. After watching the progress of the leukemia patients that were in the clincal trials, I was so thrilled to now be on this drug and it gets even better, It comes in a Pill that I take daily. My Dear Friend, when I was told to get my “affairs” together for there was no treatment that could put me in remission in 1994 and to now be on this Miracle drug, I had so much hope. So, Doc had me on this drug and waited an entire year to repeat a bone marrow biopsy, though anxious to have it done sooner, of course he knew best. So, exactly 1 year later he did the BMB and the wait was on for the results. This is always tough, but I have learned to deal with it after so long. So, the day came to see my dear Dr. Weiss and when he came into the exam room he was smiling so big and he always greets me with a friendly HUG, and he said, I have some amazing news for you. Patty we are in REMISSION! Can you believe that? What a miracle this is. So, I am sure that you are thinking this is going into a mini-series but I am going to cut to the chase. This new drugs seem to be doing wonderful changes to your body. Clinical Trials are wonderful for they are making such amazing advances so please enjoy the benefits of this and keep me updated on your progress. God Bless you and keep those Positive thoughts going. Hugs and Prayers, Patty
Thanks everyone for the comments and support. Patty you have hit the nail on the head describing all the emotions on waiting for scan results and the determination to raise our children. I really admire you and find a lot of hope in your story- Thank you for sharing!
Hooray! Keep those thoughts POSITIVE!
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