Talk Cancer

Question:

Excellent news….my boss was diagnosed with a recurrence and bone mets in the summer and seems determined to turn up her toes without a fight. I keep telling her it is not so …now I have more ammunition. Happy, happy, happy news! Hugs Rachel

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Woweee!!!!! Congratulations! I hope you are doing something very fun to celebrate. Chris Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely.

Response:

Interesting info, Catherine. Not to distract you from all of that celebrating, but how much AC did you end up getting?

I don’t know the exact amount in mgs, but I had eight treatments of the "normal" treatments, and eleven of the 24-hour infusions.  If you need to know, I could probably find out. By "normal" treatments, I mean the one where the A is given in a big needle, and the C is about a four-hour drip. Sorry.  I can’t spell right now.  I have noticed that if I write things before dark, I can spell and write normally,  but when night falls I suddenly become stupid.  I wonder what is going on? — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Woweee!!!!! Congratulations! I hope you are doing something very fun to celebrate. Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely.

Response:

No rush, but I would be interested in amounts if you can find out easily sometime. I can imagine myself trying to talk my doctor into this at some point in the future since the normal AC actually worked for me. Now, back to celebrating! Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Interesting info, Catherine. Not to distract you from all of that celebrating, but how much AC did you end up getting? I don’t know the exact amount in mgs, but I had eight treatments of the "normal" treatments, and eleven of the 24-hour infusions.  If you need to know, I could probably find out. By "normal" treatments, I mean the one where the A is given in a big needle, and the C is about a four-hour drip. Sorry.  I can’t spell right now.  I have noticed that if I write things before dark, I can spell and write normally,  but when night falls I suddenly become stupid.  I wonder what is going on?

Response:

But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.)

Oh, Catharine, I’m praying that’s true.  Keep us posted! Take care. …lisa

Response:

WOW!  Here’s hoping all tests look great.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Yay yay yay!  Brilliant. Tim

Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.

snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I couldn’t really see any dark splotches! But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.)

Response:

Catharine, again, wishing you the best.  Was this the first time that you had had AC or did  you have it at any time before?

No.  I had it administered normally, for several months.  July through December, 1999. The 24-hour dose has MUCH fewer side-effects, by the way.  If you need to do it, ask your doc if you can do it this way. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Thanks, for the info–I didn’t realize that one could have AC again.  I had thought that there was a limited amt. that one could have because of the risk of cardiotoxicity.

Response:

Thanks, for the info–I didn’t realize that one could have AC again.  I had thought that there was a limited amt. that one could have because of the risk of cardiotoxicity.

There is.  My doc did a MUGA test before each of the last four 24-hour treatments.  However, I apparently have a very strong heart, because I’ve gone over the limit that I should have had, and I still have no heart problems.  My oncologist is happy, because the AC keeps working for me, and he thinks he will be able to use it again if I need it.  He tells me I’m strong as a bull, and puts on a fake Russian accent to do that.  I say, yeah, I’ve heard other people refer to a bull when they talk to me, but they’re not always talking about how strong I am. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Interesting info, Catherine. Not to distract you from all of that celebrating, but how much AC did you end up getting? Chris – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks, for the info–I didn’t realize that one could have AC again.  I had thought that there was a limited amt. that one could have because of the risk of cardiotoxicity. There is.  My doc did a MUGA test before each of the last four 24-hour treatments.  However, I apparently have a very strong heart, because I’ve gone over the limit that I should have had, and I still have no heart problems.  My oncologist is happy, because the AC keeps working for me, and he thinks he will be able to use it again if I need it.  He tells me I’m strong as a bull, and puts on a fake Russian accent to do that.  I say, yeah, I’ve heard other people refer to a bull when they talk to me, but they’re not always talking about how strong I am.

Response:

That is wonderful news! catherine

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Hi Catharine, What wonderful news!  Wishing you luck with the next tests.  I know you’ll let us know how they go.  You’ve put a little sunshine in my day.  Do something to celebrate!! Barb

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Hmmmmm…..you’ve got me wanting a port. This year I’m having all my doctors pool the bloodwork they want done (oncologist wants liver enzymes, etc, GP wants cholesterol, etc) into ONE blood draw, because I am fed up with that 20 minute vein search that leaves my arm aching for 5 days afterward and want to minimize how many times it has to be done. It’s strange, because I used to have excellent veins……in fact, about 8 years ago I hit a rough patch and sold plasma 3 times a week. Needles the size of pencils, I tell you. And it was no problem! But since the cancer, my veins are all shy, and they’ll blow at the sight of a tiny butterfly needle.–Alice

Response:

<<  After an unimproved bone scan last January, I was put on 24-hour infusions of Cytoxan and Adriamycin, every three weeks.  We stopped them in September.   Catharine, again, wishing you the best.  Was this the first time that you had had AC or did  you have it at any time before?

Response:

The news sounds wonderful!!!

Well, cautiously wonderful.  I’m not a radiologist, after all.  Maybe the fact that I could see my bones as light gray shadows is bad.  But it *looked* good. Have you been on chemo?  What do you think made the mets go away?

I did. Once we discovered I had bone mets, I had Taxotere every other week.  It made me miserable, and it didn’t do anything.  After an unimproved bone scan last January, I was put on 24-hour infusions of Cytoxan and Adriamycin, every three weeks.  We stopped them in September.  I also got (and still get) Aredia (Pamidronate) every month. I can’t remember what the second generation of Aredia is called, but I was switched to that this past December.  It’s great.  Instead of two hours, it takes fifteen minutes to drip.  It begins with a Z, I think. I don’t know if you were around when we were having the discussion of Did My Mom Heal Me or not, but there may have been some psychosomatic healing going on there, too. Or I could have just misread the scan and I’m going to collapse into a little pile of goo sometime next week. I’m scheduled for a bone scan on Feb. 21.  I’m taking a new medicine and I hope it works.

Me, too.  Though repeat this mantra:  I can live for years with bone mets. Bone mets are the best mets to have, if I have to have them. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

You’ve had a port-a-cath for a very long time now. How have you been doing with it?

I love it.  I never want to have it removed.  In fact, yesterday I sloped past the ATU before I went to have the isotope injection and had it accessed.  Instead of the usual twenty-five minutes of torture as they tried to find a good vein, BLOOP!  The isotope went into the port, I went over to the MRI office and BLOOP!  The contrast dye went into the port. Easy-louisy. I still say everyone in the world should have one installed at birth.  How about THAT for a grant proposal, Mr. Gates? — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Catharine, three cheers for the absense of dark splotches! And for a helpful radiologist. You’ve had a port-a-cath for a very long time now. How have you been doing with it?–Alice

Response:

Catherine: I am so glad to hear this good news — after all that you have gone through you deserve to get good news! I wish the best in this new year to you and all in this group! Regards, R. Chandrasekaran

Response:

<< But that bone scan did look lovely.   Wishing you the very best!

Response:

The news sounds wonderful!!!   Have you been on chemo?  What do you think made the mets go away?  I have severe bone mets. I’m scheduled for a bone scan on Feb. 21.  I’m taking a new medicine and I hope it works. Enjoy the good news and best wishes Linda

Response:

So very happy for you Catherine!!!! Love and Hugs Cathi

Response:

if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?

I had chemo first to shrink my tumor which it did.  I asked my oncologist if I was still stage IIIB since my tumor size was no longer in that category.  He said that once you are given a stage diagnosis you cannot go "backwards" (DARN).  In any event, congratulations, I think that you are probably in the less than 1% category that has experienced this kind of results – celebrate!

Response:

That is the best news I’ve heard all year!!! Alex Keep up the good work

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response:

Well, I had some of my week o’ tests today, and one of them was my bone scan.  The very helpful tech put last year’s bone scan up on the screen and put today’s next to it.  Then she said, "Well, neither one of us are doctors, but…" and walked off.  I gotta say, today’s bone scan looked fabulous.  The only dark spot on my skeleton was my Port-A-Cath.  When you look at a picture of a bone scan, your skeleton shows up as a light gray outline and possible sites of cancer or arthritis show up as dark splotches.  I couldn’t really see any dark splotches!  Of course, I am not a doctor. But I wonder… if all my bony metastasis sites have shut down, am I no longer stage IV?  Might I be *really* over this?  (Ha.) I also had an MR of my spine and hip done, and I have an abdominal CT and colonoscopy (yippee) coming up next week, so I should have a better idea of where I stand in a couple of weeks. But that bone scan did look lovely. — Aloha, Catharine Character is what you do when no one’s watching.

Response: