today's update

Marsha Mulvey
Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
in Breast Cancer #1
Today was the 2nd infusion of my new chemo combo of Abraxane and Herceptin, it went well. Last week went very well too after switching to this regimen, I (of course) am in hopes that this week will be a repeat of that. I posted a week ago that there were no pre-meds given with this but today they decided to start with them. So I had Decadron and Zofran infusions prior to the chemo.

I received a copy of last week's Metabolic Panel. Usually I get it the same day, but due to a machine being down, they had to send it out to another lab, so I just waited until today to get it. Can't say I'm happy with the findings! All 3 of the liver function indicators are now elevated and marked as high. They're not as bad as they were when this all started 18 months ago, but still a little worrisome. Along with that, I'll mention the pains in the area of the liver that are now becoming more noticeable everyday. I have had so many aches and pains during these months from the chemo that it took me a while to distinguish those from this newer kind of pain. I'll be sure to talk to Dr. S about it next Friday.

Today's CBC wasn't too bad...several highs and lows, but nothing too far out of line. There was a bit of GOOD NEWS today - my blood oxygen level was back up to 97 - much better than before. I'm no doctor but it's my body and I knew what I called the "oxygen thing" was already much better.

Let me take a moment to thank you for your words, thoughts, and prayers in response to my post last week. Since I am making this update, I didn't want to bump it up, so I hope that most of you will see this and know how much I appreciate you! Thoughts, prayers, and best wishes to all.
Marsha


MAJW - how's it going with the Xeloda? Hope you have great results!

MY TURN NOW - so we started Abraxane on the same day, how did the week go for you? Let's hope and pray that this is "great stuff" on liver mets. What's your schedule and are you getting anything else in addition?

Comments

  • Different Ballgame
    Different Ballgame Member Posts: 868
    #2
    Glad to hear some good news
    Dear Marsha,

    Very happy to hear some good news with you. Also, it sounds like the cancer is being kept in check. Though...I am not happy to hear that you are experiencing an elevation of pain. Let's hope that your doctors can take care of it for you.

    I will continue to keep you in my prayers and thoughts. I am sending you tons of well wishes

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #3
    Different Ballgame said:

    Glad to hear some good news
    Dear Marsha,

    Very happy to hear some good news with you. Also, it sounds like the cancer is being kept in check. Though...I am not happy to hear that you are experiencing an elevation of pain. Let's hope that your doctors can take care of it for you.

    I will continue to keep you in my prayers and thoughts. I am sending you tons of well wishes

    Lots of Hugs,
    Janelle

    It is great to see you post
    It is great to see you post again Marsha and to see some good news. I pray for you every day and will ofcourse continue. Please do keep us posted as to how you are doing.


    Hugs, Diane
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #4
    Blood Levels
    Hi Marsha,

    I can't comment on Abraxane but 97% oxygen is very good. That is what my oxygen level is.

    When ever I go on, restart or up a drug, my blood levels react to the change. Perhaps that is what your liver panel and cbc's are doing.

    Glad that this new drug is keeping you at a level keel and hope it will continue to do so.

    As always, sending you and thinking positive thoughts,

    Doris
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #5
    Thanks for posting~ you have
    Thanks for posting~ you have been in the thoughts and prayers of so many of the Kindreds! We rejoice in your good news, and of course hope that any "bad" numbers reverse themselves quickly. I too am being treated for liver mets~ will be starting chemo soon, but as my numbers are stable for now, my oncologist is letting me continue to try the Zometa/Faslodex combination. Next infusion/injection is Monday...

    I wish us all successful treatment plans, caring oncologists, supportive family and friends and long, happy, HEALTHY lives!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #6
    chenheart said:

    Thanks for posting~ you have
    Thanks for posting~ you have been in the thoughts and prayers of so many of the Kindreds! We rejoice in your good news, and of course hope that any "bad" numbers reverse themselves quickly. I too am being treated for liver mets~ will be starting chemo soon, but as my numbers are stable for now, my oncologist is letting me continue to try the Zometa/Faslodex combination. Next infusion/injection is Monday...

    I wish us all successful treatment plans, caring oncologists, supportive family and friends and long, happy, HEALTHY lives!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    Thanks for posting
    It's always good to hear some positive. FOcus on that! Will keep you in prayers
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #7
    skipper54 said:

    Thanks for posting
    It's always good to hear some positive. FOcus on that! Will keep you in prayers

    Glad for your update...
    As Claudia said, we've all been thinking of you....so glad your oxygen level is up....that makes things somewhat easier....perhaps your liver levels are higher due to the chemo.....the liver does detox on every thing we take....

    I'm tolerating the Xeloda quite well...Thank you for asking......also doing radiation again and the combo is doing a number on my energy level...major fatigue by the afternoon...so I just take a cozy nap.....getting a little toasted from the rads....15 down, 10 to go....

    Wishing you the best and least side effects during your treatments...keeping you in my prayers...keep us posted, we care...
    Big Hugs,
    Nancy
  • MyTurnNow
    MyTurnNow Member Posts: 2,686 Member
    #8
    Marsha, I am glad to hear
    Marsha, I am glad to hear some good news from you. Yes, let's keep our fingers crossed (and toes for that matter) that Abraxane is working. At this stage I am getting Abraxane every 3 weeks. My week wasn't too bad. I have some tingling in my fingertips along with some numbness. Not too bad though. I had some terrible bone pain but I suspect that was from the wonderful Neulasta shot I received last Saturday. I will have another treatment on September 8th and then a CT scan in the eighth week. I will continue to hope for good results for you and look for your updates!! Stay strong!

    Love and (((Hugs))),
    Debbie
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #9
    SIROD said:

    Blood Levels
    Hi Marsha,

    I can't comment on Abraxane but 97% oxygen is very good. That is what my oxygen level is.

    When ever I go on, restart or up a drug, my blood levels react to the change. Perhaps that is what your liver panel and cbc's are doing.

    Glad that this new drug is keeping you at a level keel and hope it will continue to do so.

    As always, sending you and thinking positive thoughts,

    Doris

    You are always in my prayers
    You are always in my prayers and thoughts Marsha. I know you don't post a lot, but, we all worry when we don't see an update from you.

    Hoping that you will continue to get good results!

    Hugs, Jan
  • Lynn Smith
    Lynn Smith Member Posts: 1,264 Member
    #10
    MyTurnNow said:

    Marsha, I am glad to hear
    Marsha, I am glad to hear some good news from you. Yes, let's keep our fingers crossed (and toes for that matter) that Abraxane is working. At this stage I am getting Abraxane every 3 weeks. My week wasn't too bad. I have some tingling in my fingertips along with some numbness. Not too bad though. I had some terrible bone pain but I suspect that was from the wonderful Neulasta shot I received last Saturday. I will have another treatment on September 8th and then a CT scan in the eighth week. I will continue to hope for good results for you and look for your updates!! Stay strong!

    Love and (((Hugs))),
    Debbie

    Sound pretty good
    Sounds pretty good but not what you would like.Still the blood work is good.Oxygen in the blood. Blood tests tell alot. The liver isn't want you want but an improvement. You are still in treatment.You will beat this.

    I will be thinking of you.Praying and keeping you in my Thoughts.

    Lynn Smith
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #11
    MyTurnNow said:

    Marsha, I am glad to hear
    Marsha, I am glad to hear some good news from you. Yes, let's keep our fingers crossed (and toes for that matter) that Abraxane is working. At this stage I am getting Abraxane every 3 weeks. My week wasn't too bad. I have some tingling in my fingertips along with some numbness. Not too bad though. I had some terrible bone pain but I suspect that was from the wonderful Neulasta shot I received last Saturday. I will have another treatment on September 8th and then a CT scan in the eighth week. I will continue to hope for good results for you and look for your updates!! Stay strong!

    Love and (((Hugs))),
    Debbie

    Marsha, I am thanking you
    Marsha, I am thanking you first for keeping us updated on how you are doing. I worry a lot about you, as, you seldom post about yourself.

    Second, I am very glad to see some bit of good news posted from you. I will keep praying and crossing everything that I can for you.


    ♠♣ Love, Susie ♠♣
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #12
    susie09 said:

    Marsha, I am thanking you
    Marsha, I am thanking you first for keeping us updated on how you are doing. I worry a lot about you, as, you seldom post about yourself.

    Second, I am very glad to see some bit of good news posted from you. I will keep praying and crossing everything that I can for you.


    ♠♣ Love, Susie ♠♣

    Marsha,
    Glad to hear the
    Marsha,
    Glad to hear the good news.
    Thanks for posting.
    Sending prayers your way.
    Hugs,
    Wanda
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #13
    skipper54 said:

    Thanks for posting
    It's always good to hear some positive. FOcus on that! Will keep you in prayers

    You stay positive Marsha,
    You stay positive Marsha, stay strong and you come here and keep us updated. I will keep praying for you and thinking only positive thoughts.
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #14
    MAJW said:

    Glad for your update...
    As Claudia said, we've all been thinking of you....so glad your oxygen level is up....that makes things somewhat easier....perhaps your liver levels are higher due to the chemo.....the liver does detox on every thing we take....

    I'm tolerating the Xeloda quite well...Thank you for asking......also doing radiation again and the combo is doing a number on my energy level...major fatigue by the afternoon...so I just take a cozy nap.....getting a little toasted from the rads....15 down, 10 to go....

    Wishing you the best and least side effects during your treatments...keeping you in my prayers...keep us posted, we care...
    Big Hugs,
    Nancy

    Good to see you posting
    Good to see you posting Nancy! Praying for you!


    Sue :)
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #15
    MyTurnNow said:

    Marsha, I am glad to hear
    Marsha, I am glad to hear some good news from you. Yes, let's keep our fingers crossed (and toes for that matter) that Abraxane is working. At this stage I am getting Abraxane every 3 weeks. My week wasn't too bad. I have some tingling in my fingertips along with some numbness. Not too bad though. I had some terrible bone pain but I suspect that was from the wonderful Neulasta shot I received last Saturday. I will have another treatment on September 8th and then a CT scan in the eighth week. I will continue to hope for good results for you and look for your updates!! Stay strong!

    Love and (((Hugs))),
    Debbie

    Praying for you Debbie and
    Praying for you Debbie and Nancy too. You are all such warriors!


    Hugs, Jan
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #16
    skipper54 said:

    Thanks for posting
    It's always good to hear some positive. FOcus on that! Will keep you in prayers

    You are in my prayers Marsha
    You are in my prayers Marsha and I am putting you on our prayer list.


    Hugs, Leeza
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #17
    Bump up!
    Bumping up as people seem to read your earlier postings.

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