It is 8:30 pm and Mom and Dad are finally home. They left the hospital at 7:30 pm. Then they came over to my house, ate some dinner, said goodnight to Maya and Elias, and filled Steve and I in on their most recent experience. Let me now take the time before I go to bed to fill you all in too.
Mom handled the chemotherapy experience very well. Her chemotherapy consisted of two drugs. One is called Taxol and it is a type of chemotherapy drug used primarily in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. The second drug is called Herceptin and it is not even called chemotherapy. Instead it is called biotherapy or an antibody drug. This drug targets the cancer cells and their specific receptors and destroys them. It starts working almost immediately. It is because of the Herceptin that Mom had to have this first dose in the hospital. The staff monitored her blood pressure, pulse, and temperature very closely to make sure that she did not have any adverse side effects to this aggressive medication.
There is another piece of new information about the chemotherapy schedule. Mom learned today from Dr. Kenyon that her chemotherapy will last for around 24 weeks. She will have the Taxol/Herceptin chemotherapy every week for 12 weeks. After that she will have another combination of drugs four times, but this time three weeks apart. The hope is that the cancer will be gone before they do the mastectomy. The doctor says that current research shows that in cases like my Mom's, that by using this specific chemotherapy regime the cancer can be completely eliminated 50% of the time before going to surgery.
So, this is where our good thoughts and prayers need to focus. We can focus on the fantastic hope that she Mom could be cancer free in 6 months.
We will see what the next few days bring in terms of side effects to the chemotherapy. The doctor also gave Mom hope that her side effects might not be as bad as someone in a more traditional every 2 week chemotherapy regime because she is getting a lower dose of the Taxol by taking it weekly.
Good Night,
Emily
4 comments:
Good day!
Lynnie: Just a little piece of information. Allan did some of the original research on the drug Taxol. Originally it was derived from yew bark. Our prayer is that these drugs will do their work. Pamella
Prayers of thanksgiving that the drugs were tolerated and prayers of hope that they will do their intended work - and do it very well!!
Keeping you in our thoughts!
Meals will be provided April 14 Alice Kelling, April 16 Karen Griswold, April 21 Janet Chenard, April 23 Mary Fredrick, April 28 Ruth Chadwick, April 30 Marcene & Georgann. Pamella
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