Visit to the Oncologist - 8/19/05

 
The last update was about three weeks ago, at the end of July. Since then, Robin's wounds have been healing very quickly. Because she has been off the chemotherapy for several months, she is starting to feel normal again. She has even been able to imbibe in her favorite libation, Tequila! As a matter of fact, our friends had a "Tequila Tasting Party" (like a wine tasting party, only better) in her honor last weekend. We had a great time, and the group decided that "Milagro" tequila was the best, beating even tequila costing twice as much.

The Friday before the party, August 12th, we saw Robin's surgeon, Dr. Mason, and he decided that she no longer needed to come unless a problem developed. I still need to pack the wounds with saline soaked gauze, but they were nearly covered with new skin, so he felt she was doing very well. Dr. Mason said he was going to miss Robin's smile, but it was a good thing that she was healing so well.

This Friday, August 19th , Robin visited her oncologist, Dr. McClure. She inspected the wounds and felt they were healed enough to start chemo again. Since Dr. McClure will be out of the office next week, she scheduled Robin for August 30th so that she will be available if there are any problems with the new chemicals. In the meantime, Robin will be scheduled to get some new scans (bone scans and CAT scans) to see if there is any change.

Dr. McClure wants Robin to be treated with doxorubicin liposomal (also known as DOXIL), which is Doxorubicin encapsulated within a lipid (fat) to "time-release" the Doxorubicin. Because it is time-released, Robin won't need to wear a pump for three days and the doctor said that the after-effects should be less pronounced. Robin will also be treated with Taxol (a.k.a., Paclitaxel). Both chemicals cause hair loss, so Robin's furry head will soon be bare again. (If you haven't seen her furry head, ask her). After twelve weeks (four rounds) of chemo, she will take 6 weeks of radiation (five days a week). This should be the end of her immediate treatment plan. She will continue to undergo more tests about four times a year. If there is no new sign of cancer, the tests will be spaced further apart until they are annual.

Robin has been reading and asked Dr. McClure some pointed questions about her cancer situation. She agreed that Robin's situation is very serious. Neither of the cancers are responsive to hormonal treatments, so that limits the treatment options. Robin read that her probability of surviving beyond five years is less than 40%, and Dr. McClure nodded. She felt that the Inflammatory Breast Cancer in the left breast was in remission, but that the "garden-variety" cancer in her right breast was still a big concern because it had spread into the lymph nodes. She told Robin that this was going to be a difficult road. I think we knew this, but hearing it from Dr. McClure made an impact on Robin.

Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. She has received cards and letters from folks, and they definitely help to perk her up a bit. Please continue to pray for her recovery.

Love and thanks,

Larry & Robin

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