Hey everyone –

We just got a new update from the doctor. Last Friday, my mom had a PET scan to see if her current chemo drug, Gemzar, is working. She saw the doctor today and he said that although there is some sign of reduction in her cervical spine, there are 3 new spots – 2 spots in the left upper paratracheal lymph node (8 mm and 1.2 cm) and 1 spot in the right lateral subcutaneous tissue at the level of iliac crest (in the tissue around her right hip at 7mm). The doctor wants to switch her to a new chemo drug called Abraxane. They are having a hard time with the insurance company who wants her to go on another drug, but her doctor believes that the Abraxane is better for the type of cancer she has. The insurance company is now asking for research to back up his decision. Ridiculous. So now instead of getting chemo today, she will have to go back next week. When she starts this treatment it will be 3 weeks on, 1 week off. She will be losing her hair with this one as it’s a stronger drug.

She’s feeling pretty tired a lot of the time and is still having nausea. It doesn’t sound like it’s going to get much better with this new chemo treatment, but if it helps stop the spreading of the cancer then it doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, because the tumor has spread to her brain and she’s on some pretty heavy dosage of drugs, she’s not able to drive anymore, which is a bit frustrating for her as you might imagine.

Next week she has a brain MRI to see how the cyber knife radiation worked. So fingers crossed that it did its job and the tumor in her brain is gone.

I hope wherever you are and whatever you are doing for this holiday that it is a good one with lots of friends and family and love and, of course, lots and lots of yummy food! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!