March 3, 2006 [Friday] Recent Cancer News

After my visit with my Doctor yesterday to go over the breast biopsy and Bone scan, here is the news. The cancer is in stage 4. Even though breast cancer is not good news, the biopsy did show two good signs. It is android carcinoma, highly treatable. That mine is receptive to a treatment not as harsh as chemotherapy. So I started that medication today called Tamoxifen. There is a chance this drug alone can kill the breast cancer and some aspects of the wondering cancer cells within my body. If it does not it may at least slow it from spreading, if it does not show a positive improvement, then there is another drug, that can be used that is also not as harsh as chemo. That’s a start for now. Both of these drugs should NOT make me lose my hair.

The bone scan did show the bone cancer is wide spread from the top of my spine to the very bottom, to include many ribs. Also prominent on my right clavicle, my sternum and manubrium. Also within the left sacrum and involving both hips and the right ischial ramus (which is why I have a hard time walking). Mainly my entire torso area, but not into my legs and arms.

I have not heard from the Moffit Cancer Center so the Doctor is going to try and call some of the Physicians there, by sidestepping the board of admissions. He says that the major radiation really does need to be started on my main skeletal bones, immediately. Before it does more damage that can not be reversed. Such as my ability to walk, and main joint areas. Will just have to wait and see what he can accomplish in that area with Moffit, since I don’t have insurance.

Pretty much all that was expected, so it was not a real shock to me. But the good news was on the breast cancer side of it, and how it can hopefully be treated. I may have to have Chemo down the road for the rest of the cancer, but at least not as much at this point if the Tamoxifen works.

I still need to have one more scan done to see if by chance the cancer is in any of my organs, such as kidneys, liver, lungs and brain. That appt. should be scheduled by tomorrow. Let us pray that the cancer will not be found anywhere else. That would be the worst.

He now has put me on liquid morphine, but I took a dose today and that did not help the pain either, he really thought it would help tremendously. Seems nothing will. He did say if the Tamoxifen starts to work and the main areas of cancer start to reduce then some of the pain may subside just from the current inflammation caused pain. Again, lets pray for that. Other than that I now have a prescription to help with nausea. I have had a problem eating, so I have lost a bit of weight. Mainly caused from the pain making me lose my appetite, or making me sick to my stomach. I try my best to eat when I can, because I need my strength, but mind over matter does not always work. I do manage pretty well with the BOOSTS nutritional drinks, so at least I am getting the much needed vitamins and minerals my body needs.

Just wish I felt better so I could wear my sexy skinny clothes that have been hanging unworn in my closet for a few years; since I was last at this weight. But I doubt my pets would give a crap, or even notice if I laid in bed looking all pretty or just stayed in my pj’s looking all frumpy. LOL. Well that’s the great thing about them, they love me no matter what. And since I have been sick they all have been much more attentive.

It really sucks having to lay around all the time, with nothing but time to sit and think. That can get to me.

Whelp. that is it for now. Don’t want to stay sitting up for too long. Will update when I hear something about Moffit or results from PET Scan.