DOGGONE IT!
From: Nancy Grim <wolfwomen@me.com>
Date: December 1, 2010 8:31:13 PM EST
To: "Posterous (wolfwomen)" <post@wolfwomen.posterous.com>
Subject: DOGGONE IT!
DOGGONE IT!
Today was the important appointment with Dr. Emmens at Johns Hopkins. That is, it was supposed to be an important appt. except for the fact that my oncologist here neglected to call, or fax, the needed records so she was unable to evaluate my scans or discuss Dr. Peroutka's recommendations for a different chemo drug. I explained as best I could what the scans had shown and what Dr. P. had said, but I'm no expert and I was extremely disappointed that the necessary papers and explanation had not reached Dr. Emmens for the appt.
Dr. Emmens will call Dr. Peroutka tomorrow to get the needed info, but her preference would be that I drop the Abraxane and Avastin altogether and try Xeloda which is apparently a whole different type of drug. Xeloda is taken in pill form but I will have to go in once a month to get an infusion of Zometa (which I have been taking all along - this drug is a support medication to help reduce complications such as fractures & pain produced by bone metastasis). I believe I will take the Xeloda twice a day after meals for two weeks, followed by a week "off" and then another week on the pills with an infusion of Zometa at the end of the week. Another CT scan will be done following that, as well as a bone scan. This is a different protocol than Dr. P. had. Oh, yes, and I plan to have these done at Hopkins from now on. For a large hospital they seem to be very well-run and the majority of the staff are very friendly and helpful.
Just thought I would bring you up-to-date. I'm sure I'll have more to report soon.
Nancy
Hannah & Chloe batheing together
Clau, Mike & Kelley
Some of the jokes are a little hard-to-take
Kelley's Thanksgiving table, turkey resting at the end
Mike snoring his heart out
Heading out
Dinner at Ye Olde College Inn