In the past two weeks, I have been desperately searching for answers. There are so many questions rolling around in my mind. How can cancer continue to grow during chemo? Why Emily? Who can I blame for this mess? The answers hold little comfort, yet I continue to ask the questions.
Emily's surgeon did shed some light on my main concern. Was this new tumor missed in the first round of scans or did it just sprout fresh sometime in the past 3 months? Chances are, it was there all along. Because Emily is so young, her breast tissue is very dense and at the time of her original body scans, the tumor was indefinable. The doctors can only work with what they can see on the scans, so there is no one at fault for missing this little devil. Rats - I really wanted to sue someone!
How can the cancer continue to grow and spread during chemo? Unfortunately, chemo cannot kill a tumor that has already formed. It works only on cancer cells at a microscopic level. Once they create a tumor, the only thing that can even attempt to shrink or eliminate it is radiation. Bummer. Alas, this new information leads me to the conclusion that I have to stop searching for a culprit to blame and start focusing my energy into something more positive.
The little silver lining on the dark cloud of breast cancer is that Emily no longer has to have radiation therapy, according to the panel of experts who reviewed her case. We are relieved to hear that piece of happy news because Emily has such sensitive skin that we though radiation might be really unpleasant for her. We will take all the good news we can get!
The next steps in the process are surgery on Friday the 18th (yep, it got bumped by a day already), a month or so of healing time, then another 12 weeks of chemo. Please keep good thoughts and prayers coming her way this week, especially on Friday!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Great job, Cam!
It was a cold and nasty day up on Mt. Bachelor on Saturday but Cameron braved the elements and skied the whole day with the Riders for the Cure. He raised $1000 and was the 4th highest fundraiser at the event. Because of the value of his pledges, he also took home some great prizes like a white water rafting trip for 2, new ski goggles and backpack, a Zumiez gift card, and some other hats and t-shirts! The event raised $12,500 and despite the weather, it was well worth the effort. Thanks for participating in Emily's honor, Cameron. We are all so proud of you and love that you have such a generous spirit and kind heart. A big thank you also goes out to our family and friends who contributed to this worthy cause. Your financial support helped make this even more meaningful. Friday, April 4, 2008
A beautiful brain
The full body scan came back clear. There is no evidence of cancer anywhere else in Em's body, just the newest little lump. It measures approximately 1 cm, which is about the size of a marble. Her first tumor was just over 2 cm so this new one is a fast growing and resistant little sucker. She had an MRI yesterday along with the full body scan and the surgeon told her she had a beautiful brain. What a compliment!
She is scheduled for surgery on April 17th, though the full extent of her surgery and subsequent treatment are still up in the air. Her doctors are presenting her case to a panel of experts next Thursday to determine the best course of action. In the meantime, she has scheduled consultations with various surgeons, oncologists and plastic surgeons. Her cancer is considered "triple negative" meaning it isn't estrogen fed, progesterone fed or HER-2 positive. This is a rare combination and very aggressive.
As if she needed a little more stress and upheaval, she has decided to move out of her apartment and up to Vancouver to live with our parents throughout the rest of the treatment period. All of these months without working and surprisingly huge medical bills made this decision a no-brainer. Ideally we will have her moved out before the surgery and she can recuperate in comfort at the purple palace.
We will post information as it presents itself. Thanks for continuing to keep her in your prayers!
She is scheduled for surgery on April 17th, though the full extent of her surgery and subsequent treatment are still up in the air. Her doctors are presenting her case to a panel of experts next Thursday to determine the best course of action. In the meantime, she has scheduled consultations with various surgeons, oncologists and plastic surgeons. Her cancer is considered "triple negative" meaning it isn't estrogen fed, progesterone fed or HER-2 positive. This is a rare combination and very aggressive.
As if she needed a little more stress and upheaval, she has decided to move out of her apartment and up to Vancouver to live with our parents throughout the rest of the treatment period. All of these months without working and surprisingly huge medical bills made this decision a no-brainer. Ideally we will have her moved out before the surgery and she can recuperate in comfort at the purple palace.
We will post information as it presents itself. Thanks for continuing to keep her in your prayers!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Against all odds
Emily's cancer has returned.
She found a new lump right near her surgery scar last Friday morning. The doctor brought her right in for another mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. The results were shocking to all of us, even the doctor. I guess it is rare (though not unheard of) to have cancer continue to spread during chemo. She is scheduled for another full body scan on Thursday to determine what type of cancer this one is and to make sure that there is no cancer elsewhere in her body. Once they get the results of the scan, they will schedule another surgery for her as quickly as possible.
Going forward, this means at least one or two more surgeries and then starting chemo all over again. Other than just these facts, all I have to offer is stunned silence. I can't believe she has to endure this again. Em, you know I love you and I'm heartbroken that this isn't the end of this nightmare.
She found a new lump right near her surgery scar last Friday morning. The doctor brought her right in for another mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. The results were shocking to all of us, even the doctor. I guess it is rare (though not unheard of) to have cancer continue to spread during chemo. She is scheduled for another full body scan on Thursday to determine what type of cancer this one is and to make sure that there is no cancer elsewhere in her body. Once they get the results of the scan, they will schedule another surgery for her as quickly as possible.
Going forward, this means at least one or two more surgeries and then starting chemo all over again. Other than just these facts, all I have to offer is stunned silence. I can't believe she has to endure this again. Em, you know I love you and I'm heartbroken that this isn't the end of this nightmare.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Cameron Rides for the Cure!
This is Cameron.
OK, that was Cameron about 14 years ago, but I love that picture and finally I had an excuse to publish it! This is Cameron now.
Em and I consider Cam to be our nephew, though that isn't technically correct. He is our cousin Holly's son but given our unusual gene pool, he might as well be our nephew. Yet, I digress....
On April 5th, Cameron is participating in Mt. Bachelor's Riders for the Cure, where he will be "Riding for Emily" and trying to raise money and awareness for the Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project. Last year's top individual fundraiser brought in $1300 and we are trying to help Cameron top that amount. RFTC is what they call a "Jam Session" where skiers and snowboarders ride rails and do tricks in the half pipe and there are limbo contests and other fun activities up at the mountain. Everyone dresses in pink and can dedicate their ride to a particular person or just for the cause in general. Cam will be decked out in a pink shirt with pictures of Em all over it and (hopefully) a tricked out pink helmet. We will definitely post pictures of him looking his pinkest!
If you would like to sponsor Cam as he rides for Emily, please follow this link to my Uncle Earl's website where he has created a fast and easy way to pledge your support with PayPal, cash or check. Go to http://www.earlsphotos.com/ and click on the Riders for the Cure link!
We all appreciate your support and are cheering Cameron on in his fundraising effort!
OK, that was Cameron about 14 years ago, but I love that picture and finally I had an excuse to publish it! This is Cameron now.
Em and I consider Cam to be our nephew, though that isn't technically correct. He is our cousin Holly's son but given our unusual gene pool, he might as well be our nephew. Yet, I digress....On April 5th, Cameron is participating in Mt. Bachelor's Riders for the Cure, where he will be "Riding for Emily" and trying to raise money and awareness for the Sara Fisher Breast Cancer Project. Last year's top individual fundraiser brought in $1300 and we are trying to help Cameron top that amount. RFTC is what they call a "Jam Session" where skiers and snowboarders ride rails and do tricks in the half pipe and there are limbo contests and other fun activities up at the mountain. Everyone dresses in pink and can dedicate their ride to a particular person or just for the cause in general. Cam will be decked out in a pink shirt with pictures of Em all over it and (hopefully) a tricked out pink helmet. We will definitely post pictures of him looking his pinkest!
If you would like to sponsor Cam as he rides for Emily, please follow this link to my Uncle Earl's website where he has created a fast and easy way to pledge your support with PayPal, cash or check. Go to http://www.earlsphotos.com/ and click on the Riders for the Cure link!
We all appreciate your support and are cheering Cameron on in his fundraising effort!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Dramatic drop
Every time Em goes in for chemo, they test her blood and check her white and red blood cell counts. For the first time, her numbers were dramatically lower for both her white and red blood cells. The doctors advised her that she is dangerously susceptible to any illness or infection right now. She is supposed to stay away from public places and anyone who might be sick AND she cannot risk getting any sort of injury, even a hangnail! Her body may not be able to fight off anything right now. There is a shot that can be given to a chemo patient at this point that could boost her immunity, but according to her insurance, she is not sick enough to receive coverage of the cost. Had her blood counts been one point lower, she would qualify. Alas, she must hide away from the world for the next couple of weeks until they can check her blood again and qualify her for the shot!
Em completed her seventh treatment on Friday. One week of feeling bad, a week of feeling good (hopefully), and one more treatment before this chapter closes and the healing and rebuilding can begin. Keep your chin up, Em. We can finally see the finish line!
Em completed her seventh treatment on Friday. One week of feeling bad, a week of feeling good (hopefully), and one more treatment before this chapter closes and the healing and rebuilding can begin. Keep your chin up, Em. We can finally see the finish line!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
3/4 of the way there!
Nothing much new to report this week. Em did improve after around 9 days of feeling pretty crummy. She had her 6th treatment on Friday and is back to feeling the pain again, but we are hopeful that it will not be as bad or last as long this time around. She is armed with a bunch of new pain medications and the name of an acupuncturist who specializes in treating chemo patients. We've heard rumors that it really does the trick but can take a while to feel the effects. Em has such a dislike of needles (especially now) that she may not choose to take the alternative medicine route. We shall see.
Six down, two to go! The first Friday of April can't get here soon enough. :)
Six down, two to go! The first Friday of April can't get here soon enough. :)
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