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Sunday, June 16, 6:03:39 [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ]
Subject: 5TH ROUND OF CHEMO AND BRAIN MRI RESULTS


Author:
Stacy
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Date Posted: 01:55:11 04/28/06 Fri
 I went to my 5TH ROUND OF CHEMO today. All went well. My friend, Betty, that I met in chemo was supposed to come visit my today. She did not show up but then I found out she has a sore throat and a runny nose. I REALLY APPRECIATE HER CONCERN FOR MY HEALTH BY NOT BRINGING ME SOMETHING THAT COULD MAKE ME SICK. Most people do not think about that.

I had Benedryl with the chemo as usual. It wiped me out today worse than usual. I think it is because of the Valiums from yesterday.

I also received my results from BRAIN MRI. There are two positives and one negative from the results. Most people want to hear THE BAD NEWS FIRST so I will tell you that first.

Although we were looking to figure out why I have been having pains on the left side of my head, it is a good thing I insisted on an MRI. I have 3 new masses in my brain. The doctor is not sure how he wants to handle this yet because I have already had radiation and since it is more than one, I cannot have surgery. Chemo does not work on the brain. Since they are fairly small, he will do another MRI in June to check progress. If they are the same or worse, he will refer me to a neuro-oncologist at Johns Hopkins. Two of the masses are in the cerebellum and one is in the basal ganglia. The cerebellum controls your balance. I have noticed that my balance has been getting worse lately. More like it was after the radiation. The doctor said my symptoms should be from the radiation but I halfway disagree because that had improved a great deal. It has only been lately that it has not been as good.

I AM SO GLAD I LISTEN TO MY OWN BODY. I seem to know it the best! This is not the first time that I insisted on a test to the point the doctors give in. When they do, most of the time they find something that needs attention and it's not for what they were looking for. I always know when something is not right.

In perspective to the entire brain...



Specific problem areas....




AND NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS….

We were originally looking to figure out why I have been having pains on the left side of my head and left ear. The MRI did not show anything related to that. So from his perspective he still thinks it is a reaction from the chemo. “I” believe that it’s muscle related from my neck. I been going to a chiropractor and there is significant improvement. The ear pain is almost gone and the head pain is probably a good 50 to 60% better.

EVEN BETTER NEWS….

The brain MRI showed that 4 out of the 5 original masses in my brain that caused the seizure are completely gone. That would explain (to me at least) why the balance issue was better for a while. And the 5th one in the Occipital Lobe (see above picture to see it’s location and what it controls) shrunk 50%.

The red dots show where the cancer was originally....




A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVISE….

Words of advise to people WITHOUT cancer. PLEASE respect your friends and family immunity issues that have any kind of cancer. Most people’s white blood cells (called neutropenia) drop while undergoing chemo and/or radiation. That makes them susceptible to getting sick and it is harder for them to recover. Sometimes they have to hospitalized to be treated. In addition, sometimes they can get pneumonia and possibly die. When white blood cells are destroyed, patients become vulnerable to infections, and even a minor case of the flu can become life threatening.

If you’re not sure if you have a cold, the flu, any infection, or even allergies DO NOT TAKE THE CHANCE by visiting your loved one.

Last edited by author: Fri April 28, 2006 09:34:29   Edited 5 times.

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Replies:
[> Subject: latest MRI


Author:
Mary White
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Date Posted: 08:39:20 04/28/06 Fri
Hi Stacy,
You continue to amaze me. Thank God for the good news about shrinking tumors and your continued determination. As for the bad news, you've had bad news before and have managed to fight your way through it. Every time I see you out and about around the neighborhood, it reminds me of what strength you possess. Keep going--you're an inspiration to the rest of us.
Mary
[> Subject: Your MRI


Author:
Peg
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Date Posted: 12:13:29 04/30/06 Sun
Stacy,

What a shame this news came right after the good news a couple of weeks ago. You are so right to listen to your own body and insist on any tests you feel are needed. Knowing everything is necessary to making the right decisions. Can you have more radiation for these masses? I know you had a reaction to the radiation, but since it was so effective in getting rid of the original spots, can they do it again with precautions that would lessen the side effects?

Hope to see you Wednesday night! Love, Peg
[> [> Subject: HI PEG


Author:
Stacy
[ Edit | View ]
Date Posted: 21:47:22 04/30/06 Sun
I was just saying to Mom and Aunt Nancy today that it seems like it's been a long time since we've seen you. I'm used to every two weeks or so.

I didn't have a reaction to the radiation, it was a severe allergic reaction to the seizure medicine (Dilantin)called Steven's Johnson Syndrome. My forehead did burn though from radiation and SJS made it worse.

To answer your question, no I cannot have more radiation to the brain since I had radiation to the full brain the last time. One can only have so much radiation in a lifetime.

After the MRI in June, I may be referred to a doctor at John's Hopkins to see if I can have something called Gamma Knife treatments. The Gamma Knife technology can be used to treat those who do not require immediate surgical relief of disabling symptoms and whose tumors are in general 3.5 cm or less. If I end up having to get the Gamma Knife, I'll explain in a later post how it's done.
[> Subject: Hi Stacy


Author:
Cliff
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Date Posted: 23:19:09 04/30/06 Sun
Sorry to hear about the new masses in the brain (obviously!), but it sounds like the doctor isn't getting all bent out of shape about it at this point.

I'll second your statement about staying away from people in chemo if you have something contagious. We lost my dad last summer not because of the cancer itself, but because he contracted severe pneumonia while undergoing chemotherapy. We don't know how he got it, and I don't want to suggest that someone did something careless, but there's little doubt that his weakened immune system was at the heart of the problem.
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