6/20 update on my battle against breast cancer

Hi everyone,

Well, last week the doctors started me on a new chemo (Taxol) and the HER2 protein synthetic antibody (Herceptin). The IV treatment was to take about 5 hours, 4 for the Taxol and 1 for the Herceptin. However, there were some complications during the infusions. I started having chest pains and an allergic reaction. They had to give me steroids and Benadryl. It ended up taking about 7 hours all together. Then the next day I had my Neulasta shot which forces the bone marrow to produce white blood cells.

This treatment doesn’t cause nausea with me, thank goodness. It does, however, cause excruciating bone pain which is only intensified by the Neulasta shot. So, they gave me some pretty potent pain drugs (Dilauded) which only dulled the pain to be somewhat bearable. It still was painful. Then I started having chest pains again and hives. They’ve had me on steroids and Benadryl since I’ve had the treatment. There are concerns with the amount of steroids I’m taking because they are somewhat dangerous. The steroids completely wipe out the immune system which is already compromised by the chemo.

I went in this week to get my Herceptin treatment and they decided not to give it to me until my complications die down. The port-catheter in my chest has hives over it and hurts as well, so I’m going to see the surgeon today to see if it is infected and needs to be replaced.

Please keep me in your prayers. Please pray that my body will be able to take the Taxol/Herceptin treatments without any complications. I only have 6 more weeks of treatment with the Taxol, but I have 12 more months of the Herceptin treatment. Please pray for protection as well so I don’t catch an infection and that my port-catheter heals.

Also, Hannah Reyes sent out an invitation to participate in helping with meals for me. The website she is using is www.foodtidings.com which is a website to manage food schedules for family or friends in need. If you feel the Lord leading you to help out with meals or know someone who may be interested, you can pick a day by clicking on the link below.

http://www.foodtidings.com/SignUp.aspx?ScheduleGuid=2e4ec021-ffa8-498b-9555-545e4123a820

I continue to say thank you for all your support and prayers, but I find “thank you” is such an insufficient phrase to express my heart’s gratitude. I hope you all know how deeply I appreciate everything you’ve done and continue to do. Thank You and God bless you.


Blessings,Noëlle