8/1 update on my battle against breast cancer

Hi everyone,

Well, let's see.....what has happened since we last spoke? O.K., Dr. Kato gave me two treatments of Herceptin by itself and I didn't have any allergic reactions to the medicine! Praise God! Thank you so much for all your prayers.....they worked! This week I started a new chemo along with the Herceptin. The chemo is called Abraxane. It's considered a pretty agressive chemo for metastic breast cancer, so it should do the trick. It has all the expected side effects (e.g. nausea, headache, muscle/joint pain, fatigue, irritable bowel, mouth sores, etc.) But, so far, I'm doing relatively well. I have some nausea, but the anti-nausea medicine is taking the edge off. I have the headache, fatigue, muscle and joint soreness.....it's like having a really bad case of the flu. But I'm managing by the grace of God! Woo Hoo.....one down and 7 to go.

So, the plan is that I will have the Abraxane/Herceptin treatments once a week for eight weeks. Assuming there will be not additional complications with this chemo, I will start radiation the end of September or the beginning of October for three months. I will be having radiation 5 days a week for about 10-15 minutes a day. Herceptin will continue weekly until August of next year. So, by the beginning of the new year, I should be just on the Herceptin and moving right along.

My PET Scan is this coming Tuesday (Aug. 5th) to see if the cancer has spread to my lungs or anywhere else for that matter. Whatever the results, I know I'm going to be fine. It may end up being difficult, but I'm a tough cookie. And with all of your prayers......I'm definitely in good hands with the Lord.

Well, I meet with Dr. Kato on Thursday, Aug. 7th to go over the PET Scan results, the second pathology results and to have my next chemo/herceptin treatment. I will keep you informed of any changes, progress, that sort of thing.

Take care and God Bless you all!
Noelle