Still Here

Florida is sunny and warm today. The kids are enjoying the backyard, heated pool. Yesterday we did Universal/Islands of Adventure. Today we're just relaxing.

I hate to even write it, but I received more bad news from the my oncologist yesterday when we were coming back from one of the parks. When the doctors injected me with the chemo through my back, they also took out some spinal fluid to test. It came back positive for cancer cells. The last test did not show this.

I am also feeling more pain as each day goes by. But the Vicodin helps, and when we return to Minnesota, we'll be looking at even more options for treatment.

So keep praying. I appreciate all your kind thoughts, encouragement and prayers. I really do.

MRI Report

Below is the report from my last MRI that involved 2 areas of my spine. These areas were radiated several weeks ago. You can certainly read the report, and if you're medical, you'll probably understand it. But basically it says that the areas in my spine that were scanned....that in some of the areas the cancerous lesions completely went away. And in one area, they were diminished. So although there is one part of my spine that still has the cancer, the radiation did make the area smaller, and it certainly hasn't grown. And in another area it completely went away. A huge praise to God for that.

Actual Report
Indication Leptomeningeal metastasis from breast cancer

Report:
The small enhancing nodular lesions noted along the root of the cauda equine are no longer present. In addition, the small focus of nodular enhancement in the conus medullaris at the T12 level has slightly decreased in size and no longer enhances. No evidence of new leptomeningeal metastatic disease.

The lumbar vertebral bodies and interspaces are normal. No spinal or foraminal stenosis. Normal disk height and T2 signal. The facets are normal. The paraspinal loft tissues are normal. No evidence of skeletal metastasis.

Conclusions:
Small focus of T2 signal hyperintensity in the conus at the T12 level has diminished in size since 10/8/2008 and no longer enhances.
Resolution of the previously demonstrated enhancing nodules along the roots of cauda equina.
Findings are consistent with improvement of the patient’s known leptomeningeal metastatic disease.
The lumbar spine is otherwise normal.

Now certainly you understood all that...right? Apparently, the cancer can still regrow in those areas, but I'm going to trust in the Lord and just know that He has healed me in those areas and I'm not going to worry about them anymore.


Nahum 1:9
What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

No more info really

Not really much to report here. I continue with the brain radiation, and yesterday I started the spine radiation. The treatment is all short and painless, but still an everyday (minus weekends) affair.

I guess the spine radiation can cause nausea and diahrea. But I have drugs for that if I need it. I am experiencing a lot of pain down my left leg, which is causing me to limp if not on pain meds. Motrin or something stronger usually helps.

My husband was out of town this week, but is coming back early tonight. So this weekend I'll learn more details about what has happened, and what is to come.

Not good

Another reason why I'm declaring a moratorium on all 3 hour MRI's......well, because every damn time I have an MRI they find something!

I don't really get how cancer works....at all. I don't know how you do everything the doctors tell you to do, you take all the precautions to prevent a recurrence, and yet it doesn't matter. I don't know how one day all is fine, tests are all fine, and a couple weeks later, the cancer has spread right where you don't want it to.

Obviously my MRI results were not good.

The cancer has spread to my spine. I'm not sure what the course of action is right now, but it's happening quickly. They'll continue to radiate my brain, and they will do a first radiation of my spine tonight and another dose tomorrow. I have no idea how this will affect me now.

I do know that there's a whole lot more to be done now. Something about opening up my head again, inserting some chemo drip thing or some other chemo option. I don't really know right now. I can't even think about it. I just found out a few hours ago, and am just trying to process it right now.

Please continue to pray. We need prayer.