PET Scan results

My scans (both PET and CAT) yesterday went just fine. I managed to drink the thick berry beverage and keep it down. I don't know what percentage is made up of sugar, but it serves the purpose of aiming right for those sugar-loving cancer cells.

Today Dan and I met with Dr. Nichols and she reviewed both scans with us. The bottom line is that we are cautiously optomistic. The cancer in the bone regions (lumbar spine, pelivs, sternum and ribs) has regressed and is even hard to see in places. It is also coninuing to regress in my lymph nodes. We thank God, my doctor and her expertise, the meds and all of you for holding us up in your thoughts and prayers. My liver, on the other hand, seems to have a mind of its own. Some of the lesions are smaller while others appear to have grown. Radiation may be an option after the cancer is put into remission in the other areas. If I am correct about this, the radiation is more effective if it focuses on one organ without the threat of cancer waiting to return from the bones or lymph nodes. (Don't quote me on this!) Dr. Nichols also prefers to wait on radiation because of the negative effect that it can have have on bone marrow. I need those white cells to be healthy!

I will have the current chemo drugs in Oct. and Nov. and then start my 1 or 2 month break just before Thanksgiving. In the meantime, I will be given a monthly injection of Faslodex (anti-estrogen med) to help keep things stable during my break.

We are feeling good and know that there are many options out there for breast cancer patients. I continue to build my immune system through nutrition and am considering a yoga class for breast cancer patients/survivors. It's getting difficult to find time to fit it all in, but Dan insists, and I agree, that taking care of myself has to come first right now (and hopefully for a long time!)

With love,
Linda