One Year Scan

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mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 8, 2010 - 8:26pm

Met with my oncologist today to find out the results of my CT scan. Drumroll....NED!

So this makes it one year of being NED since my liver resection last February. I have to admit that this past week has been a real nailbiter for me as a friend of mine just had a recurrence at her 9 month scan. My stomach has hurt for the past 5 days from stress.

With the results of my scan I remain cautiously optimistic. I am happy about this scan but know that if I have a recurrence I will fight again. In the meantime I continue to hug my husband and children every day, exercise every day, juice every day, and take Vitamin D. My dr also just gave me a prescription for Tagamet (cimetidine) for 400 mg/2x a day. Studies have shown this to be effective in preventing metastasis.

On another good news front I met up with someone today at the outpatient facility that when diagnosed had a liver covered in tumors and was unresectable (one tumor on the main artery). After systemic and HAI treatments this gentleman was put into complete chemo remission and had absolutely no surgery. He was in today for CT results and had his 5th clean CT scan. So NED for 1 year now and no liver surgery.

I hope that some newbies find this story encouraging as I was orginally "inoperable" according to my first oncologist consult. Click on my name for my complete profile and history.

I think of all of you with love and affection,
Amy

lisa42

Posts: 3714
Joined: Jul 2008

February 8, 2010 - 8:37pm

cimetidine

Hi Amy,

Yay about your great scan results and NED status! Scanxiety can be rough, huh? I get to experience that in a couple of days myself. Hearing cases like yours definitely give hope and encouragement to those of us still seeking that NED status! Hope you have a good rest of the week following your wonderful news!

Something else that caught my eye in your post though, is about cimetidine. Dr. Cantrell in Nashville, who's been giving me my alternative therapy of Lovastatin and interferon, mentioned to me just this week about cimetidine- to read up on it and let him know if I wanted him to prescribe it for me. He said he couldn't actually take credit for learning about it, that one of his patients pointed it out to him.
The study I read about it was of colorectal patients who took it a week prior to colorectal surgery and then for a year afterwards. There was a huge percentage difference (like 20-30% difference) of patients who were alive 5 yrs later of patients who took cimetidine along with their chemotherapy vs. patients who had chemotherapy without cimetidine following their surgery. The other info I saw about it was related to a couple of lung cancer patients whose tumors shrunk away while on cimetidine.

With already having metastatsis, I am wondering the possible benefits or not of taking it and if cimetidine could help shrink away already existing mets or not. I don't think it could hurt, though, added to whatever other treatment was being given.

Anyone else heard of taking cimetidine (generic name for Tagamet, but at higher dosages)?

Lisa

mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 8, 2010 - 8:48pm

Cimetidine

I had actually been taking Zantac (ranitidine) as part of my HAI therapy. The Zantac is to prevent heartburn which can occur from the HAI pump. The study I read studied both Cimetidine and Ranitidine and found a bit superior results from the Cimetidine. In thinking about it I wonder if my oncologist (who is well-known for her HAI treatments) has been inadvertently doing a huge service to her patients who have the HAI pump by also prescribing the Zantac. Everyone with the HAI gets the Zantac (at least during active HAI treatment) and perhaps part of her success is due that prescription. It just has me thinking.

I did read the study you mentioned and I didn't understand the connection to timing (before/after surgery) but figured "why not." My DR didn't feel there was any downside to it. I also discussed Celebrex (NSAID) with her and she didn't seem keen on that given a very large study done on it didn't indicate a benefit from that particular drug. I have started a aspirin daily so I figure that will make up for part of the Celebrex treatment that I am not doing.

I am thinking of you as you head into your scans and I wish for you great results.

P_I_T_A

Posts: 133
Joined: Oct 2009

February 9, 2010 - 11:52am

Cimetidine

I used to take it for acid reflux. You can get it OTC cheap, don't need a prescription. I'm taking Protonix now, it seems to work better. My insurance doesn't cover it, but I'm fortunate that my onc has plenty of samples. Will probably go back to the Cimetidine after chemo is over. As far as reducing tumors I can't say how it helps. My polyp that came back positive when dx was 2.5cm and I was taking the Cimetidine well before my diagnosis. Maybe it was a good thing, and kept me from being stageIV. Don't really know.

-DJ

P_I_T_A

Posts: 133
Joined: Oct 2009

February 9, 2010 - 11:57am

Oh, I'm stupid...

meant to start by saying congrats on being all clear Amy, to you and your fellow patient.

-DJ

AnneCan

Posts: 3717
Joined: Oct 2009

February 8, 2010 - 8:40pm

Amy, Congratulations on this

Amy,

Congratulations on this clear scan + being NED; I am very happy for you! Enjoy!

geotina

Posts: 1736
Joined: Oct 2009

February 8, 2010 - 9:11pm

Amy

Congratulations on your good scan results now try and put cancer out of your mind. Can I ask a question, where did you get the HAI pump put in? Tina

Brenda3.16

Posts: 212
Joined: May 2009

February 8, 2010 - 9:26pm

Congratulations

Congratulations on your great scan results ! Thank you for sharing the good news. It offers us so much hope. I am really happy for you. The picture of your baby is adorable.

Love,

Brenda

mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 8, 2010 - 10:26pm

HAI pump treatment

Tina,

I live in northwest NJ and my pump was put in at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC. My oncologist is definitely renowned for this treatment. At http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/63980.cfm you can read some more about the treatment. My oncologist is the lead on the particular study referenced at the above link.

All the best to you and George,

Amy

tootsie1

Posts: 4645
Joined: Feb 2008

February 8, 2010 - 10:10pm

Woohoo!

Oh, Amy.

That's fabulous!!! I'm so happy for you! Have you stopped dancing yet?

*hugs*
Gail

mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 8, 2010 - 10:27pm

An admission...

So I did keep my clothes on and didn't dance but I did work out quite strenuously in a sports bra. Hopefully that counts!!

luv3jay

Posts: 538
Joined: May 2009

February 8, 2010 - 10:18pm

Oh Amy, I'm so happy for

Oh Amy, I'm so happy for you! You are truly blessed to get to this milestone and I continue to pray that you will never have to face this fight again! Be blessed, my friend.

-Sheri

mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 8, 2010 - 10:29pm

Thank you!

Sheri,

Thank you Sheri for your blessings and prayers. You and I started this about the same time and I think of you so much. I hope and pray for good things for you and your family and we will celebrate your NED as soon as you complete your lung surgery!!!

Love to you!
Amy

HollyID

Posts: 919
Joined: Dec 2009

February 8, 2010 - 10:36pm

AMY!!

EXCELLENT news!! Hugs those kids and dance away girl!!

Cool info about the tagamet, too. I had no idea.

kristasplace

Posts: 878
Joined: Oct 2007

February 8, 2010 - 11:55pm

Wow!

How truly inspirational! Congrats on the NED! I pray we all reach that someday...!

Hugs,
Krista

Sundanceh

Posts: 2704
Joined: Jun 2009

February 9, 2010 - 9:56am

Any :)

Way to go, Amy!

That's a big relief to have that behind you right now. Sounds like it's all lining up for you right now. Very happy for you :)

-Craig

Fight for my love

Posts: 1288
Joined: Jun 2009

February 9, 2010 - 10:58am

congratulations and thanks

congratulations and thanks for sharing the good news and the information with us.

robinvan

Posts: 1053
Joined: May 2007

February 9, 2010 - 11:45am

What a relief!

And a great cause for celebration! So good to hear Amy.

Be well...Rob;in Vancouver

ADKer

Posts: 152
Joined: Aug 2008

February 9, 2010 - 3:48pm

Great News!

That is wonderful Amy. I am so happy for you.

Kathleen808

Posts: 1931
Joined: Jan 2009

February 9, 2010 - 4:12pm

Amy,

Amy,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful news!!!! I year NED and many more to come!!

Aloha,
Kathleen

Crow71

Posts: 689
Joined: Jan 2010

February 9, 2010 - 4:26pm

Great news!! Very

Great news!! Very encouraging. You're awewsome. I'm at the cancer center finishing up treatment. I'll do a little naked dancing when I get home - except of course I'll have the pump on. Actually I'm pretty wiped out. I'll probably have to settle whith tapping my foot or nodding my head - may be I'll be able to wiggle my toes with enthusiasm. What ever the case - I'm celebrating with you.
Roger

lesvanb

Posts: 831
Joined: May 2008

February 9, 2010 - 4:52pm

Happy Day!

Many many best wishes Amy! This is such good news.

I too am one year plus 3 months NED since liver resection 10/08 (clear PET Dec 09; next CT 3/10).

Leslie

lmliess

Posts: 332
Joined: Dec 2008

February 9, 2010 - 9:20pm

YAH!

YAH to you too!!

Linda

fedester

Posts: 695
Joined: Jul 2004

February 9, 2010 - 7:08pm

cohgrats with dancing with

cohgrats with dancing with ned!!!!
many more dances ahead.
be well
never.ever give up!!
bruce

lmliess

Posts: 332
Joined: Dec 2008

February 9, 2010 - 8:00pm

I am so happy for you!

I was thinking about you yesterday and the anxiety you must have been feeling! I was just there! The night befoer is the worse...

I am so happy for you. HUGS HUGS and more HUGS!!!!

I read up on the Tagamet and emailed my dr and he said it would not hurt if that was something I wanted to do. So I think I am going to add that and a baby aspirin to my daily 'supplements'.

What are you juicing everyday? I just started back up with the juicing and I am stuck in a carrot apple rut!

mom_2_3

Posts: 856
Joined: Nov 2008

February 9, 2010 - 9:00pm

Juicing

Linda,

I always include granny smith apples and carrots as the base and add at least 2-3 of the following:

cucumbers
celery
red cabbage
kale
broccoli
broccoli rabe (this is a tough one to get down...)
ginger
whole lemon
spinach
plums
grapes

Whatever is in the fridge I will juice. I have been juicing religiously once per day (16 oz) but my husband wants me to juice 14 times per week. I made a calendar and will put it on the kitchen wall so I can check off each session. If I don't get them in during the week (2x per day) my husband said I will "have to" drink 7 glasses on the last day of each week to get the amounts in. I do wash my vegetables and fruit every 2 days and put a serving size in a tupperware container. It's a bit easier when it comes time to juice if everything is washed. I do not cut my apples even though I read that many suggest that you do.

I am also taking some other supplements including mushroom extract, resveratrol, curcumin and IP6. These are in addition to the Vitamin D (taken with calcium as recommended by my DR).

lmliess

Posts: 332
Joined: Dec 2008

February 9, 2010 - 9:19pm

Calendar

Great idea! So I am going to be a copy cat and do that too! ;-)

I am taking some other supplements also like wheatgrass, chlorella, blue green algea, a multi that has noni and milk thistle in it, my calcium and Vitamin D and now tagamet and 1 baby aspirin a day. I need to get my recent bloodwork to my naturalpath so she can update my supplements.

Again...I am so happy for you!

dorookie

Posts: 1615
Joined: Jul 2007

February 10, 2010 - 6:48pm

Wonderful News

I am so happy for you, this news is just great!

Thank you for sharing that story, it really does help a lot of people on this board to hear such great stories that brings all of us to keeping the faith.

God Bless
Beth

fedester

Posts: 695
Joined: Jul 2004

February 10, 2010 - 7:41pm

congrats amy

great news ned.
you have a great attitude and that is important fighting this beast.
be well
never,ever give up!!
bruce

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One Year Scan