Well a lot has happened since that last blog. I had to leave Ibrance/Faslodex behind me after 4 months because the tumor markers kept going up and I started getting subcutaneous "bumps" which could equate cancer. Also when I went for a chest CT due to prolonged cough, they saw something in the liver which my oncologist ordered a new CT with contrast to the abdomen so she can tell if it is cancer or not, but no change in treatment this time.

The other incredibly good news is that my daughter passed the law bar exam and was admitted and sworn in as a lawyer in the Florida Law Bar Association! I feel so proud of her and she has been offered and accepted a fellowship in Naples, Florida with a ton of benefits, so we are moving to the Naples area.

Fortunately my clinic belongs to Florida Cancer Specialists and Research Institute which has 4 different clinics in the Naples area so it will be relatively easy to transfer my cancer care over there. I've also gotten an application for the handicapped transportation system and while the application is being processed I get 21 trips.

So all in all not bad, I just hope whatever is in the liver its dead.

Aurora

Hello friends:

This is my June/July post.

I am feeling well and treatment is still the same, tumor markers have gone down to normal range, but my oncologist and I agreed to have a PET scan so we can see overall how I'm doing. The PET is scheduled for July 20th. I usually don't suffer from "scanxiety" but this time is different for two reasons: 1) this is the first PET in two years and 2) it will tell whether or not Ibrance/Faslodex are working.

I started the 4th cycle of Ibrance/Faslodex last Wednesday. The only side effects are nausea in the mornings which I combat with Zofran 8 mg, soreness at the site of the shots and fatigue but they are tolerable. My hair seems to have stop growing, it feels limp and Ibrance is suppose to cause hair to thin out so I am thinking this is as much as it's going to grow which isn't much.

My General Practioner who I've been seeing since 2013 is moving to another practice and although I can move with him, it's not very feasible since it's too far from where I live. Another doctor will be taking over his patients and I feel like I'm going to have to "train" him on all of my health issues. I haven't decided yet to stay or to follow him to the other clinic, it depends on whether or not someone, my daughter or my son-in-law can drive over to the new clinic, we shall see.

Thank you for whatever readers are here and till next time.

Aurora

As promised here's the May's post. I am continuing on the Ibrance/Faslodex treatment and after just one cycle (21 Ibrance pills and 6 Faslodex shots) my tumor markers have gone down! So this means the treatment is working and I hope it will continue to do so for many months/years.


This treatment is what is called a "targeted" chemotherapy and therefore it attacks only the cancerous cells. This means my hair is growing back! It's being so long I don't remember what I look like with hair but I'm looking forwarded to it. Side effects are mild compared to Abraxane. I get a little nauseous but take Zofran and for the most part feel fine.


I went to see the Orthopedic doctor who did my hip replacement surgery and he took x-rays. Everything is in the right place and since I have no pain I will see him in 3 months and then every six and then once a year. I'm still getting physical therapy twice a week but it may be soon coming to an end since I've advanced as much as I can given the fact that the Orthopedic doctor has said he feels "more comfortable" if I continue walking with my walker "forever". So walking with a cane or by myself is not a goal he has for me and the PT can't keep me on forever without advancing goals.


It's been 2 years and 10 months since the mets were discovered during surgery to my femur and I'm still alive and kicking thank God. So I am positive to be able to continue to be around maybe for at least until the next grandchild comes along.


Well friends, that's all for now. Keep on keeping on.


Aurora

This is my April entry I will write a second one t the end of May. The newest in treatment is that my tumor markers went up so my oncologist switched me from chemo to a new combo recently approved by the FDA. Ibrance which is a hormone inhibitor in pill form and Faslodex shots. I've been getting the Faslodex shots two at a time on my buttocks every two weeks. After the third cycle the shots will be once a month. The Ibrance (pills) are daily for 21 days and 7 days off. I am happy about this switch because it has less side effects and is supposed to be more effective.


The other news is that my dear daughter got married! She now has a complete family and my grandson now has his "daddy". I'm so happy for them!


This is going to be a short one, I promise to write more soon.


Aurora

Hi! The results came back from the bone scan. And the doctor said it shows improvement over the previous scan. So she's going to consider taking me off chemo and putting me back on a less aggressive treatment. Perhaps Faslodex which is an injection on the buttocks once a month, no longer an infusion! But we shall see what she recommends.

I had my second chemo in the 10th cycle this week and next week it's my off week. Then the week after I'll see the doctor again and that's when I shall know if I'm going to continue receiving chemo or something else.

I'm grateful that I was able to attend my daughter's law school graduation and it looks like I'll also be able to attend her wedding coming up in a few weeks. So yay! I'm happy that this disease has not taken anything from me and I pray that I can continue living life and making memories with my family.

Thank you for your support.

Aurora

I'm back!

Sorry I haven't written anything since October last year (2015), the hip replacement surgery occurred on October 16th and a week later I was sent to a rehab center. However two weeks later I had to go back to the hospital because the wound was leaking a lot of water and blood to the point that the bed sheets were soaked. So they opened the wound under general anesthesia thinking that it was an infection which would have meant a longer stay in the hospital, fortunately it wasn't an infection it was just a seroma or accumulation of liquids. So a few days later I was sent home. So that brings me to December, in December my daughter went on a much needed vacation so my best friend from Mexico , her name is Alma, came to stay with me while my daughter was away.  Alma is a beautician and has taken courses in giving massages and so she "drained" the lymph nodes around the wound and finally the drain came off. I get physical therapy twice a week and I am already walking using the walker, I have no pain whatsoever and my leg has recovered an upright position. I am also getting chemo still and thankfully I don't have too many side effects. A little nausea now and then and fatigue, but altogether I feel quite well. Last Monday I had a bone scan to see if the chemo is working, the chemo I'm getting is called Abraxane. On Wednesday I had my yearly mammogram and next week Wednesday I will meet with my oncologist to see the results of those tests.

I am thankful that my treatments have not impacted my quality of life as I read of many others who suffer from severe side effects. I pray that I continue this way and that I may be able to stay around for as long as I possibly can.

I promise from today on I will resume keeping my blog updated in the chance that someone reads and benefits from it.

Aurora

This time I'm late with my monthly blog so hopefully that means there will be two in October.

Well, the news is that I will be having hip replacement surgery on October the 16th. This is on the same leg that they put a rod back in 2013 when they found the breast cancer had spread to the bones. The reason for the surgery is that the "cap" that joins the femur with the hip dissolved due to mbc and the rod they put is sticking into the hip bone causing unbelievable pain. The orthopedic surgeon labels this high risk surgery but I decided to go with it anyway because regardless of how much longer I get to live I don't want to be in constant pain.

I read an article of a 72 year old woman with metastatic disease who went through the same procedure even though her doctors told her it wasn't worth it for the time she had left to live. But she went ahead with it and lived 2 more years after the surgery.

All I want I to be pain free and to attend my daughter's law school graduation in December. I'll be praying for God to take the doctor's hand and for me to come out victorious through this.

Aurora