Hair We Go Again :)

I had an appointment with Dr. Gupta today. He said that he wants me to complete 2 more rounds of chemo before he does another scan. He was pleased that I am feeling okay so far with these chemo drugs. I have had a few side effects pop up, but nothing major. The biggest news is that my hair started falling out last week, so Rob had to shave my head. Kendal is probably bothered by it more than anybody, because she thinks it really makes me look like I am sick. She said, "Oh, great! I guess that means I am going to have to ride the bus to school this year." She is really worried about me and scared that I won't be able to take care of her. Even though I have had treatments recently, she doesn't remember what it was like when I was really sick from the chemo. She was just 4 years old then. So far, this treatment has not had that effect on me and I have been able to do my usual "mom" things. I am so grateful for that. We were able to go on our Orlando trip as planned. We had a great time and are so thankful for the opportunity to get away. An added bonus to the trip was that Rachel's AAU basketball team finished in the top 12 in the Championship Division at the National Tournament. We also really enjoyed hanging out with my sister-in-law, Michele, and nieces, Aubrey and Sasha. The girls loved being with their cousins. I will complete cycle 2 of round 2 of chemo on Thursday morning. My blood work was good, so I do not have to get any type of white cell booster shots prior to the chemo. We were really happy about that. Please continue to pray for us as we continue this journey.

Hit a Snag

I got along fine with my first cycle of chemo last week. I did not have any bad side effects and the nausea meds worked great. However, we hit a little snag yesterday when my blood tests came back. My counts were too low, so I could not get chemo today as scheduled. I received a Neupogen shot yesterday and then got bloodwork done again this afternoon. Thankfully, the shot worked and got my counts back to where they needed to be. I will get my second cycle of chemo tomorrow at 11:20 and then a Neulasta shot Friday afternoon. I will have a week off after that. Please continue to pray that this chemo works to shrink the tumors and that my body stays strong for the fight!

Teresa had chemo on Wednesday and has not experienced any complications. Fortunately, we were able to get away for a few days without the kids in order to attend a retreat at French Lick. This meant that she only had to take care of herself and enabled her to get plenty of rest. She has another treatment scheduled this Wednesday. In addition, she will also get a shot on Thursday to boost her white blood count. From our previous experiences, this shot is what will wipe her out for about a day. She is not looking forward to getting it but she knows it is a necessary evil. Thank you all for your continued prayers and concerns. We are very fortunate to have each of you in our lives.

The results from the PET Scan were not what we had hoped. It showed that the tumor on her liver has grown significantly enough to warrant starting chemo again. As a result, Teresa will start it on Wednesday, June 20 at 1:00 p.m. Dr. Gupta has decided to use Gemsar and Taxol this time around. His goal is to "back it into a corner" in hope of trying some sort of treatment aimed directly at cutting the blood supply off to the area where the tumor is growing. He is not sure of an exact procedure but is going to talk to some colleagues this next week at a conference. As you can imagine, Teresa is upset about the idea of starting chemo again. However, the good news from the PET Scan was that only one other small area showed up. This was located on her right hip. This Sunday is Teresa's 41st birthday. So, we have a couple of celebrations planned. One of them is a trip to the Oceanaire Seafood Room on Friday evening with some great friends. Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers. They have been answered time and time again over the last 3 years. We have no reason to believe they won't be this time as well. Rob

Results

I just wanted to let everyone know the latest results. The ultrasound showed that the tumors in my liver are still about the same size and nothing new showed up there. However, my tumor marker numbers increased. I will be getting a PET Scan on Monday, June 11th at 3:00. I will get the results from Dr. Gupta on Tuesday, June 12th at 1:00. Please continue to pray for us during this time of uncertainty.

We apologize for not keeping the blog up-to-date. It has been a busy 8 weeks with school functions, dance/gymnastics, and travel basketball. On Monday, June 4, T will have an ultrasound on her liver to see how the tumor is reacting to the hormone therapy (Aromasin). Hopefully, she will get great news on Tuesday, June 5 at an appointment with Dr. Gupta. Please shoot up an extra prayer for her when you get a chance. There is no doubt that they have been answered up to this point. Thank you all for your continued love and support. Rob

Quick Update

I had an ultrasound on my liver on Monday, April 9th. We met with Dr. Gupta yesterday for the results. The main tumor in the liver is considerably smaller and my tumor markers were down to 57. We are thrilled with the great results! I have been feeling really good and was hoping for good news.

I will get another ultrasound of that same area on June 4th to see if there have been any changes. I will continue my current treatment plan, since it seems to be working. I am also thankful that the new medicine does not have any bad side effects.

Thank you for keeping me and my family in your prayers. We continue to be amazed at the blessings God has bestowed upon us.