Mixed Response Elicits Mixed Response

This picture was taken the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Health Update:

First, I continue to feel great. No symptoms of the disease….only some minor challenges brought on by Xeloda, the pill form chemo I continue to take (2 weeks on, 1 week off).

I had a CT scan in mid January that revealed a “mixed response” to the Xeloda. That means that it is doing well attacking some spots, but not as well with others.

There is no longer a sign on the scan of the recurrence spot on my chest, and the lymph nodes have responded really well to the Xeloda. However, though some spots in my liver are responding, others seem to be growing slightly and there are a few very small new ones.

SO…the plan is to add a drug called Avastin to the mix. This comes in the form of an IV drip that I started this week, and will have every three weeks. It isn’t actually chemo. It is a drug that blocks the formation and new growth of blood vessels feeding the tumors in an effort to slow or stop the growth of the tumors.

New studies have shown good results when Avastin is added to treatment with Xeloda, so we are now on that path.

There are no observable side effects of Avastin (YAY). It seems to do it’s work quite silently, which is fine with me!

All in all, I have, not surprisingly, mixed feelings about this change in my situation. I am of course not happy to have any kind of report of growth of cancerous cells, but I am SO grateful to a) be almost 2 years into this and not have any symptoms, b) have the good fortune of so many options in terms of pharmaceuticals aimed at controlling breast cancer and c) to have only minor side effects from the treatment I am on!

So on we go… continuing to dwell in the possibility that things could turn out well, because right now they ARE turning out well.

When I got this new diagnosis almost 2 years ago, I could not imagine that 2 years into this I would be feeling as well as I do, with the “total cancer picture” in my body in an IMPROVED state for the most part.

I continue to be aware of the gift of each day, the gift of family and friends and the gift of my (relatively) good health.