Comprehensive Update--Good News!--Almost NED (only two small lung nodules to go)--through Megace and

bell_ella said:

What do U mean by my tumor cells were ER and PR
What do you mean by 'since my tumor cells were strongly ER and PR +,'?
How do you find out about it and then wheat do you do with that information?

Sara Zipora said:

Your wonderful update
I am overjoyed at your wonderful results. Especially since you became your own best doctor! I pray you will dance at your grandchildren's weddings and see Great Grandchildren!

Sadly, and not to rain on your parade but to soften the blow to readers or lurkers who don't have such great results,I am writing as a fly in the ointment. After four taxol Carbo treatments I had two Doxil carbo. Then Meggace for maintenance. Was NED, but Within eight months after chemo ended, five months after CT, and on megace the whole time, felt pressure on my bowels, constipation, and got a CT. I had a tumor the size of a grapefruit. All my bloods and Ca 125 were dandy even the day before surgery!
It was end of Oct oh first thing Doc said is stop Meggace.

I had switched to a Organic Mediterranean, mostly no red meat and only some chicken and more fish diet a la Servan Schreiber AntiCancer book.
I also do half an hour on the treadmill six days a week. My Dx after first surgery was and is Stage IV Grade III Uterine Clear and Mixed cell adenocarcinoma.

In Oct. Had tumor out and colon resected. Now on Gemzar and Carbo but my white and platelet count quite low as well as red blood count, anemic. Seems like last year 's chemo compromised my system. The chemo protocol now is Gemzar Carbo, then eight days later Gemzar. Then two weeks later both again. Twice my system couldn't take it, extreme 'wet rag syndrome' ,me, for three weeks that I ended up having Gemzar carbo once every three weeks which I had last Thursday.. Now waiting for Thursday blood tests and next Monday's results of next Sunday's CT.
Am not 'up' self 'cause I can't get to work or out of the house as I need to rest pretty much all the time in between two hour activities.

Wishing us all years of NED, joy, good news and health,

Sara

Sara Zipora said:

Update on me ,CT was Sunday last, Results yesterday, Tuesday
Well,
There was an increased size of a very small lymph node. But the problem seems to be near surgical entry/exit of most recent recurrence surgery and colon resection and debulking of 8 cm mass.
It seems near internal staples , sort of x marks the spot there is 'spongy ' round 2-3 cm mass. They are now suggesting PET scan.
I am still somewhat experiencing diarrhea from drinking 'dye' stuff three days later and am not looking forward to rebeginng with similar stuff early next week.
A second oncologist suggested waiting three more weeks so I can finish fourth round of 1 per three week Gemzar/ carboplatin and in three weeks Pet will be more definitive.
Another Onco, mine is insistent that I do pet next week which will be two weeks from last Tx and a few days before next one, Thursday.
Blood, whites,platelets and reds still Very Low !

Radiologist who read scans feels cancer growing and chemo not working so why delay radiation treatment for magical number of four chemo set. But he does say he isn't an Onco.

So warriorettes, what do you guys say?

Sara

P.s. ironically my mood is better as I feel there is data and beginnings of plan!

Sara Zipora said:

Your note
Dear Helen,
Thanks so much. Made a PET appointment for Sunday, but can postpone if need be, put in call to my main Onco and will raise questions.
Thanks for your input.

Sara

Rewriter said:

Your main onco
Sara--

I seem to remember that your main gyne-onco is Peter Dottino at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC. Is this correct? If so, then I would trust anything Dr. Dottino says; he is one of the finest gyne-oncs in the country and the mentor of my fantastic gyne-onc.

Best of luck to you.

Jill

daisy366 said:

Bella - Hormone testing
My doctor suggested doing hormone testing on my tissue (samples are saved from surgery). Doctor will use this info (as they do with the tissue assay/functional profile) to determine if hormone therapy will be beneficial.

My results were 95% hormone negative - my doc said that hormones would not benefit me.

It makes sense to have these tests early on so docs have information to help with decisions. Sadly not all doctors do this. That is one major benefit of this website - gaining information for us to be proactive in our own treatment.

I encourage you to talk to your doctor about this and perhaps even ask if there are any other tests that can be done. Definitely discuss the functional profile too (test chemo sensitivity).

My best to you. Mary Ann