Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

"I Wanna New Drug"

Well maybe she didn't want it, but that is what she got. After reviewing the results of Mom's latest CT scan her Dr. changed her treatment. Moving forward she will now be administered the chemo drug GEMZAR. Gemzar will allow mom to continue her treatment and is expected to relieve her of the severe neuropathy the Taxol drug was causing. Gemzar is administered in a 21 day cycle meaning mom will have 2 treatments and then have 2 weeks off before she goes in for another cycle. Her Herceptin treatments will also decrease from every week to every 3 weeks.

The CT scan did yield good results. The tumors continue to shrink and mom's cancer marker number (markers that are found in the body when cancer is present) has gone down each time she has been tested. The more the cancer marker number goes down the better.

Of course Gemzar may present a whole new set of challenges and side effects but we will cross that bridge when we come to it and as always hope for the best!

"You Look Marvelous"

If anyone deserves a lazy day, its mom. The type of day where you don't get dressed and instead spend it laying in bed. Lord knows there are plenty of times after treatment when she feels that way, too achy and too tired to do much else. Yet everyday, regardless of how crappy she may feel, she carries on. Her house is always clean, dinner is always made and she always looks like a million bucks. EVERYDAY, without fail. Thanks mom, for being such a great example of strength, courage and grace in the face of adversity.

Let's Get Physical

Physical Therapy-working the feet


"...and Bouncing Betty starts to make her move..."

Wig Abuse

"NORMA"

Chemo Continues...

We were hoping that this past Wednesday was going to be the final Taxol treatment, unfortunately that was not the case. Instead of receiving her final Taxol injection, mom's doctor took her off of Taxol and switched her to a new chemo drug called Taxotere. Taxotere, also called Docetaxel, should give her the same results Taxol did in regards to treatment but without the severe neuropathy.

As of now the doctor cannot give us an exact date range for when the chemo treatments will end. The results of moms CT scan in December should give us more answers in terms of her future treatments.

Happy Halloween

Mom chatting with Anna Rexia

High Five

Five up, five down. Stick it, cancer.

Nurse Lora administrating the fifth chemo treatment

Neuropathy

Neuropathy (noor-AH-puh-thee) A nerve problem that causes pain, numbness, tingling, swelling, or muscle weakness in different parts of the body. It usually begins in the hands or feet. Neuropathy may be caused by anticancer drugs.

One of the side effects to Taxol is the development of neuropathy. Mom is currently experiencing a lot of discomfort in her fingertips and feet as a result of the Taxol, oftentimes losing the feeling in both extremities. This makes simple tasks with her hands and feet more difficult and has lead to problems with balance. Her doctor had prescribed some medication to counter the neuropathy and on a recent visit she upped her dosage. The doc also scheduled some physical therapy to counter the side effects and avoid this becoming a permanent situation. Her first physical therapy sessions for the neuropathy begin this month.

Bad Hair Day

We've all been there.

THANK YOU!

BOUNCING BETTY'S BRIGADE was bouncing along on Sunday for the Race For The Cure.


THANK YOU to everyone who took part in event. Mom was very humbled and appreciative of every one's involvement. We are already looking forward to doing it again next year.

For a recap of the event click here

Below are a few photos from all the festivities, thanks again for joining us.

Friends

Race For The Cure Update

For those who are planing to walk or run with "Bouncing Betty's Brigade" please meet at the MID GATE entrance to Summerfest on Sunday September 26th. The walk/run begins at 9:15 am from the Art Museum.

Everyone is welcome to walk with the group whether or not you are officially registered for the race or not. Individually registering will ensure a donation from you to the Breast Cancer Foundation and get you the 2010 Race For The Cure t-shirt. We have had special "Bouncing Betty" team t-shirts designed and will have a limited number of those to hand out to the walkers/runners. It is up to you if you want to officially register or simply join us for the walk/run. A donation to the Breast Cancer Foundation is appreciated if you elect not to officially register.

After the walk is complete we are planning to meet Mom at a local restaurant/bar (location TBA) for a post event get together. I know Betty is excited to see everyone and thank them personally for participating, so please stop by if you can. I will post an update once a location has been determined.

If you have questions in the meantime feel free to call or email. We are looking forward to seeing everyone Sunday, don't forget to wear pink!

Caroline cell 414-241-6187
Carolinezych@yahoo.com
Julie cell 414-460-9228
wewon31@hotmail.com

Parking Information
Event Information

The Results Are In

On Tuesday Mom met with her doctor to go over her CT scan results. As hoped the results were good, all tumors, including the lesions on her liver are shrinking. When the cancer was first diagnosed the tumors were measured in the centimeters, today their size is down to millimeters. Some so tiny a biopsy, if needed, could not be performed because they are too small to pinpoint. The good news is certainly encouraging. At least now we know that all the aches and pains these last few months were not in vain, the treatment is working. Treatment continues though and if there is one thing cancer has taught us, its that you never know what to expect next.

Speaking of aches and pains, one constant discomfort Mom has dealt with is numbness in her feet and fingertips, a common side effect of her Taxol treatment. Luckily the doctor was able to prescribe some medication to alleviate this sensation. Down the road they may even schedule some physical therapy to help address the issue. For the moment though, the drugs are helping and that is a relief.

Hats Off To Hats!

Silly Hats



Summer Church Hats




Blog Checking Hats



Dinner Hats (it's finally ok to wear a hat at the table)



...stay tuned she still has a closet full of more...

Happy Anniversary

On September 8th Norm and Betty celebrated 54 years of marriage. Cheers!

What's Up Doc?

On Tuesday August 31st Mom met with her oncologist, Dr. Sailaja Kamaraju for a check up. Both the meeting and check up went well, Dr. Kamaraju can no longer feel any lumps in Mom's lymph nodes (armpit) and again noticed progress in the size and feel of the lump in her breast. She also stressed that at this stage of the treatment it is very important to surround yourself with encouraging people and feedback. So please send all your happy thoughts and positive energy moms way. The Doc can address her physical ailments but it is up to all of us to help keep her spirits up.

Next week Wednesday, September 8th, prior to her regularly scheduled treatment, Mom will have a CT scan. The CT scan results will tell us what progress the chemotherapy has made on the liver. This will be a very important test result so please pray for good news.

What Cancer Cannot Do

Taxol day, please keep mom in your thoughts and prayers these coming days.

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.

Author: Unknown

Sisters

Save The Date

The Susan G. Komen Race For A Cure is Sunday September 26th and we will be getting a group together to walk. Please join our team: "Bouncing Betty's Brigade" More details (including team t-shirts) to follow, but please let us know if you are interested in participating.



The Bouncing Betty team name was derived from one of Mom's favorite episodes of M*A*S*H.

You can register as an individual for the race at:
http://www.komenmilwaukee.org/




Jim, thanks for the A.V. help

"I Can Make That"

Photos of Mom trying on hats and getting ideas for making her own.

Tax Day

As expected the Taxol treatment from Wednesday is taking its toll on Mom this weekend. As anxious as she is to get out of the house she simply does not have the energy for it. Mom isn't one for sitting around so not being able to do the things she normally does is sometimes the hardest part of this treatment, at least mentally. Hopefully that will change in the coming days and she will get back to her normal routine or as mom would say, 'go out bumming'.

Some good news; on Tuesday her doctor gave her a routine breast exam and the lumps in her breast and lymph nodes are noticeably smaller, proving that the treatment is working. Another indicator that the chemo is working is her recent blood work results. Her cancer markers are down from 86.8 (July results) to 51.4 (August results).

Cancer markers, or 'tumor markers', can be found in the body when cancer is present. They are most often found in the blood or urine, but they can also be found in tumors and other tissue. They can be products of the cancer cells themselves, or made by the body in response to cancer. The fact that the level is going down is a good sign that the cancer is responding to treatment. A tumor marker that stayed at the same level as prior to chemotherapy would suggest that the therapy had no effect at all on the cancer.

Cancer markers are by no means fool proof but they are useful in determining the prognosis for the patient, to check how a patient is responding to treatment and to check to see if cancer has returned after remission. Mom's cancer marker is one number that we want to continue to see go down.

Christmas in July

Anyone who knows Mom also knows she loves Broadway musicals. Over the years she's been known to hop a plane to New York and spend the weekend attending plays. On Saturday July 31st the musical came to her. Mom cashed in her Christmas present from Caroline and attended the musical Wicked in Milwaukee. It was a great afternoon of friends, food and fun.

Special Delivery!

Thanks to the Kachkis family for the heart (and head) warming care package. Looking forward to your visit this summer!



The doll Mom is holding was made by Lilly in her summer sewing class. It's a BIRL, not a boy and not a girl, a BIRL.

The necklace that the BIRL is wearing was made by Michelle and Nico using the beads Kris picked up on his last trip to South Africa.

The 'fro' was generously borrowed to Mom from Kris's personal Halloween stash. It gets my vote for her new look :)

THANK YOU!

Herceptin Treatment July 28th

Many people who undergo chemotherapy become very sensitive to the cold. The hospital staff is quick to supply warm blankets, but this week Mom brought her own. The kind folks at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church gave this afghan to Mom with the following message:

"This afghan was knitted for you in hopes that it will bring you comfort and warmth. The color pink was chosen for friendship and its soothing color. White was added for peace in your heart and in the world."

Prayer for you.
Rita, Our Lady of Lourdes

THANK YOU!

New Doo

Mom has been shopping for her new look! Weigh in with your opinion on what you like the best. Use the survey on the right side to vote.


#1

#2

#3

#4


#5

Treatment

Mom's first chemo treatment was on July 19th. She is being administered two different chemotherapy drugs, Taxol and Herceptin. Every 21 days she goes in for her Taxol and Herceptin treatment. These treatments last approximately 6 hours and have many side effects. We have determined that 2 days after this treatment is when she feels at her worst; extremely tired, achy, feverish and chilled. Imagine experiencing flu like symptoms for 1-3 days, that is what Mom is experiencing following this treatment. Thankfully she has not yet had any nausea as a result of the chemo. Her next scheduled appointment for this "big" treatment is August 11th.

Mom was also diagnosed as HER2 positive. HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests positive for a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells. In about 1 of every 5 breast cancers, the cancer cells make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This gene mutation and the elevated levels of HER2 that it causes can occur in many types of cancer — not only breast cancer.

HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive than other types of breast cancer. They're also less responsive to hormone treatment. However, treatments that specifically target HER2 are very effective. As a result of the HER2 positive diagnosis Mom receives an additional dose of Herceptin every Wednesday to solely attack the HER2. This treatment is a lot better in terms of length and side effects. It takes approximately an hour and a half and so far she has not experienced any side effects that interfere with her daily routine other than being more tired then usual.

For more information here are some recommended websites:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network www.nccn.org
American Cancer Society www.cancer.org

The Diagnosis

Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 Breast cancer in July of 2010. A lump in her breast was first discovered during her annual mammogram. Subsquent tests and biopsy's revealed that the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes and liver. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This site was created to keep family and friends up to date on her condition so she can get the much needed rest she needs during this ordeal. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes.